Long Red Eggplant

Solanum melongena (nightshade)

Also known as: Red Asian Eggplant, Red Long Eggplant

A striking heirloom producing oblong, tomato-red fruit to 18cm with creamy white flesh. Mild, classic flavour and tender texture make it versatile for grilling, roasting, ratatouille, curries and Mediterranean dishes — with the bonus of standout colour on the plate. Vigorous, productive plants thrive through Australian summers.

Days to harvest 75-85 days
Fruit size 18cm
Sowing depth 5mm
Germination 7–14 days at 24–32 °C
Spacing 70cm apart in rows 80cm apart
Aspect Full sun, moist well-drained soil
Frost tolerance Frost sensitive needs warm season

Growing notes

Choose a spot with 10 hours of daily sunlight and protect from cold winds. Eggplants dislike cold soil.

Soil preparation: Amend soil with aged compost or manure to ensure fertility and drainage; maintain a pH between 5.5 and 6.8.

Support: Install stakes or cages at planting time to support the plant as it grows tall and heavy with fruit.

Watering & feeding: Water deeply to keep soil evenly moist but not soggy; feed with a balanced fertiliser every 2–3 weeks during the growing season.

Harvest: Pick fruit when the skin is glossy and firm to the touch; overripe eggplants become bitter and seedy.

Timing: Expect harvest 14–16 weeks after sowing, depending on the variety and climate conditions.













Key features

  • Open-pollinated true aubergine
  • Oblong red fruit to 18cm with creamy white flesh
  • Mild flavour, tender texture, holds shape when cooked
  • Versatile: grilling, roasting, frying, stuffing, pickling
  • Thrives through Aussie summers
  • Striking red colour — unusual for an aubergine

Short season tips

Best started indoors on heat mats eggplants need 24–32 °C heat to germinate. Sow 6-8 weeks before the last frost or purchase as 6–8-week-old seedlings.
Transplant into the garden when soil temperature has reliably warmed to at least 15°C (ideally 18°C or above) to avoid plant stalling. Cool soil sets aubergine back significantly — better to wait an extra fortnight than transplant too early.




  • Spring
  • Summer

Perennial in frost-free areas; grown as an annual elsewhere

  • Marigolds, basil, beans, and spinach - offering benefits like pest repellent, nitrogen fixation, and soil shading
  • Cucumbers, zucchini, melons, or corn - these are heavy feeders that compete for nutrients

The long red eggplant is a cultivar of Solanum melongena (common eggplant), a species originally domesticated in South Asia and East Asia from the wild nightshade Solanum incanum.  The "long red" refers to a specific shape and color variant within the common eggplant species, distinct from the round, purple globe eggplant.