Eggplant / Aubergine ‘Black Beauty’

Eggplant / Aubergine ‘Black Beauty’

Regular price$3.50
/
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Size
  • Fast shipping NZ wide
  • In stock, ready to ship
  • Inventory on the way

Botanical name: Solanum melongena

Lifecycle: Annual

Heritage: USA, 1902

Heirloom Seed Variety  Plant Height: 75cm

'Black Beauty' produces large glossy dark-purple fruit with delicious smooth flesh and edible skin.

It is a long time favourite with home gardeners that’s popular for its reliability.

An excellent variety that is relatively fast to mature and produces abundantly on sturdy, bushy plants with strong root systems. Delicious for roasting or baking, the fruits grow to reach approx. 15cm in length and weigh 400 grams each on average.

Pick for best eating while still slightly immature and the skin glossy, before the flesh becomes softer and develops some bitterness.

SOWING:

Best Time To Sow Seeds Sowing Method: Transplant

Spring - Early Summer

Transplant

Eggplants are best sown spring through early summer. Soaking the seeds in warm water 24 hours prior to sowing can aid germination. Sow seeds in trays of seed raising mix and germinate at temperatures of approx. 20°c – 30°c.

Soil Temperature To Germinate Seeds Time To Germinate Seeds

20°c - 30°c

7 - 21 days

Transplant with care once seedlings have true leaves and are 5+cm tall, to a sunny and well-drained position approx. 50 - 60cm apart.

Space Between Seedlings Approx Time Until Harvest Hardiness To Frosts

50cm - 60cm

80 - 100 days

Tender

TIPS:

Plants will produce best results with regular watering. Mulching well and feeding regularly will help encourage it to crop heavily. It is most productive in warm and dry conditions, but can tolerate most frost-free climates. Please note that it is tender to frosts.

Typically grows to approx. 75cm in height. The plants may need staking to support the weight of the fruit if not picked regularly. Picking encourages further fruit set.

Well grown plants are very generous and produce over a long period in summer. Cut the stems approx. 2cm from the fruit when harvesting to enhance storage. Eggplants can be frozen for home preservation.

APPROX SEEDS PER PACKET:

HOME GARDEN ($3.50) 50 seeds

BULK ($9.00)

2.5 grams

We offer shipping New Zealand wide. We aim to ship all orders as quickly as possible once payment has been received.

We do our best to ensure that orders placed by 12pm on business days will typically be shipped same day, however during peak times this may not be possible. Please note we're currently very busy but we'll have all orders shipped asap.

Please note that heavy items like seed potatoes cost significantly more to ship than small seed packets, so our shipping rates are on a sliding scale accordingly.

SHIPPING RATES

All orders are subject to a shipping and handling charge, outlined as follows:

 

Free Shipping Offer: We are currently offering free shipping on all orders $60 and over.

 

Urban Courier Delivery (0kg-1kg): $4.50

Urban Courier Delivery (1.01kg-3kg): $7.00

Urban Courier Delivery (3.01kg-5kg): $9.50

Urban Courier Delivery (5.01kg-7kg): $12.00

Urban Courier Delivery (7.01kg-10kg): $16.00

 

Rural via Standard Post (max. 150g): $4.50

Rural Courier Delivery (0kg-1kg): $7.00

Rural Courier Delivery (1.01kg-3kg): $9.50

Rural Courier Delivery (3.01kg-5kg): $12.00

Rural Courier Delivery (5.01kg-7kg): $16.00

Rural Courier Delivery (7.01kg-10kg): $20.00

 

We reserve the right to adjust any order where an incorrect shipping and handling charge has been applied, and to adjust our shipping rates as required.

ISSUES WITH SHIPMENT

In the unlikely event there is an error in your order we will correct this for you as soon as possible. Please ensure to check your order as soon as you receive it and inform us of any errors within 24 hours.

Our customers typically receive their orders within a few days of ordering, so if you have not received your order within 7 days please let us know immediately and we will follow this up for you. If your order has gone missing during transport we will make a claim with our shipping provider, which needs to be done within 14 days of dispatch.

Botanical Name:

This is the formal scientific name for each plant, firstly identifying the genus and then the species to which it belongs.

The purpose of these Latin names is to have a single name that is accepted and used worldwide for a particular plant or plant group, and to help distinguish each plant uniquely from other plants.

Lifecycle:

This refers to the typical lifecycle of each plant.

Annual: Plants that complete their life cycle within 1 year (from germination to growing and producing seeds, then dying).

Biennial: Plants that complete their life cycle in 2 years (germinates and grows in the first year, then produces seeds and dies in the second year).

Perennial: Plants that have a life cycle of more than 2 years.

It is wise to consider the lifecycle of each plant before choosing its final growing position. For example, you may prefer to plant perennials away from annuals, so your perennials are not disturbed when your annuals are harvested at the end of their relatively short lifecycle.

Heritage:

This refers to the geographic region and approximate date of origin, as it is best known for each variety.

Please note that varieties listed as “pre 1900’s” are very old varieties that have often been grown for hundreds of years, and as such their specific dates of origin are hard to list accurately.

Best Sown:

This refers to when it is suggested the seeds are best sown, to encourage strong and vigorous growth in their ideal seasonal conditions.

Please note that while some varieties may be able to be sown outside the range suggested, they will generally perform best when sown in the approximate seasonal ranges provided.

Sowing Method:

This refers to the suggested method for sowing each variety. Using the appropriate sowing method will help to ensure you achieve best results.

Direct Sow: These are seeds that perform well when sown directly into your garden. These seeds normally produce fast growing and strong seedlings. Please note that young seedlings may still need some protection from harsh weather and pests.

Transplant: These are seeds that perform well when started in trays or containers and then transplanted to their final position once they’re a bit stronger. These seeds often produce slower growing and weaker seedlings that need some care and protection from weather and pests. Seedlings can typically be transplanted to their final position once they are large enough to handle (for example 5+cm tall with several true leaves).

Please note that for varieties where we list both methods you have the choice.

Soil Temp To Germinate:

This refers to the approximate soil temperature range for optimum germination of the seeds.

Please note that while some germination may occur outside these ranges, the seeds will typically germinate strongest when sown in the optimum soil temperature range provided.

Approx. Time To Germinate:

This refers to the approximate amount of time it takes for the seeds to germinate.

Please note that while some variation may occur, with ideal conditions this represents an average amount of time before germination. This relies in part on the seeds being sown in soil at an ideal temperature for germination, per the heading above.

Spacing For Seedlings:

This is the recommended spacing between plants in their final growing position.

Please note that spacing plants closer together than suggested will likely result in underperforming plants, due to crowding and over-competition for root space and available nutrients.

Approx. Time To Harvest:

This is the number of days until the plant typically reaches the purpose for which it is normally grown. For example, this is the time it takes for the plant to fruit or flower, or until the leaves are ready to be picked, etc.

Please note that while this refers to the beginning of harvesting time, the plants could keep growing for an extended period yet, particularly if kept well looked after.

Hardiness To Frosts:

This refers to how tolerant the plant is of frost and cold weather.

Tender: Plants that will be injured or killed by frost and cold weather. These plants will probably not survive winter.

Half-Hardy: Plants that will not tolerate severe frosts, but should otherwise survive winter.

Hardy: Plants that have the ability to survive frost and cold weather. These plants should survive winter. 

You may also like


Recently viewed