Eggplant, Midnight Moon Hybrid

Ripens earlier that 'Black Beauty' with the creamy white, nearly seedless flesh of the 'Early Midnight'. Big yields of 3-6" voluptuous fruits - perfectly sized for ratatouille or eggplant parmesan, or simply slice and grill. Harvest about 62 days after transplanting. Select a location in full sun with good rich moist organic soil. Make sure you did not grow tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or potatoes in the bed the previous year to avoid disease problems. Prepare the bed by turning the soil under to a depth of 8 inches. Level with a rake to remove clumps of grass and stones. Eggplants should be set 2-3 feet apart in a row with the rows spaced 3-4 feet apart. Dig a hole for each plant large enough to amply accommodate the root ball. Carefully remove the plant from its pot and gently loosen the root ball with your hands to encourage good root development. Fill the planting hole with soil to the top and press soil down firmly with your hand leaving a slight depression around the plant to hold water. Use a plant tag as a location marker. This is particularly important if you are trying different varieties. It is very difficult to tell which variety is which from the foliage. Water thoroughly, so that a puddle forms in the saucer you have created. This settles the plants in, drives out air pockets and results in good root-to-soil contact. Eggplants may also be planted in containers. Use a container at least 18-24 inches wide and deep and use a commercial potting mix rather than garden soil.