Organic Aubergine ‘Black Beauty’

£2.20

Availability: 9 in stock

Soil Association Organic Logo         Solanum Melongena – 25 Seeds

Black Beauty is an open pollinated, heirloom variety dating back to the early 1900’s. A firm favourite for gardeners as it is early to mature so is perfect for shorter growing seasons.

It is a high yielding variety that produces dark purple/black fruits. 

It is a favourite of ours for growing in the UK climate.

Sow indoors in mid winter to mid spring in trays or modules at 18-21°. 

Pot on to 8cm pots when the seedlings are large enough to handle. 

The plants will need support as they grow. 

Harvest when the fruits are firm, plump and shiny.

Seed Story

There is a division of opinion on where aubergines, also known as eggplants, originate from but it is believed to be China or India. 

Wild relatives of the eggplant can be found in Africa and Asia. 

They arrived in Europe in the middle ages where they arrived via Spain and Italy. There are records of Aubergines in England in 16th Century. It was the Spanish who introduced them to America. Like the tomato, they weren’t used as a food crop for centuries, as part of the nightshade family, they were regarded with caution and were grown for ornamental purposes initially.

They are used as vegetables in cooking but botanically they are actually classed as a berry. 

Italian and Egyptian folklore says that the eggplant can cause insanity!