Striped Tago Eggplant

15 Seeds

Striped Tago Eggplant is a productive heirloom-style variety that produces medium-sized oval fruits with attractive purple and white stripes. The flesh is tender, creamy, and mildly sweet with very few seeds, making it excellent for grilling, roasting, frying, stuffing, curries, and Mediterranean dishes. It is rich in dietary fiber, vitamins B1, B6, C, potassium, manganese, and antioxidants such as nasunin, which is concentrated in the purple skin. Eggplants thrive in warm weather and grow very well in the Gulf during the cooler planting season.

Best Planting Time

• August to November (recommended)
• January to February (inside greenhouses or protected growing areas)
• Avoid sowing during the peak summer heat.

Seed Preparation

• Soak seeds in lukewarm water (25–30°C) for 8–12 hours before sowing.
• No cold stratification is required.
• Optional: Soak seeds in seaweed extract or a seed-starting solution to improve germination.

Soil Preparation

Use fertile, loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Recommended mix:

• 40% Coco peat
• 30% Compost
• 20% Garden soil
• 10% Perlite

Ideal soil pH:

• 5.8–6.8

Sowing Method

• Sow seeds in seed trays or small nursery pots.
• Plant seeds 0.5–1 cm deep.
• Cover lightly with fine soil.
• Keep the growing medium consistently moist until germination.

Temperature & Light

• Ideal germination temperature: 24–30°C
• Ideal growing temperature: 22–32°C
• Requires 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Young seedlings benefit from light afternoon shade during unusually hot days.

Watering

• Keep the soil evenly moist during germination.
• Water deeply when the top 2–3 cm of soil becomes dry.
• Avoid prolonged waterlogging.

Germination Time

• 7–14 days

Transplanting

• Transplant seedlings when they have:
  • 4–6 true leaves
  • Height of 15–20 cm
• Space plants:
  • 50–60 cm apart
• Space rows:
  • 70–90 cm apart

Harvesting

• Harvest fruits 70–90 days after transplanting.
• Pick when fruits are firm, glossy, and fully colored before the skin becomes dull and seeds harden.
• Regular harvesting encourages continuous fruit production.

Hydroponic Growing

• Suitable for Dutch bucket, drip irrigation, and other hydroponic systems.
• Maintain nutrient solution:
  • pH: 5.8–6.5
  • EC: 2.0–3.0 mS/cm

Gulf Climate Tips

• Plant during the cooler months for the best yield.
• Apply organic mulch to reduce soil temperature and conserve moisture.
• Fertilize every 2–3 weeks with a balanced fertilizer, then switch to a fertilizer higher in potassium once flowering begins.
• Provide stakes or cages to support heavy fruiting branches.
• Monitor for aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites, especially in warm weather.
• Striped Tago Eggplant grows very well in home gardens, raised beds, containers, greenhouses, and hydroponic systems throughout the Gulf.