Eggplant - Gretel

Common Name: Gretel Eggplant

Description:
Eggplant ‘Gretel’ (Solanum melongena ‘Gretel’) is an early-maturing, high-yielding variety known for its slender, elongated white fruit with a tender, sweet flavour and thin, edible skin. This compact and prolific plant produces clusters of fruit that are perfect for grilling, roasting, and stir-frying, with minimal bitterness and no need for peeling. ‘Gretel’ thrives in full sun and well-drained, fertile soil, requiring regular watering for consistent fruit production. Its compact size makes it an excellent choice for pots and small garden spaces. Harvest when the fruits reach around 10–15 cm for optimal flavour and texture, with continuous yields from mid-summer to autumn.

Form:

• Herbaceous

Mature Size:

• Height: 50 – 70 cm
• Width: 40 – 50 cm

Aspect:

• Full Sun

Flowering:

• Flowers in Spring
• Flowers in Summer

Flower Colour:

• Purple

Key Attributes:

• Suitable for Pots
• Edible Fruit
• Bee Attracting
• Perennial (Grown as Annual)
• High Yielding
• Disease Resistant

Toxicity:

• Leaves and unripe fruit contain solanine and are toxic if consumed in large amounts

Companion Plants:

• Basil (Repels pests, improves growth)
• Marigolds (Deter nematodes and aphids)
• Nasturtiums (Attract beneficial insects)
• Capsicum (Similar growing conditions)
• Beans (Improve soil nitrogen)