How to Grow Japanese Long
Solanum melongena 'Japanese Long'
Japanese Long eggplants are prized for their elongated shape and mild flavor, making them ideal for stir-fries and grilling. Gardeners value this warm-season variety for its reliable production in hot climates and good resistance to common fungal issues.
📷 Wikipedia: EggplantStarting Japanese Long: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Japanese Long is not usually started indoors.
Start seeds indoors only one week before the last frost date so seedlings can be moved outside immediately once soil temperatures are warm enough to prevent shock.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 before starting seeds indoors. Sow Japanese Long eggplant seeds about one week after the last frost date when night temperatures stabilize above 50°F. Plant them at a depth of roughly 1/4 inch; germination typically occurs within 10 to 21 days under warm conditions.
Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in full sun to ensure air circulation and healthy growth. Water consistently to maintain high moisture levels, as dry spells cause flowers to drop. Apply organic mulch around the base to retain soil warmth and moisture while feeding the plant with balanced fertilizer every few weeks.
Watch for flea beetles, aphids, spider mites, and thrips; use row covers or insecticidal soap early in the season. Prevent verticillium, fusarium, and bacterial wilts by rotating crops annually and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest fruits 70 to 80 days after transplanting when they reach a deep purple color and firm texture.
When to Plant Japanese Long
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Japanese Long
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, spider mites, and hornworms while potentially improving eggplant flavor
Repels flea beetles, ants, and aphids that commonly attack eggplant
Natural pest deterrent that repels many insects harmful to eggplant
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Act as trap crops for aphids and flea beetles, drawing pests away from eggplant
Deters pests like aphids and spider mites with its strong aromatic compounds
Compatible nightshades that benefit from similar soil conditions and watering schedules
Share similar growing requirements and pest management strategies as nightshade family members
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that severely stunts or kills nightshade family plants
Creates excessive shade and competes for nutrients, reducing eggplant fruit production
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of most vegetables including eggplant
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
