Tender, tasty purplish-black fruits are great in a variety of dishes. Excellent breaded or fried. Eggplants love warm weather but are damaged by cold. Plants produce 4-6 large fruit, or more if kept harvested and well watered. For best quality, harvest before its glossy, dark skin begins fading to dull purple. To determine ripeness, just remember that skin color and tone (glossy versus dull) is more important than size of the fruit. Easy to grow. Keeps well.