Garden Egg – A garden egg raised at the UMass Research Farm for sale at the African market in Worcester, Mass., in 2014 (
The garden egg is a type of eggplant that is used as a food crop in several countries in Africa. It is a small white teardrop or round shaped fruit that is prized for its bitterness. There is debate about the specific type of garden egg.
Garden Egg
Suggested in some sources (National Research Council of the National Academies. 2006), which includes species such as “garden egg,” “crimson eggplant,” and “guillo.” Others suggest a species
File:yalo Garden Egg.jpg
The garden egg is an important crop in several African countries and is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. It can be stored for up to three months if dried. This is a useful feature in the tropics given the lack of cooling in some rural areas. In Ghana, the garden egg is one of the three most consumed vegetables, along with tomatoes and peppers. In 2007, total garden egg production in Ghana was estimated at over 66 million pounds. (Horn et al., 2007). In Côte d’Ivoire, garden egg is reported as the second most important vegetable crop after okra (Aliero, 2007; Siemonsma, 1981). It is used in soup and eaten raw (Figure 1). The stems and leaves of the garden egg are eaten in some African countries, but not in Ghana. The garden egg is used as a cheaper meat substitute because its spongy texture allows it to absorb other, meat-like flavors (National Research Council of the National Academies. 2006).
Stores in Massachusetts serving the African population sell canned garden eggs. The packaging shows a teardrop shape (Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5). Massachusetts markets, however, typically sell out-of-state garden eggs that are larger and rounder (Figure 6). In general, market owners preferred the larger, rounder type. This is inconsistent with the fact that the teardrop shape appears to be common in Ghana, based on the images on the preserved garden egg. UMass researchers introduced the teardrop-shaped fresh egg to African markets in 2014 and 2015 (Figure 7, Figure 8).
The garden egg for sale at London’s English Farmers’ Market in 2016 also had the larger, oval shape found in some markets in the United States. These sell for ($3.00/lbs.) (Figure 9)
The garden egg popular in Ghana has a similar shape and growth pattern to the jilo, an eggplant popular in parts of Brazil.
Garden Egg Sauce +first Ever Youtube Live Video!
It is known and appreciated for its bitterness. In fact, one of the types of garden eggs on the processed garden egg tin in Figure 2 looks very much like one type of
(translated from Portuguese to “long, bright green” in English). This could be the reason why there are two species in 2014
Raised at the UMass Research Farm were introduced to the Worcester African market and sold as garden eggs (Figure 10, Figure 11). The owner said his customers, who are dominated by Ghanaians and Liberians, prefer the white varieties, but he managed to point out to his customers that the taste and bitterness of the Brazilian varieties are very similar.
Was successfully introduced to the cooperative market in Rockbury Massachusetts, along with the white tear type. Some African customers at this market said they prefer green varieties of garden eggs. Innocent Nwosu, a Nigerian working with UMass on this work, said that in some regions of Nigeria green types are preferred over white (Innocent Nwosu, Personal communication). We also met a customer from the Democratic Republic of Congo who also preferred a green garden egg. Here is a video showing promotional materials and a white and green Massachusetts-grown garden egg for sale at Roxbury Market, which sells many products popular with Africans.
Garden Egg Stew
In addition to canned garden egg, frozen garden egg is commonly found in growing African markets in Massachusetts (Figure 12). Some are grown and frozen in Africa and shipped to the United States. In addition, Massachusetts market owners will freeze fresh eggs raised in the United States to extend their shelf life. Customers, however, prefer fresh vegetables.
Visits to Washington markets in June 2016 found three different types of garden eggs for sale in African markets. Two were small, drops; one was white (picture 13), and the other was white with green stripes (picture 14). Both turned orange as they ripened. The third species was white and much larger. It did not change color at that time (Figure 15). Figure 16 shows one of the small types and the large white type along with a dollar bill that is pictured to give a measure.
