Orient Express, (F1) Eggplant Seeds

Orient Express (F1) Eggplant Seed

Glossy ten-inch fruits mature impressively early
Slender plants set fruit across challenging temperature swings
Tender flesh offers a delicate, refined flavor
Excellent for slicing into stir-fries and curries

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Solanum melongena

Days to maturity

58 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

15 Seeds

About Orient Express, (F1) Eggplant Seed, Eggplant Seed

The Orient Express eggplant is a slender and glossy eggplant that can handle extreme temperatures! This variety is a very beautiful, slim, 10" long, glossy fruit. The Orient Express is early maturing with a tender, delicate flavor. This eggplant is great in a variety of stews and roasts!

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/8"

Days to Germination

7–14 days

In-row plant spacing

18-24"

Row Spacing

Plant profile

Maturity

Summer, Fall

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

36 inches

Growth Habits

Upright

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

6,250

Color

Purple

Seed Type

Hybrid

Growing Season

Warm-Season Crop

Before Planting

Eggplant benefits from a full-sun, warm site with fertile, well-drained soil and good air circulation. Incorporate compost and adjust nutrients and pH according to a soil test, avoiding excessive nitrogen. Wait until frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed; harden transplants and install supports before planting when the crop requires them.

Planting

Start eggplant indoors 8–10 weeks before the last spring frost, using 75–85°F media for reliable germination. After emergence, provide strong light and warm growing conditions, then pot up seedlings before they become root-bound. Harden plants gradually and transplant only after frost danger has passed, nights remain warm, and the soil is at least about 65°F.

Watering

Eggplant produces best with steady root-zone moisture. Irrigate deeply when rainfall is insufficient, especially while flowers and fruit are forming, and keep water off the foliage when practical.

Fertilizer

Eggplant is a moderate to heavy feeder. Apply balanced nutrients according to soil-test results, emphasizing steady fertility and limiting nitrogen once flowering and fruit development begin.

Harvesting

Cut eggplants when fruit reaches expected size and develops glossy, fully colored skin. The flesh should spring back gently when pressed. Use pruners and retain a short stem because the calyx may be spiny.

Tips

Mulch eggplant after establishment to reduce weeds and moderate soil conditions. Keep the crown clear, provide support where needed, and remove declining growth promptly.

Disease Resistance Abbreviations

Heat, Cold, Stress

Pests & Diseases

Phomopsis blight, Verticillium wilt, bacterial wilt, anthracnose, and damping-off affect eggplant. Phomopsis can be seedborne and produces tan lesions with black specks. Use clean or properly treated seed, rotate away from nightshades, remove wilted plants, and keep spotted fruit from the seed-saving pile.

Watch eggplant for aphids, flea beetles, hornworms, cutworms, and whiteflies. Remove egg masses and caterpillars, protect young stems, and encourage beneficial insects before using labeled controls.