Eggplant  Violetta Lunga
Solanum melongena
 
Eggplant, Melanzana Violetta Lunga   Mid-early.  Vigorous plant and very productive.  Long, deep purple fruit of medium dimension.  Grown all over Italy.  Classic rich eggplant taste. For many this has been a mainstay eggplant--very easy to grow and VERY productive. lots of beautiful long fruits with a sweet nutty flavor over a long period.  his is a fairly good grower if you like smaller, thin eggplants. It does well in areas with short summers.  65-70 days.
 
 
Details:
 
Plant life cycle: annual
Site: Full sun
Days to maturity 65-70 days
Sowing: 1/4" deep
Plant spacing: 30-36"
Approx seeds per pkt : 50
 
How to grow :
 
Culture: 
Eggplants require fertile, well-drained soil with a pH range of 6.2-6.8. Sow seed in flats indoors during early spring, or 6-8 weeks prior to planting outdoors. Sow 4 seeds/in., ¼" deep, and maintain soil temperature at 80-90°F (27-32°C) until emergence and 70°F (21°C) thereafter.
 
Seed will not germinate in cool soil. After true leaves form, thin to 2-3" apart in flats or transplant into 2-3" pots or plug trays. To harden plants, reduce water and temperature to about 60°F (16°C) for about a week before planting out. Transplant outdoors late spring or early summer once the weather has thoroughly settled.
 
Eggplants are tender, and cold weather may weaken them. Use row covers for a boost in performance and insect control. Remove when plants reach the covers or when blossoms first appear. Space transplants 18" apart in rows 30-36" apart, or 2 rows on plastic mulch, 18-24" between plants. It is important to be mindful of over-fertility. Too much nitrogen often results in large, bushy plants that produce only one small set of fruit.

Staking:
Eggplants may be pruned and staked to keep the fruits straight. 
 
Harvest:
Clip fruit stem with shears. Pick fruits of desired size regularly to encourage further production.