It is a member of the Solanaceae family, which includes other vegetable crops such as tomatoes, potatoes and capsicums. Eggplants have been widely grown in southern Europe, the Middle East and Asia for hundreds of years.
What country does eggplant grow in?
There is no consensus about the place of origin of eggplant; the plant species has been described as native to India, where it continues to grow wild, Africa, or South Asia. It has been cultivated in southern and eastern Asia since prehistory.
Do eggplants grow in Egypt?
Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is generally enlisted as classical commodity for both local consumption and exportation. It is grown in most cultivated area in Egypt.
How do you grow Lebanese eggplant?
They aren’t very fussy about soil and can even cope with the occasional drying out once they are established! All you need to do is plant the seeds or seedlings in prepared soil, add water and fertiliser and watch them grow.
Where did the eggplant originate from?
The team found that the group containing the relatives of the aubergine originated in northeastern Africa some two million years ago. Plants then dispersed eastwards to tropical Asia, and to southern and western Africa. In Asia, the dispersal gave rise to a species that scientists call Solanum insanum.
Which country eats the most aubergines?
China (34M tonnes) constituted the country with the largest volume of eggplant consumption, accounting for 67% of total volume.
What is the eggplant capital of the world?
New Jersey
Did you know that New Jersey grows about 66 percent of the world’s eggplants? It’s true!
Why is eggplant called aubergine?
What is this? Aubergine is a French word, used primarily in Europe to refer to an eggplant. The name, which is actually the original term (not eggplant), refers to its color. Aubergine meant “purple-brownish color” in French, which is quite suitable.
Why is it called aubergine?
Eggplants are called aubergines in Europe because it is the French word for this vegetable. When European settlers originally brought the eggplant to the United States, they brought a white version and these egg-shaped, pale vegetables inspired the name “eggplant” because they looked like goose eggs.
Is aubergine an eggplant?
eggplant, (Solanum melongena), also called aubergine or Guinea squash, tender perennial plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), grown for its edible fruits.
Is eggplant difficult to grow?
Eggplants demand rich soil, even consistent water, warm temperatures, bonus side-dressings of nutrients, and little or no wind. They can be difficult to grow without these ingredients.
Will eggplant survive the winter?
You sure can!
It’s called overwintering. And, if your climate is warm enough (or you can keep the plant warm enough) you can keep your same eggplant plant alive for years to come. You can do this with a variety of other plants too, such as peppers (hot or sweet), tomatoes, & okra!
How big do Lebanese eggplants get?
They produce slender, elongated fruits, rather than fat, squat types, and are often used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. Lebanese eggplants grow 3 to 4 feet high and may be grown in containers, as well as in a traditional vegetable garden.
How many years do eggplants live?
Eggplant plants can live up to three years in very warm climates, like zones 10-12. But in most regions they’re grown as annuals, and only live for one season.
Who invented eggplant?
Eggplants originated in China and India and have been cultivated there for thousands of years. The Spanish Moors introduced the eggplant into southern and Eastern Europe where it became very popular. The early explorers of the New World introduced eggplant into the Americas in the 1500s, but the plant never caught on.
Is eggplant a berry?
Yes, berries! Many fruits that come from a single flower, like eggplants, and even cucumbers and melons, are classified as berries. Eggplants count as vegetables only in one sense—the culinary.
What culture eats eggplant?
Eggplant or aubergine is used in the cuisine of many countries. It is often stewed, as in the French ratatouille, or deep fried as in the Italian parmigiana di melanzane, the Turkish karnıyarık or Turkish and Greek musakka/moussaka, and Middle-Eastern and South Asian dishes.
Who exports the most eggplant?
In 2021, Spain also led eggplant exports by value, as Spanish eggplant exports amounted to 183.02 million euros. It was followed by the Netherlands with sales worth 83.02 million euros, Mexico with 66.17 million euros, the United States with 27.42 million, and Iran with 26.82 million euros.
What is the biggest eggplant in the world?
The heaviest aubergine (Solanum melongena) weighed 3.362 kg (7 lb 6.6 oz) and was grown by Peter Glazebrook (UK) for entry in the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championships, held at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire, UK, on 22 September 2022.
Where are aubergines farmed?
Aubergines are thought to have been first cultivated in India and China from the 5th century, although they are perhaps most famous in Italian and Greek cooking.
Are there different types of eggplant?
Here are 11 of the most common types of eggplants, and how to cook them.
- Chinese Eggplant. Stieglitz/Getty Images.
- Fairy Tale Eggplant. David Speer/Meredith.
- Globe/American Eggplant. Kindra Clineff/Meredith.
- Graffiti/Zebra/Sicilian Eggplant.
- Indian Eggplant.
- Italian Eggplant.
- 7. Japanese Eggplant.
- Little Green Eggplant.