茄子 '土耳其橙'

The compact plants are loaded with fruit, and the tennis ball-sized eggplants are such a fun size to cook with. I harvested them just as the orange color started to show, and the flavor was bold and rich, perfect for a summer stir-fry.

The first fruit turned a brilliant orange that made me stop and stare—it really does look like a tiny tennis ball on the plant. Harvested a few just as they began to color up, and the flavor was surprisingly sweet with no bitterness. Already planning where to put more next season.

Planted these in early May and already have a dozen bright orange fruits the size of tennis balls. The color really pops against the dark green leaves.