Casper Eggplant

Casper Eggplant – Seedling

• Scientific Name: Solanum melongena ‘Casper’
• Variety Type: Open-pollinated French variety
• Fruit Colour: Glossy ivory-white
• Fruit Shape: Cylindrical to slightly curved
• Fruit Size: Approximately 13–18 cm long and 5–7 cm wide
• Days to Maturity: Approximately 70 days after transplanting
• Plant Height: Approximately 60–95 cm
• Recommended Spacing: 45–60 cm
• Recommended Container: At least 25–30 litres
• Sun Requirement: Full sun
• Casper is an attractive white eggplant variety producing smooth, glossy ivory fruits with snow-white, tender flesh. Its mild flavour is often described as having delicate mushroom-like notes, with less bitterness than many traditional purple eggplants.
• The productive plants bear fruits approximately 13–18 cm long. Casper is an open-pollinated variety associated with French breeding and is also referenced as ‘Dourga’ in North American cultivar records. It is not an F1 hybrid.
• Its distinctive appearance, tender texture and refined flavor make it an excellent choice for gardeners seeking an unusual gourmet vegetable
  Growing in Kuwait
• Transplant Casper Eggplant seedlings from late September through November for the strongest establishment and fruit production during Kuwait’s cooler growing season.

Provide:

• Six to eight hours of direct sunlight
• Fertile, well-draining soil
• Regular watering without waterlogging
• Protection from strong wind
• A stake or small vegetable cage once fruiting begins
• Afternoon shade when temperatures become intense
• Space plants approximately 45–60 cm apart. For container growing, use one seedling per pot containing at least 25–30 litres of growing medium.
• Although Casper performs comparatively well under cooler conditions, it remains a warm-season eggplant. “Cool-tolerant” does not mean that it should be planted during cold winter nights or that it tolerates frost.

Harvesting

• Harvest the fruits when they reach approximately 13–18 cm and the skin remains smooth, firm and glossy white.
• Do not leave the fruits until they become dull, cream-yellow or strongly yellow. That indicates over maturity and usually results in tougher skin, coarser flesh and more developed seeds. Seed sources recommend harvesting Casper young for its best tenderness and flavor.
• Cut the fruit with pruning shears rather than pulling it from the plant. Frequent harvesting encourages continued flowering and production.

Culinary Uses

• Casper’s tender, meaty flesh is excellent for:
• Grilling and barbecuing
• Roasting
• Sautéing
• Frying
• Eggplant Parmesan
• Moussaka
• Curries and stews
• Creamy eggplant dips
• Vegetable-centred gourmet dishes
• The tender white skin may be eaten when the fruit is harvested young.