Aubergine Fengyuan

[momol]

Hello All,

I am thinking of getting it as it's description are just what I am looking for :
compact plant (40cm or so), productive, long purple fruit (similar to the Ping Tung's fruit), early (60 to 65 days), tasty mild fruit and non bitter plus it is suitable to be grown in pot at the windowsill. I am so tempted .
It sounds perfect for non green house GYO !

Have you grow it before and did it match all the descriptions ?

Many thanks in advance .

[veg4681]

I haven't come across the Fengyuan, must be from China with a name like that and it isn't F1 which is good, right?

I understand your dilemma, it's so frustrating, tricky and time consuming but we're all looking for that ideal aubergine variety that is compact in size yet prolific cropping and thrives reasonably well in cooler European climate. I have narrowed down to those that are baby sized fruits and the long, thin shaped fruits but you can easily get mixed up with the 'long but fat' ones which are probably a bit risky.

For me it isn't just the success of growing an aubergine that counts but the number of decent sized fruits per plant that matters most, you know more value for your garden space. Hope you'll find what you're looking for and let us know the perfect ones to go for. In the end I've just gone for 3 Calliope eggplants for this year when 3 other varieties failed with germination due to my own inexperience with heated propagator but the good news is saving seeds should be easier with no risk of cross pollination. Sorry does aubergine cross pollinate with other non-aubergine vegetable in the same veg family (sure it doesn't)?

[momol]

It is an OP apparently and said to be from Taiwan. Other source I found, said : it reach to 50cm, mature in 70 to 75 days but other than that all info are matching.

I am not geared to the productivity (but will welcome it gladly) as I am the only one to eat them if they ever produce. I think around 3 or 4 fruit are more than enough to me.
What I am interested are it's compact growth, earliness and fruit quality. It will surely be an attractive potted plant both for edible and decorative purpose.
If they ever produce that much, my MIL and neighbour will always be happy to take any away .

[momol]

No, they don't cross pollinate with other vegetables (not even pepper, tomato, nor potatoes) but will be cross pollinating with other aubergine.

[veg4681]

I am not geared to the productivity (but will welcome it gladly) as I am the only one to eat them if they ever produce. I think around 3 or 4 fruit are more than enough to me. What I am interested are it's compact growth, earliness and fruit quality.

I think 3-4 fruits per plant is relatively standard surely so you have less harsher criteria than I have, you may even achieve that with the common Black Beauty or Moneymaker (taste is supposed to be good) apart from their plant size. During the summer, I can buy 3 massive aubergines at the city market for £1, cheaper than I can possibly grow. You know me, I refuse to grow anything that is more expensive to grow than I can buy . I don't think Fengyuan is for me then for the amounts of fruits.

I've seen certain aubergine variety that looks more like tomato but risky on taste (bitter?) that you tend to get with unconventional or ornamental looking ones...as you've discovered with your Turkish or Brazilian Orange. Having said that I'm sure I've eaten an egg sized aubergine before yet they still tasted good, no bitterness and they're such handy size.

[Alison]

I grew some little ones a few years ago, Baby Rosana, I think and they were very tasty, small but pretty prolific. Not grown them since as I'm trying to perfect a larger fruited crop.

Re buying them in the supermarket, have never seen any that aren't imported so won't be buying them until I do.

[momol]

I have 1 baby Rosanna plant, Alison. Good to know the BR taste good . I also got 5 Ping Tung plant (but will only keep 1 or 2). I heard, PT can grow to 80cm or taller and very wide which is not very handy for my small garden .

Veg, I can buy those common Black Beauty type aubergine easily here but I never like it's taste nor texture (felt like cardboard or dish sponge, sorry to discribe it like that). I miss the soft texture of fresh young aubergine, not just soft but still has it's mild sweetness... it is a real treat for me .
I have no idea how much will Fengyuan aubergine produce but I am hoping it to be the right one for me.

[smallblueplanet]

...I miss the soft texture of fresh young aubergine, not just soft but still has it's mild sweetness... it is a real treat for me .

Lol! The taste you describe is exactly why I haven't tried growing Thai Long Green again! They were pretty prolific and long cropping, also the fruit were tasty to eat from very small.

[momol]

Nice pictures, thanks SBP.

[smallblueplanet]

So will you try some momol?

[momol]

Hmmm tempting but thanks, SBP, my heart is with the purple one .