Black Beauty

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Velvety, smoky-sweet flavor blooms in every slice of Black Beauty, where deep mahogany skin gives way to lush, rosy-red flesh with a tender, beefsteak heft.

The fruits are large and beautifully irregular in silhouette, with a juicy, low-seed interior that feels almost satiny in the mouth. Grow Black Beauty for standout fresh salads and bold, slow-simmered sauces that showcase its dark, complex character.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Sep 13th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	85
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	9

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This beefsteak is built for the knife: deep, smoky-sweet flavor with a low-seed interior that stays tender without flooding your plate. When you simmer it low and slow, the mahogany notes go dark and glossy, making it the kind of sauce you actually taste with a spoon.

Best Uses

thick slicing for salads where it won’t turn watery
slow-simmered tomato sauce for pasta—reduce until glossy and dark
char and peel for a smoky, spoonable topping over grains or grilled bread
quick blender-style puree for roasted pepper + tomato soup

Flavor Profile

smoky-sweet, wine-dark tang velvety, low-seed juiciness meaty beefsteak bite with rosy-red tenderness

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil balsamic vinegar mozzarella charred bread (sourdough)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Black Beauty eggplants turning yellow with leaf holes and sticky spots—what pest is it and what should I do?

Sticky honeydew with small yellowing patches and leaf distortion usually points to aphids on Black Beauty eggplant leaves and stems. Spray the plants with a strong jet of water to knock them off, then apply insecticidal soap, covering the undersides of leaves; repeat every 5–7 days until no new colonies appear. Check for leaf-chewing frass and damaged margins as well—if damage is more “skeletonized,” use a targeted treatment for chewing pests and remove heavily infested leaves.

How often should I water Black Beauty eggplant during the main growing phase?

During the main growth (once plants are established and sizing up fruit), keep soil evenly moist—water about 1–2 times per week depending on heat, with enough water to wet the root zone deeply. Aim for roughly 1 inch per week total, and don’t let the soil dry out between waterings, because Black Beauty will drop blossoms and small fruit when moisture fluctuates. Use mulch to reduce evaporation and check moisture by feeling the top 2 inches of soil; water when it feels dry at that depth.

How can I tell when Black Beauty eggplant is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are deep glossy purple, firm, and about 6–8 inches long (typically around 85 days from sowing, depending on your start date). If the skin looks dull or the fruit feels soft, it’s either overripe or stressed—overripe eggplant gets seedy and can turn bitter. Use pruning shears to cut the fruit with a short stem, and harvest regularly to keep the plant producing.