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Calliope — Aubergines | DarkGrow Seed Bank

Name: Calliope
Brand: DarkGrow Seed Bank

64days to harvest

7-10days to germinate

Z9–12USDA zones

Easy to Moderatedifficulty

F1 hybridContainer friendly

Sowing

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant when soil temperature is consistently above 60°F and nights stay above 50°F.

Cultivation

Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)
Water: High — consistent moisture needed
Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil enriched with organic matter
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Spacing: 24-30 inches
Height: 2-4 feet
Season: Warm season annual

Appearance & flavour

Colour: Deep glossy purple
Size: 2"
Shape: Elongated oval, classic eggplant shape
Flavour: Creamy, mild, and sweet with excellent texture

In the kitchen

Eggplant parmesan, grilling, roasting, Mediterranean dishes, moussaka, baba ganoush

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests: Flea beetles, aphids, spider mites, whiteflies
Diseases: Generally disease resistant, occasional issues with late blight in humid conditions
Resistance: Excellent disease resistance including verticillium wilt and bacterial wilt

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Zone	Start indoors	Transplant	Direct sow	Harvest
1	May	July – August	—	September – August
2	April – May	June – July	—	September
3	April	June – July	—	August – October
4	March – April	June	—	August – October
5	March	May – June	—	August – October
6	March	May – June	—	July – September
7	February – March	April – May	—	July – September
8	February	April – May	—	June – August
9	January	March – April	—	May – July
10	January	February – March	—	May – July
11	January	January – February	—	April – June
12	January	January – February	—	April – June
13	January	January – February	—	April – June

Companion planting

8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.

BasilRepels aphids, spider mites, and hornworms while potentially improving eggplant flavor

TomatoesSimilar growing requirements and pest management, can share space efficiently

PeppersFellow nightshades with compatible growing needs and mutual pest deterrence

MarigoldsRepel nematodes, aphids, and flea beetles while attracting beneficial insects

OreganoDeters aphids, spider mites, and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture

NasturtiumsAct as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel squash bugs

BeansFix nitrogen in soil to benefit heavy-feeding eggplants

CatnipRepels flea beetles, aphids, and ants that can damage eggplant

Avoid

FennelProduces allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of most vegetables including eggplant

Black WalnutProduces juglone toxin that causes wilting and death in nightshade family plants

SunflowersCompete aggressively for nutrients and water, can stunt eggplant growth

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories (per 100 g): 25
Protein (g): 0.98
Fat (g): 0.18
Carbohydrate (g): 5.88
Fibre (g): 3
Sugars (g): 3.53
Vitamin A (µg): 1
Vitamin C (mg): 2.2
Vitamin E (mg): 0.3
Vitamin K (µg): 3.5
Vitamin B6 (mg): 0.084
Folate (µg): 22
Calcium (mg): 9
Iron (mg): 0.23
Magnesium (mg): 14
Phosphorus (mg): 24
Potassium (mg): 229
Zinc (mg): 0.16
Selenium (µg): 0.3

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Where to buy seed and equipment

Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Growing it? There is a full cultivation guide at the aubergines growing guide.

Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.

Calliope

Sowing

Cultivation

Appearance & flavour

In the kitchen

Pests, disease & resistance

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Companion planting

Avoid

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Where to buy seed and equipment

Grown Calliope?

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