☀️ This Italian heirloom eggplant, Long Purple, produces dark purple cucumber-shaped fruit with firm, mild flesh. Good yields! Though gardeners with long growing seasons will be able to direct sow their eggplant seed when the soil reaches 70 degrees F, starting the seed indoors is best in most areas. 🌱 Eggplant thrives in the full heat of summer; row covers, black plastic, or other methods to conserve heat may be necessary in some climates. 🍆 Eggplant loves the consistent heat of summer. row covers. Try using black rolls of plastic, or any methods to conserve heat may be necessary in some cooler climates. If temperatures approach lows of 55 degrees F, cover the plants. As soon as the seedlings become established, mulch them to conserve moisture. 💦 Latin Name: Solanum melongena Type: Open Pollinated, Heirloom, Warm Season 🌎 USDA Zones: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 📷 Please take photos of your plants and upload them in a review! - Isla's Garden 👩‍🌾 This Italian heirloom eggplant, Long Purple, produces dark purple cucumber-shaped fruit with firm, mild flesh. Good yields! Though gardeners with long growing seasons will be able to direct sow their eggplant seed when the soil reaches 70 degrees F, starting the seed indoors is best in most areas. About 8-10 weeks before the last expected spring frost, plant the seeds in pots 1/4" deep. Keep them in a sunny window or under a grow light, maintaining a temperature of around 80 degrees. Germination of eggplant can be spotty, and may take several weeks. Keep the seedlings moist and provide rich soil for the best development. Gradually expose them to the elements by leaving the pots outdoors during the day. When the average air and soil temperature reach 70 degrees, or about 3 weeks after the last frost, plant the seedlings in well drained soil in full sun; for fullest growth, allow each plant 2-3' in all directions. Eggplant also grows very well in container gardens; most northern gardeners depend on this method in order to succeed in growing this heat loving plant. All our seeds are Home Grown in the USA - Isla's Garden