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'Dusky' Eggplant
 
Sub-Category: Early
 
Sub-Category 2:
Description: Early hybrid. Pear-shaped, glossy ,purple-black, 3 1/2-inch fruit with a green calyx on compact plant. Resistant to tomato mosaic virus.
Days To Maturity: 56-75
Seed Sources:
 
Rating Summary
 
Overall: (3.7 Stars)Overall
Taste: (3.6 Stars)Taste
Yield: (3.0 Stars)Yield
Ease/Reliability: (3.6 Stars)Ease/Reliability
 
Reviews
 
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Number of Reviews: 7

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Reviewed on 03/23/2009 by margie - An experienced gardener

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Dawson, Georgia, United States
Frost Free Season: 183 - 203 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

I have had spotty luck with this eggplant. This may be the last year I will use this variety. I will grow the main crop in an Earthbox and see if I get better yields.
 

Reviewed on 08/14/2008 by smurfette0424 -

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Montgomery, Maryland, United States
Frost Free Season:
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Of the 6 eggplant varieties that I grew this year, Dusky is hands-down the best! Each of our 4 plants produced about 3 eggplants already, and there are currently 3-4 little ones on each that I'm waiting patiently for. The plants grow tall (about 4') and very bushy. I used 2' bamboo stakes, but will likely use something stronger next year. The plants are so heavy with fruit that they really need some extra support. I love this variety!
 

Reviewed on 07/04/2008 by papagard - An experienced gardener

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Thurston, Washington, United States
Frost Free Season: Fewer than 103 days
Soil Texture: Sand
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: Less than 6 hours per day

I have tried this variety in a warm south-facing bed, among Hybrid Tea Roses. They don't get half as tall as I used to get in Northeast Mississippi; but they do seem to thrive. I only got a few small fruits at the end of the season; but the bright purple blossoms were a nice contrast with the Roses, and the foliage was nice enough to call them ornamental, but decidedly not a food crop in this climate; perhaps another variety, but just not Dusky. The seed was from Vessey's, but not necessarily all that hardy out here. The seeds had to be started in the greenhouse on heated benches.
 

Reviewed on 04/10/2007 by MikeM - An experienced gardener

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Ontario, Canada
Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Performed consistently in cool and short season/late planting conditions. A reliable early eggplant.
 
1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.  

Reviewed on 11/24/2006 by Digit - An experienced gardener

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Spokane, Washington, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Sand
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Very reliable year-after-year. Nearly outside of area that would allow for eggplant production with a short growing season and cool nights but this one comes thru.
 

Reviewed on 07/28/2005 by AceOfSpades453 - An intermediate gardener

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Nassau, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: More than 203 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

A very dependable eggplant variety. Yield was average with smaller sized fruit (b/c it is an early hybrid type). I've actually had very good success when grown in containers due to its compact size but may require more watering. Overall, it's a good eggplant to grow as long as the growing requirement are met.
 

Reviewed on 10/25/2004 by E Mancini - An experienced gardener

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Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Jefferson, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Cool wet weather resulted in poor yield. Some plants were barren.
 




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