EGGPLANT - Turkish Orange

Turkish Orange is an African species (the purple and white varieties we are more familiar with are Asian) with an incredibly rich, non-bitter flavor and a charming round shape. That's not to mention the orange color with stripes!

Turkish Orange sets fruits the size of tennis balls. Unlike many heirloom vegetables, it is a very heavy producer—expect a long and fruitful season of 3-inch-diameter eggplants from very compact plants you can grow in containers as well as the garden.

Even though Turkish Orange is always photographed in its full deep orange regalia, the fruit is actually best picked when the fruits begin to turn from green to cream. They may not look as pretty on the chopping board at this stage, but their sweet succulence is at its height.