Eggplant
Barbentane Aubergine
Barbentane Aubergine: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Barbentane aubergine is a variety of Solanum melongena, in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its most recognisable feature is an elongated, very dark purple fruit with glossy skin. The cultivar is early, but development also depends on the warmth available. It belongs to the long-fruited aubergines, with a fairly narrow outline rather than a round, globe-shaped fruit. This shape is a useful part of its varietal identity.Beneath the dark skin, the flesh is white and firm before cooking. Botanically, the fruit is a fleshy berry containing small pale seeds within the pulp. In a young fruit suitable for the kitchen, these seeds are fairly inconspicuous; they become more noticeable as the fruit ages. A green calyx surrounds the point where the stalk attaches and remains at the top of the fruit. It can bear prickles on some plants.The plant has an upright, branching habit. Its simple alternate leaves are broad, oval…
