How to Grow Ping Tung Long
Solanum melongena 'Ping Tung Long'
Ping Tung Long is a popular heirloom eggplant variety prized for its mild flavor and deep purple skin. Gardeners grow it to enjoy tender fruit in warm summer gardens or containers. This easy-to-grow plant thrives in full sun but requires consistent moisture to produce its best results.
📷 Wikipedia: EggplantStarting Ping Tung Long: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Ping Tung Long is not usually started indoors.
Because this is a frost-sensitive warm-season crop that cannot survive freezing temperatures, seedlings should only be moved outdoors or planted directly into the garden after all danger of spring frost has passed and the soil has warmed sufficiently.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 for optimal growth. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date or sow directly outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil warms up. Press seeds into the soil at a depth of about half an inch. Expect germination to occur within 10 to 15 days under warm conditions.
Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows that are also spaced roughly two feet apart. These eggplants do not require trellising but benefit from consistent watering to maintain high moisture levels, especially during fruit set. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and feed the plant regularly with balanced fertilizer as it grows.
Watch for flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, aphids, and spider mites; use row covers or hand-pick pests early. Prevent diseases like verticillium wilt by rotating crops annually and ensuring good air circulation. Harvest the fruit when it reaches its deep purple maturity, typically 70 to 80 days after sowing, by twisting gently from the stem.
When to Plant Ping Tung 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 Ping Tung Long
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving eggplant flavor
Repels flea beetles, ants, and aphids that commonly attack eggplant
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repels spider mites, aphids, and other common eggplant pests
Share similar growing conditions and pest management strategies
Attracts beneficial insects and deters flea beetles and hornworms
Compatible nightshade family members with similar care requirements
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone toxin that severely stunts nightshade family growth
Competes for nutrients and attracts corn earworm which also damages eggplant
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit eggplant growth and development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
