Among the variety of aubergines there are not only purple, but also white, green, striped or orange fruits. We present the best varieties and their properties for the home garden.

The color of aubergines can be purple, white, green, yellow or orange

The aubergine (Solanum melongena) or eggplant is a nightshade family (Solanaceae) from East Asia. In India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia you will find the greatest variety of different varieties. In our part of the world, the warmth-loving vegetable is best known as an oval to cone-shaped, dark purple fruit. Introducing colorful eggplant varieties for growing in the garden and on the balcony.

Aubergine Varieties: Different Colours, Sizes and Shapes

Aubergines can be oval, round, oblong or pear-shaped. It is impossible to determine exactly how many varieties of eggplant there are, but there must be several hundred. Before going into the varieties of aubergines, you should take a look at the subdivision of the most important aubergine shapes.

  • Solanum melongena var. esculentum: Aubergine type with elongated, club-shaped or oval fruits. The aubergines available in our supermarkets come almost exclusively from this variety.
  • Solanum melongena var. serpentinum: Aubergine variety with thin, elongated fruits. It is also known as snake eggplant.
  • Solanum melongena var. depressum: A widespread and popular variety with very small, round fruits, especially in Asia. These are available from us in well-stocked Asian shops.
  • Solanum aethiopicum: The African aubergine or Ethiopian eggplant, a relative of the classic aubergine, more commonly produces red and orange colored, ribbed or teardrop-shaped and other unusually shaped fruits. They usually have a bitter taste, which is particularly appreciated in stews and curries.

If you want to plant eggplant seeds, you should decide on the right variety quite early in the year. Aubergines should be preferred from February,so that you can plant sufficiently developed plants from May. Alternatively, you can obtain early specimens from the nursery. For more eggplant planting tips, see our feature article.

The fruits of aubergines can also be round in shape and take on a wide variety of colors

The best types of eggplant

The variety determines the shape and color of the aubergine variety. In addition, the varieties differ in the size of the plant, yield and time of ripening. The following varieties are ideal for the home garden:

  • 'Applegreen': Very early, green aubergine up to 70 cm tall. The variety ripens reliably even in cooler summers and has a very good taste.
  • 'Antar F1': Robust aubergine variety with club-shaped, shiny, almost black fruits and a good aroma. The vigorous, early maturing plants can also be grown outdoors.
  • 'Antigua': White-purple striped aubergine with large, club-shaped fruits up to 20 cm long. The aubergine 'Antigua' needs a lot of warmth and should therefore be cultivated in a greenhouse or on a sheltered house wall.
There is a large variety of different types of aubergines, which differ greatly in appearance
  • ‘Bambino‘: Dwarf aubergine with violet skin and small growth up to about 30 cm in height. The variety is ideal for smaller balconies and terraces or for growing in raised beds.
  • 'Benarys Blaukönigin': Aubergine with compact growth up to 60 cm. The early variety is well suited to outdoor cultivation and produces dull purple, club-shaped fruits. The purple aubergine 'Benarys Blaukönigin' also does well in cooler conditions.
  • 'Black Beauty': Historic variety with shiny, dark purple, club-shaped fruits. Due to the good yield and the fine aroma, the aubergine 'Black Beauty' is still a popular choice even after more than 100 years.
  • 'Casper': White aubergine with club-shaped white fruits and very tender and aromatic pulp. The plants are stately and should therefore be placed at a sufficient planting distance.
White aubergines are a special eye-catcher in the garden

Tip: The so-called egg tree also bears white eggplants, i.e. aubergines. You can find out what the rarity is all about in our special article on the egg tree.

  • 'Frühviolette': Aubergine variety with good outdoor suitability, since therobust plants need less warmth than other varieties. The 'Frühviolette' aubergine forms club-shaped fruits and can be harvested from July if grown early.
  • 'Galine F1': Purple aubergine with very rounded fruits, deep violet color and good taste. The plants of the aubergine 'Galine F1' can reach a height of 150 cm.
  • ‘Gilo Brazil‘: African aubergine variety with elongated, drop-shaped fruits. Like most other varieties, the aubergine, which is red when ripe, is harvested unripe when it still has green and yellow stripes.
  • 'Money Maker F1': Modern hybrid variety that is popular with hobby growers because it requires less heat than other varieties. The aubergine 'Money Maker F1' ripens early and is plentiful with elongated, dark violet fruits.
Aubergines of the 'Money Maker' variety are striking with their dark color
  • 'Obsidian': Eggplant from China with round, dark purple fruits. The plants reach a growth height of up to 70 cm. The round aubergine 'Obsidian' can be harvested as early as July.
  • 'Ophelia F1': Breeding that is particularly suitable for cultivation on the balcony or terrace due to its compact growth. The aubergine 'Ophelia F1' bears round-oval, purple-colored fruits with a very good taste, it is very productive.
  • ‘Ping Tung‘: snake eggplant from Taiwan with very long violet fruits up to 40 cm. The plants grow rather compact up to 70 cm high.
  • 'Pinstripe F1': Newer eggplant variety for pot culture. The very small-fruited variety forms white-purple fruits with an excellent aroma.
The 'Pinstripe' variety is not only visually appealing, but also tastes great
  • 'Rosita': Extremely attractive, pink aubergine variety with large, club-shaped fruits and stately, vigorous plants.
  • ‘Rotonda Bianca sfumata di Rosa’: Aubergine with large, club-shaped fruits with light purple-white skin. The striped Italian aubergine 'Rotonda Bianca sfumata di Rosa' is productive and vigorous.
  • ‘Slim Jim‘: Compact, low aubergine variety with numerous, elongated fruits in clusters resembling fingers, which is why it is also called finger aubergine. The mini aubergine is particularly suitable for growing in pots.
The finger aubergine 'Slim Jim' forms numerous, elongated aubergines
  • ‘Striped Toga‘: Aubergine with striped, orange fruits when fully ripe. It is shaped like a pointed pepper and is more cold-tolerant than other varieties. It belongs to the African aubergines, but has no bitter taste.
  • ‘Violetta Lunga’: Aubergine with very long, club-shaped fruits up to 30 cm. The violet fruits thrive on plants up to 150 cm high.
  • ‘Zora‘: Vigorous aubergine variety with club-shaped, shiny purple fruits and a long-lasting harvest time. The purple aubergine 'Zora' has a very fine taste.

Tip: In order for the aubergine variety of your choice to produce a rich harvest, the heavily consuming vegetable plant should be supplied with sufficient nutrients. A primarily organic long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer is ideal for this.

The harvest season for the various aubergine varieties begins in midsummer. We give tips on harvesting and storing eggplants.

Category:

Vegetables