Patio Baby Eggplant
Solanum Melongena

days to maturity: 55 days
plant spacing: 1 square foot per plant
sunlight requirement: 8 - 14 hours
look out for: hornworms, white flies, scale
harvest notes: fruits are harvested when they are 4-8 inches long and still shiny
seasons: fall, winter, spring
annual

Patio Baby Eggplant is a dwarf variety that was bred with small spaces in mind, making it a perfect choice for containers, raised beds, or tucked into sunny spots in the garden. Plants stay neat and manageable, rarely exceeding two feet tall, but they’re heavy producers, setting clusters of glossy, deep purple fruit. Each eggplant is petite (about the size of an egg to a tennis ball) and harvested young for tender skins and mild, sweet flavor. Patio Baby grows beautifully from fall through spring, and if the plant is happy will continue into early summer. Like other eggplants, it needs full sun, rich soil, and consistent moisture, but because it’s compact, it uses less space and is easier to maintain. A layer of mulch around the base helps conserve water and keep weeds down. Plants are self-supporting, but a small stake can be useful once fruit sets heavily. Culinarily, these little eggplants are versatile but because they are small they will be best suited to dishes that wont mind lots of skin and less flesh. Their small size means they cook quickly, making them excellent for grilling whole, roasting, or slicing into stir-fries.