Gilo Eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum)

Gilo Tingua Eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum): this ornamental variety comes from Brazil, the fruits are edible, better to consume them when still immature, dark green. It is also known as African Eggplant, and Mock Tomato (it is said to be related to both, eggplants and tomatoes).
 The plant, like most of the ones in this species, has dark stem and veins , which make it even prettier because of the colour contrast with the leaves. The numerous fruits, about 10-12 cm, are initially green and turn into a very bright red/orange when ripe, a real beauty to look at. They hang from plant for a long time, but we recommend removing them to increase their production. This is a very rustic plant, perfect for pots, it tolerates poor irrigation well, and the stress that entails container cultivation. The organoleptic characteristics are average, cultivate it because of its botanica l or ornamental features.

1. Very low: no need for irrigation
2. Low: also suitable for hot and arid areas, irrigate only in case of prolonged drough.
3. Reduced: this variety is amongst the leas demanding of its species, hence it is highly suitable for areas with sporadic rainfall, to be irrigated only in case of prolonged droughts
4. Tolerant to water stress: it needs moderate irrigation, suitable for gardens with low water consumption.

We are currently creating a guide for this kind of cultivation, unfortunately, until the guide is published, this is only an overall indication that we can provide without causing confusion about the process. Dry farming, in fact, requires cultivation techniques suitable for the specific  pedoclimate and substrate. All of the varieties included in this category have been acclimatized in Italy.