Solanum aethiopicum Striped Toga

Widely used in African cuisine, the 'Striped Toga' eggplant surprises with its small bicoloured fruits, green and orange, which are very decorative. They are harvested from July to October and can be consumed raw or cooked, boiled, marinated, or even stewed. The young leaves can be cooked like spinach. Sow in March to April for a harvest 5 months later. Not very hardy, it is best grown in mild climates. Elsewhere, sow it under a tunnel or in a greenhouse.

From the Solanaceae family, Solanum aethiopicum is native to Africa, as its Latin name suggests. It has conquered the American continent, especially Brazil, but is still relatively unknown in Europe. However, this variety of African eggplant or bitter eggplant has the particularity of being both productive and decorative. Indeed, this herbaceous plant with an upright habit produces clusters of small fleshy and ovate fruits, about 7 to 8 cm (3in) long with a diameter of 2 to 3 cm (1in). Bicoloured, they are orange-yellow striped with green and become uniformly orange at full ripeness. The 'Striped Toga' eggplant can produce an average of 30 to 40 fruits per plant. They have a pronounced aroma with a slight bitterness. Unlike the leaves of our purple eggplant (Solanum melongena), its young leaves are edible and can be consumed like spinach. Another advantage of the African eggplant!

Harvest the 'Striped Toga' eggplant as needed and based on their development (keeping in mind that the fruits remain small) between July and October. We recommend not waiting too long to harvest, as the fruit's bitterness increases as it ripens. Pick your 'Striped Toga' eggplants before the orange colour appears.

The fruits can be stored well after harvesting and can be cooked in many different ways. They can be consumed raw, pickled to enhance your appetizers and salads, boiled, fried, grilled, or even stewed. Let your imagination and curiosity inspire you with original  recipes.

Solanum aethiopicum needs heat and sun for a fairly long period. It is best grown outdoors in mild climate regions. Elsewhere, grow it in a greenhouse or under a tunnel. Plan for a warm sowing (20-25°C (68-77°F)) early enough, in February-March, then transplant the young plants into pots. When the plants reach 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10in) in height, plant them in the ground, making sure that the risk of frost is completely gone. It is also possible to grow it in pots.