ROSITA EGGPLANT SEEDS

Solanum melongena

Rosita is one of the few exceptionally delicious and easily grown open-pollinated eggplants. Open-pollinated eggplants are too frequently bitter and seedy, take weeks to germinate, and set shamefully few fruits. Not Rosita. She is the workhorse of open-pollinated eggplants.

Plants can grow to 4 feet tall and are extremely prolific in a hot summer. Rosita isn't as early as Millionaire, but definitely earlier than any Italian eggplant. Fruits are the most beautiful shade of electric lavender-pink. Pick them just as soon as they achieve an ideal size for Eggplant Parmesan. Rosita will become seedy if you leave fruits on the plant too long (so don’t do that), but they are never bitter.

Start seeds indoors around 4-6 weeks before the last frost: sow seeds just below surface of moist soil, pressing to keep seed snug; mist generously with hot water, cover with plastic to maintain moisture and temperature; kept moist in bright light at 85°F, seeds should germinate in a week or two. Transplant to individual 3" pots when seedlings have true leaves. Keep warm in bright light before hardening off around the date of the last frost. Tranplant outdoors when soil temperature is at least 65°F and nights stay above 55°F. Rosita is a large plant, space plants at least 1' apart. Requires full sun and moderate daytime heat to produce fruit, although Rosita tolerates cool nights. Generous spacing is ideal.

Packet contains at least 30 seeds.