, which is the same genus and species, and both plants grow much larger than “traditional” European types of eggplant. A garden egg grown at the UMass Research Farm can exceed six feet in height (Figure 17). For this reason, it is recommended to use lower plant populations compared to European species. In 2014, researchers at UMass Amherst assessed the choice
From Brazil who was white. Plants were spaced 1′ in a row on black plastic with 6′ between rows for a plant population of 7000 plants per hectare (Figure 18).
Fresh Garden Egg Salad With Turmeric Dijon Dressing {paleo, Whole30}
As the garden egg matures, it will take on different colors from its immature white. The variety we grew at the UMass Research Farm in 2014 turns a yellowish color as it ripens (Figure 19) and then turns red when fully ripe (Figure 20). The market prefers the garden egg when it is unripe, but some African nationalities will accept it when it is ripe.
As an eggplant, it can be expected to have the same pest problems as traditional eggplant. For information on fertility and pest control in garden eggs, see the New England Vegetable Management Guide and click on “eggplant.”
At the end of the season, and before we save any seed from the ripe fruit, we use a rotavator on the PTO to shred the fruit and plant debris, then incorporate the shredded plant debris and degradable plastic, and then sow a cover crop. Video taken by Zoraia Barros showing a PTO rotator cutting a hard-boiled egg on November 2, 2016.
At this time, we are not aware of any commercially available garden egg seed in the United States.
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The best way to find a garden egg seed company is to do an online search. You can try the following search terms:
You are most likely to find “hits” on pages that have garden egg seeds or what looks like a garden egg. Next, you want to make sure that the seed that a particular company has is in fact a garden egg. It is recommended that you contact the seed company to ensure that the seed is actually a garden egg.
If you find a garden-fresh egg for sale in the markets, save the seeds from the ripe fruit and try those seeds for production. UMass Amherst has created a video that describes how to save seeds from a ripe garden egg and
. As described in the video, it is important that the fruit of the garden egg is ripe before saving the seeds. The seeds in the unripe fruit are not viable.
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The optimum storage temperature for eggplant is 50 F° with relative humidity between 90 – 95%. See Table 16: Product handling for higher quality and longer shelf life in the eggplant market.
The garden egg is very popular among Africans from certain regions of this continent, as described above. As with any new crop a farmer wants to grow, it’s important to make sure there is a viable market for it BEFORE you plant it.
In Massachusetts, the garden egg harvest begins in mid-late July. There was competition with the garden egg that comes to our region from New Jersey. The wholesale price determined by the UMass Amherst researchers was $2.00/lbs. and this price is maintained throughout the season. Retail was $3.99/lbs and up.
Aliero, A.A. (2007) Response to seasonal dynamics of four Solanum species in Sokoto-Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural Research 2(1), 62-68.
How To Make The Most Delicious Garden Egg Sauce(stew). — Fashion & Lifestyle Guide
Dankuah, J.A. and K. Ofori. 2012. Variation and correlation among agronomic traits in 10 accessions of garden eggplant (Solanum gilo Raddi) in Ghana. I.J.S.N., VOL. 3(2) 2012: 373-379.
Horna, D., Timpo, S. and Gruere, G. (2007) Marketing an underutilized crop: the case of African garden egg (Solanum aethiopicum) in Ghana. Global Underexploited Species Unit (GFU) Via dei Tre Denri, Rome, Italy.
Simonsma J.S. (1981) A survey of indigenous vegetables in Ivory Coast. Proceedings of the 6th African Symposium on Horticultural Crops. Ibadan, Nigeria.
National Research Council of the National Academies. 2006. Africa’s Lost Crops. Volume II Vegetables. Chapter 7. Eggplant (garden egg). The National Academies Press. 354 pages. http://vvv.nap.edu/read/11763/chapter/9#137 Last accessed on April 27, 2016 We are raising funds to purchase land and grow our business! DONATE: Please read and support here! Thank you!
Steps To Start Garden Egg Farming Business In Nigeria And Tips To Succeed
This African variety has a great taste. There are many types of garden eggs, but this white variety is the most popular among West African and Southeast Asian families. The fruit is versatile and can be eaten raw, cooked, fried or in soups. They are a little later in production and taller than other eggplants, but they are very productive when they get going. Many traditional African recipes can be found online, but they are also simply excellent