Diamond is very reliable in my climate, and very productive... it is the only eggplant that I grow every year.
Matinik is a breeding project, original seed was a USDA accession from the Philippines. It is low-growing, VERY thorny, and has a strong tolerance for cool weather... surprising, given its source. The eggplant are light satiny-purple, slim finger-sized, and borne in clusters. I found them to be best when pinky-sized, and still showing a little bit of green. To me, the cold tolerance & continuous yield make it worth putting up with the thorns.
Trialing two new heirlooms from SSE this year, Taiwan Long and Tycoon. Both showed great performance when I observed them on SSE's farm, so I hope they will be able to tolerate the wilt which kills most of the eggplant I've tried in the past.
I've grown Casper for many years in tandem with Diamond, and love the flavor; but the yield has been too inconsistent in recent years, so may not grow it again.
|