Aubergines are a warm-weather crop , and cannot be planted out until after the last frost has passed. They can be started from seed in pots indoors, around 8 weeks before the estimated end of the frosts for the year.
What is pea aubergine?
Pea aubergine is a classic Thai ingredient . Use when making curries and stir fries for a real burst of flavour. Enjoy the authentic taste and texture of pea aubergines in curries, stir fries or soups. This versatile ingredient can also be crushed and used to create delicious relishes or dips.
How do you get aubergines to flower?
Pinch out the growing tips of the main stems of your aubergine plants when 30cm high to encourage side shoots to develop. Once plants have started to flower, feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser or tomato feed, and mist with water to encourage the fruits to set. When you have five to six fruits remove any other small fruiting shoots.
Harvesting Aubergines Once the eggplants are ready to be harvested ( around 70- 80 days after planting out and 100-120 days from germination), look for shiny, well-rounded fruit with plump, smooth skin. Fruit needs to be cut, rather than pulled off the plant. Cut close to the stem, leaving about an inch of growth.
Your aubergine plant will take between 100-120 days to grow to maturity from seed, or around 70-90 days if grown from a young seedling. Aubergines are a warm-weather crop, and cannot be planted out until after the last frost has passed.
What does pea eggplant taste like?
This small eggplant adds a pleasingly slightly bitter taste, color and texture to the dish, which cannot be easily replicated by any other ingredient. Though pea eggplants are approximately the size of green English sweet peas , their taste is entirely different.
This of course begs the inquiry “What are Thai pea eggplants?”
Some think that Thai Pea Eggplants ( Solanum torvum, mak-heua puang มะเขือพวง in Thai) are normally added to Thai curries such as green, panang, kaeng tai pla and red curry . They are also a favorite addition to Thai chili pastes including nam prik kapee (chili paste with shrimp paste).
This of course begs the query “What is pea eggplant extract good for?”
One idea is that as per Wiki, “extracts of the plant are reported to be useful in the treatment of hyperactivity, colds and cough, pimples, skin diseases .” In fact in Thai pharmacies, cold medicine is available with its chief ingredients being the extract of the pea eggplant.