How to Grow Fairy Tale
Solanum melongena
Solanum melongena 'Fairy Tale' is a warm-season eggplant variety prized for its manageable size and reliable yield. Gardeners grow this hybrid for its good disease resistance and ability to produce fruit in extended seasons when provided with consistent moisture.
📷 Wikipedia: EggplantStarting Fairy Tale: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Fairy Tale is not usually started indoors.
Do not sow directly in the ground before the last frost; wait until soil is warm and all danger of frost has passed to transplant seedlings.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 before starting seeds indoors. Sow seeds 10-14 days before the last frost date, as this warm-season crop requires heat to germinate successfully. Plant seeds at a depth of about one-quarter inch in biodegradable pots or deep trays. Expect sprouts to appear within ten to fourteen days once soil temperatures are consistently warm.
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart to allow for proper air circulation and growth up to four feet tall. Water deeply and regularly, as this variety demands high, consistent moisture levels to thrive. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain soil heat and moisture while feeding the plant with balanced fertilizer every few weeks during active fruiting.
Monitor for flea beetles, aphids, and spider mites; treat infestations early with insecticidal soap or by hand-picking. Prevent fungal issues like verticillium wilt and early blight by ensuring good airflow and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest fruits when they reach their full size, typically 65 days after transplanting outdoors for a tender texture.
When to Plant Fairy Tale
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Fairy Tale
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and hornworms while potentially improving eggplant flavor
Repels flea beetles, aphids, and ants that can damage eggplant foliage
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies that commonly attack eggplants
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles while deterring squash bugs
Repels aphids and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Compatible nightshade family members with similar water and nutrient needs
Deters hornworms and flea beetles while attracting beneficial predatory insects
Share similar growing conditions and pest management strategies as fellow nightshades
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in nightshade plants
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of most vegetable plants
Compete heavily for nutrients and water while potentially harboring stink bugs
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
