Black Beauty Organic

SKU: EG414
Dark purple to almost black skinned, glossy, oblong, large fruits that form early on sturdy plants. Grown for over 100 years, this heirloom is a heavy producer with up to 12 fruits per plant, but needs lots of heat. Read More

Exposure Full-sun

Matures in 74 days

Season Warm season

Seed type OP ?

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Good for Containers Heirloom Organic Canada Organic Certified
Shipping & Returns

West Coast Seeds ships anywhere in North America. However, we are not able to ship garlic, potatoes, asparagus crowns, bulbs, onion sets, Mason bee cocoons, or nematodes outside of Canada. We regret, we cannot accept returns or damages for orders outside of Canada. The minimum shipping charge to the US is $9.99.

Black Beauty

Product Details

Dark purple to almost black skinned, glossy, oblong, large fruits that form early on sturdy plants. Grown for over 100 years, this heirloom is a heavy producer with up to 12 fruits per plant, but needs lots of heat. Try it under a cloche or with some plastic mulch over the soil. Even without extra help Black Beauty Organic eggplant seeds will be productive in coastal gardens. Expect eight to ten fruits per plant. This variety performs well in containers that are five gallons or larger. Half barrels would be perfect.

Matures in 74 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Quick Facts:

    • Heirloom
    • Great in containers
    • Certified organic
    • Open-pollinated
    • Matures in 74 days

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All About Black Beauty Organic

Latin

Latin
Solanum melogena
Family: Solanaceae

Difficulty

Difficulty
Easy.

Season & Zone

Season & Zone
Season: Warm season
Exposure: Full-sun

Timing

Timing
Sow indoors four weeksΒ before your expectedΒ last frost date.Β Use bottom heat, and keep seedlings warm. Optimal soil temperature: 24-32Β°C (75-90Β°F). Seeds should sprout in 7-12 days.

Starting

Starting
Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (ΒΌ-½”) deep. Use individual peat or coir pots to reduce root disturbance when transplanting. Transplant after night time temperatures are steadily 10Β°C (50Β°F) or warmer. Space with 45-60cm (18-24β€³) between plants. Medium size (3-5 gallon) containers for individual plants also work well.

Days to Maturity

Days to Maturity: From transplant date.

Growing

Growing
Ideal pH: 5.5-6.0. Soil should have abundant phosphorus and calcium, so add lime and compost to the soil three weeks prior to transplanting. Mix ΒΌ-Β½ cup of complete organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant. Using a clear plastic cloche or floating row cover helps growth by increasing heat. Cool temperatures increase leafy growth, but delay fruit set. Once most eggplants get going in the summer, they are highly productive right up until the first frosts.

Harvest

Harvest
Pinch off blossoms 2 to 4 weeks before first any expected frost so that plants focus on ripening any existing fruit, not producing new ones. Harvest the fruit anytime after the fruit reaches half of their size. Harvesting early prevents fruit from becoming too seedy, and will encourage more production from the plants.

Do not pull the fruit off the plant, but cut it with scissors or secateurs, being careful to avoid any sharp spurs at the stem end.

Seed Info

Seed Info
In optimal conditions at least 65% of the seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years.

Diseases & Pests

Diseases & Pests
Pests:
Aphids – A hard spray of water can be used to remove aphids from plants. Wash off with water occasionally as needed early in the day. Check for evidence of natural enemies such as grey-brown or bloated parasitized aphids and the presence of larvae of lady beetles and lacewings. If the plants are healthy, aphids will probably never be a problem.
Flea beetles – Control weeds. Use row covers to help protect plants from early damage. Put in place at planting and remove before temperatures get too hot or plants start to flower.
Colorado potato beetles – Handpick beetles, larvae and eggs.
Cutworms – Use cardboard collars around transplants it cutworms are a problem.
Diseases:
Verticillium wilt – This is the most serious disease of eggplant. Remove and destroy an entire infested plant, along with immediately surrounding soil and soil clinging to roots. Set into soil where you have never planted tomatoes, peppers, or strawberries
Tobacco Mosaic Virus – Young growth is malformed and leaves are mottled with yellow. To prevent it, wash hands after handling tobacco (including Nicotiana), before touching plants. Control aphids, which spread the disease.

Companion Planting

Companion Planting
Eggplants are a good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme. Do not plant eggplants near fennel.

More on Companion Planting.

How to Grow Eggplant

Step 1

Timing

Sow indoorsΒ in the four weeks following the last frost date.Β Use bottom heat, and keep seedlings warm. Optimal soil temperature: 24-32Β°C (75-90Β°F). Seeds should sprout in 7-12 days.

Step 2

Starting

Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (ΒΌ-½”) deep. Use individual peat or coir pots to reduce root disturbance when transplanting. Transplant after night time temperatures are steadily 10Β°C (50Β°F) or warmer. Space with 45-60cm (18-24β€³) between plants. Medium size (3-5 gallon) containers for individual plants also work well.

Step 3

Growing

Ideal pH: 5.5-6.0.

Soil should have abundant phosphorus and calcium, so add lime and compost to the soil three weeks prior to transplanting. Mix ΒΌ-Β½ cup of complete organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each transplant. Using a clear plastic cloche or floating row cover helps growth by increasing heat. Cool temperatures increase leafy growth, but delay fruit set. Once most eggplants get going in the summer, they are highly productive right up until the first frosts.

Step 4

Germination

Days to maturity: From transplant date.

In optimal conditions at least 65% of the seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years.

Step 5

Harvest

Pinch off blossoms 2 to 4 weeks before first expected frost so that plants focus on ripening any existing fruit, not producing new ones. Harvest the fruit anytime after the fruit reaches half of their size. Harvesting early prevents fruit from becoming too seedy, and will encourage more production from the plants.

Do not pull the fruit off the plant, but cut it with scissors or secateurs, being careful to avoid any sharp spurs at the stem end.

Tips

Disease

Verticillium wilt – This is the most serious disease of eggplant. Remove and destroy an entire infested plant, along with immediately surrounding soil and soil clinging to roots. Set into soil where you have never planted tomatoes, peppers, or strawberries.

Tobacco Mosaic Virus – Young growth is malformed and leaves are mottled with yellow. To prevent it, wash hands after handling tobacco (including Nicotiana), before touching plants. Control aphids, which spread the disease.

Pests

Aphids – A hard spray of water can be used to remove aphids from plants early in the day. Check for evidence of natural enemies and the presence of larvae of lady beetles and lacewings.

Flea beetles – Control weeds. Use row covers to help protect plants from early damage. Put in place at planting and remove before temperatures get too hot or plants start to flower.

Colorado potato beetles – Handpick beetles, larvae and eggs.

Cutworms – Use cardboard collars around transplants it cutworms are a problem.

Companion Planting

Eggplants are a good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme. Do not plant eggplants near fennel.

Customer Reviews & Questions