Egg + Plant = Eggplant?

Here it is! Our very own eggplant discussion thread! What kind are you growing? How do you care for them? Any critters annoying them? Anything you'd like to say about eggplant is welcomed here :)

Since anything veggies is my thing. Err correction, everything veggies is what I like, not neccessarily that I knew much about them. I'll pull a chair here to reserve my spot. lol. Thanks bariolio for the nice opening. Love that pic. you're soooo creative!

Oooh BTW (by the way), is that basil with the eggs? and the butterfly. lol

Nice touch. I guess it's not too late to start from seed for my "fall crop" (ahem).

My BF grew the veggies, historically, so I have plenty of seeds stored up. Guess I have to get busy. I had never seen the finger thing/fingerling eggplant, but my friend was being generous giving me plants and I could not stop myself.

I do love eggplant. Funny - did not when I was a kid and mom made us eat it. Bleck. Now I'm a vegetarian. Times change. Let's hear it about those eggplants. I hear they are favorites of the flea beetles.

I think you've heard it right. I found that flea's larvae thrive on stagnant/stale air. With good air circulation, that sort of keep the number down. I don't believe in using chemical on veggies, since we are trying to eat healthy. Using chemicals is a paradox isn't it?

Thanks guys! That is a rather struggling patchouli plant. I brought it in because I think the spider mites or something microscopic was on the leaves. I've since learned that patchouli likes to be moist so trying to water more. Time will tell. As for eggplant, are you referring to the Japanese type eggplant when you say fingerling? Look up Ichiban and see if yours look like that.
I just came across a nice website that you may find helpful--this particular page is about eggplant diseases and pests:

http://www.harvestwizard.com/2009/06/eggplant_troubleshooting.html

I'm going to try and find out why my eggplant leaves are turning yellow and dropping off.

Last night I grilled my eggplant harvest of the last week.
It takes em a while, so I normally grill them once a week and eat all the next week. Add them in salads with other veggies or just alone.
I love them better cold.
Here how they look.

oh yum! I too cooked mine day before last. It turned out pretty good. I may have to purchase some of those juicy looking eggplants from the grocery now that I've explored the various recipe available. Thanks go to you drthor. Love your kitchen setting as well.

I slice the eggplants really thin using one of those "mandolin" slicers. Less than 1/8"
I cut by my sink so I can lay the slices on a colander and sprinkle salt for each layer.
The salt will help the water in the eggplant to come out ... just have a look on the slices. You can see them sweat.
In this way also the bitterness will go away and the extra water, making your grilled slices very cruncky.
I keep slicing and adding salt.
Let the slices to rest for 20-30 minutes.

Turn on a grill pan (more used and older = the better) and start to grill the slices.
I like when I see the black marks.

Add some olive oil once in a while ... just remember the eggplants will assorbe the oil really fast ... so don't exagerate

I had some leftover grilled eggplant, red bp and a grilled okra and chopped them up and made an omelet with them (and an ounce of tasty cheese). Yummy!

Mmmm!

Is there a cooking/recipe forum? I think I remember seeing the canning/jarring forum. Not sure I'm headed that direction with the eggplant, but what about dehydration for storage? Ever try it with eggplant?

A.

ps. There HAS to be a forum for my Rhonco dehydrator. I know a lot of women on DG who talk about theirs. I need to get past novice.