Little Finger Eggplant (Solanum melongena)

Little Finger Eggplant (Solanum melongena): another Japanese treasure that we have cared deeply for during a few years, a beautiful miniature eggplant that is as ornamental as it is edible. The small fruits are very sweet and have very few seeds, they hold a mild sweet taste, their skin is thin so they do not require peeling, plus, the pulp is very smooth and creamy. Her features make it an extremely versatile vegetable and an ally  in the kitchen that allows for all sorts of recipes: fried, stirred, baked, and grilled. 

The plant is particularly early (about 65 days), rustic, extremely productive, and a heat lover. It is also smaller than regular eggplants so it fits well in vases which makes it perfect for balconies; they grow in clusters of 3 -5 fruits, almost like a little hand, very ornamental. 

The harvest must be done when they are still young and the skin is very shiny but they can also be allowed to get bigger at no risk of losing taste or texture. To get the seeds, allow some of the fruits to ripen on the plant until the skin begins to wrinkle.