Eggplant - Shimoda
I got these seeds from Adaptive Seeds. Shimoda Nasu (nasu translates to eggplant in Japanese) is a Japanese eggplant. Traditionally used to make Nasu no Tsukemono (Japanese pickled eggplant), this pre-1860's heirloom offers sweet, mild flavor, thin skin, and dense flesh. These eggplants are dark purple and have purple stems. The only other variety I've seen to have both dark skin and dark stem is Mitoyo (also a Japanese variety). Adaptive does seem to be the only commercial source in the US for Shimoda eggplant seeds. I did try to track down their source for this variety but hit a lot of dead-ends. It came to the US via a trip to Japan by a Portland, Oregon farm (The Side Yard Farm).
70 days to maturity
70 days to maturity