Green Apple

Family: Solanaceae Fruit Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Green Apple to a garden.

Aromatic, apple-green fruit with a cool, crisp snap to the skin—Green Apple eggplant brings a refreshing, subtly sweet flavor that feels bright and clean.

At maturity, the oval fruits hang in tidy clusters, offering tender flesh that roasts to silky richness and shines in curries, stir-fries, and savory sauces. Grow it for its distinctive color and dependable Indian eggplant performance—75 days to a steady harvest of glossy, green gems.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

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Green Apple Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Green Apple eggplant holds its shape better than most large-fruited types, then turns luxuriously silky without collapsing into mush. That crisp skin and gentle sweetness make it especially good in high-heat stir-fries and curry simmering where you want creamy body but still want a little chew.

Best Uses

quick stir-fries where the cubes stay intact and glossy
roasted/charred halves for a soft, spoonable flesh
curry simmering that thickens into a creamy eggplant body
grilling or broiling under chili-tamarind style sauces
savory pickle-style applications for fresh snap

Flavor Profile

cool, subtly sweet flavor firm skin with a crisp snap tender, creamy interior when cooked mildly vegetal, slightly nutty roasts into silky, scoopable texture

Kitchen Pairings

cumin turmeric chili tahini coconut milk lemon

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common Solanum melongena (eggplant) disease/pest issue, and how do I control it at home?

Eggplant is especially prone to flea beetles and to early blight (leaf spots). For flea beetles, cover young plants with fine row cover and remove covers once flowering begins; if damage is heavy, spray in the evening with insecticidal soap and repeat every 5–7 days. For early blight, remove the most spotted leaves, water at the base (not overhead), and rotate out of nightshades the next season to reduce spores in the soil.

How often should I water Solanum melongena during peak growth, and what soil moisture level should I aim for?

During main growth and fruit set, keep soil evenly moist but not soggy—aim for about 1–1.5 inches of water per week, adjusted for heat and container size. Water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone, then let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly before watering again. Mulch helps prevent moisture swings, which can cause flower drop and misshapen fruit.

How can I tell when my Solanum melongena (green apple eggplant) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored and glossy (the skin should look firm and even-toned) and before seeds toughen. A practical test is to gently press the fruit—if it springs back and feels firm, it’s ready; if it feels hard and dry, it may be over-mature. Cut fruit with scissors or pruners, leaving a short stem, typically around 70–75 days from transplanting.