Bred to excel in tropical and subtropical conditions, Pingtung Long routinely out-yields and out-flavors conventional varieties, making it an indispensable favorite for gourmet home cooks.

• Sweet, Tender & Bitter-Free Flesh: Sliced open, the pure white interior reveals a silky, fine-grained texture with very few seeds. Naturally sweet and non-bitter, it requires no pre-salting or weeping before cooking and absorbs pan sauces like a sponge.
• Tender, Edible Skin: Unlike thick-skinned western eggplants, Pingtung Long boasts paper-thin, delicate lavender-purple skin that softens completely when cooked, preserving its vibrant presentation and cutting prep time down to seconds.
• Exceptional Heat & Disease Resistance: Thriving in sweltering summer weather and heavy humidity, the vigorous, upright plants demonstrate natural resilience against common solanaceous wilt diseases, setting dozens of slender fruits in temperatures that cause other varieties to drop blossoms.
• Asian Culinary Masterpiece: The uniform diameter makes it the premier variety for high-heat stir-fries, spicy Szechuan garlic eggplant dishes, Japanese tempura, lengthwise grilling on skewers, and creamy, fire-roasted dips.

"Pingtung Long is the variety that converts lifelong eggplant skeptics into believers. Traditional eggplants can be spongy and bitter, but Pingtung Long cooks down into a velvety, butter-tender richness that is second to none. Watching a single plant fill out with up to twenty hanging, violet-magenta wands is a spectacular garden sight. Tossed into a smoking wok with garlic, ginger, and soy sauce, it delivers some of the best comfort food your garden will ever produce."

• Starting Indoors & Bottom Heat: Sow seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your region's last predicted spring frost. Plant 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix and maintain soil temperatures at 80°F to 85°F (27°C–29°C) using a heat mat, as eggplants require significant bottom heat to germinate quickly and reliably.
• Transplanting Outdoors: Harden off seedlings carefully and transplant outside only after all danger of frost has passed and night temperatures consistently stay above 60°F (15°C). Eggplants stall in cold soil; waiting for warm soil temperatures pays off with explosive growth.
• Staking & Spacing: Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 30 to 36 inches apart. While the plants develop sturdy woody stems up to 3 to 4 feet tall, light staking or a tomato cage is strongly recommended to keep the long, heavy fruits suspended cleanly above the garden mulch.
• Harvesting: Begin harvesting when the slender fruits reach 10 to 14 inches long and the skin remains shiny and taut. Use garden shears to snip the stem, leaving a 1-inch calyx handle. Avoid waiting until the skin turns dull, which signals overmaturity and seed development.