Eggplant is a plant that bears large egg-shaped fruit. The fruit also is called eggplant and sometimes garden egg. The purple variety of fruit has been a popular vegetable in the United States since about 1860, even though it has moderately low levels of vitamins and calories. Eggplants with white, brown, yellow, or striped fruits are used chiefly as ornaments. It is believed the first eggplant grew in northern India and later spread to China, Europe, and South America. Now eggplant grows in many tropical lands. The fruit grows on a bush that stands from 2 to 6 feet (61 to 180 centimeters) high. The fruit hangs among the grayish-green hairy leaves, and sometimes grows nearly as large as a football. It grows only in warm weather, and takes 115 to 120 days to ripen. Where the warm season is too short, the seeds must be planted in a greenhouse. Then the seedlings are transplanted after warm weather begins. Little black flea beetles often attack eggplants and eat holes in the leaves. These beetles must be controlled to grow eggplants successfully.
