Pea Eggplant Seeds

Paddy starts with ...
I wondered if anyone would know where I could order Pea Eggplant seeds (Solanum Torvum).I've been trying to search on google in Australia but couldn't find any.I'm willing to buy from anyone who would have some available.I'm from Thailand and just recenlty moved here and live quite far from a big city.It's hard to find things.
Please help!

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
I also have some Solanum aethiopicum seed for sale on ebay at the moment. It makes a nice addition to a stirfry when still green.

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
No they're free of charge Paddy, it doesn't cost me anything to pick the wild fruit. Some people like to use S. torvum as a rootstock for grafting eggplants on to in cooler climates.

brad says...
I can't recall what he used but Joe at Tass 1 in perth had eggplant grafted onto a huge plant. He did multiple grafts and enough took for it to be worth it. He was planning on growing more rootstock and maybe offering them for sale next year.

I was given some pot bound leftover eggplant seedlings at the end of last summer. I've never grown it before. I put them in the ground and they've survived winter so I'm curious if I'll get anything. I've seen a few flowers but no fruit. Looks a bit sickly too. Worth persevering or throw out?

rev says...
Hey Paddy

Im into asian and othe tropical veg too.
I sell plants and seeds, but i prefer to trade when its an option
If youre looking to find things or have extras let me know
i know what its like in a remote town!
good ide ato hit the asian grocer stores everythime you go to brisbane and look for propagules!
Reville1@gmail.com

Speedy says...
Keep it going Brad they last for several years.

They also grow ok from cuttings and are a good tough rootstock for other eggplants if you have soil/root problems.

Adam says...
You might have trouble getting this species into WA due to quarantine restrictions, so best to check first.

Phil@Tyalgum says...
Paddy can you put your e-mail address on here again, I collected some Thai pea eggplant fruit today (S. Torvum) but unfortunately have lost your address. I'll delete the post as soon as I write it down. Thanks.

dekka says...
Reading your forum on pea eggplant seeds with interest. Just back from Thailand and also very interested in growing the pea eggplants - which seem to be a important ingredient in the Thai green curry. Any chance of seed for me too please - happy to pay for postage or whatever.

dekka says...
Thanks Phil, much appreciated, my email address is dcp.klp@bigpond.net.au
Happy to fix you up for postage etc

Dekka

Phil@Tyalgum says...
Yes there are ripe fruit around at the moment I'm pretty sure, post your e-mail address here and I'll be in touch.

Mich says...
I too am looking to source pea eggplant seeds! I am wondering if anyone knows where they can be sourced please?

Phil@Tyalgum says...
The second pic looks like S. torvum, it has arrow shaped leaves with a few spines underneath. The shape of the leaves in the first photo are a little different tho - are they the same plant? I still have seeds of S. torvum and S. mauritianum but doubt that they'd be allowed into WA worse luck

Phil@Tyalgum says...
Good to know it grows from cuttings, it is used by a lot of mediterranean immigrants as a rootstock to graft their eggplants onto.

Phil@Tyalgum says...
John my plants are only a few years old and not bearing yet. I recently bought some seed from a supplier in the US, sixty seeds for about twelve dollars but they have already been planted out after stratifying for a few months. I may be doing the same next year as they usually become available in the American fall season. Would be happy to share them with you. Some of my young trees are from named cultivars which I was lucky to get hold of before one of the research stations closed to the public. Do a search on eBay in the meantime, you often see them come up for sale. Phil.

Phil@Tyalgum says...
Dylan is it the Pea eggplant or the American paw paw you're after? There seems to be a couple of species running in this thread atm. Phil.

Dylan says...
Hi Phil,

Got the pea eggplant seeds, thanks a million, your generosity is amazing.

Cheers,
Dylan

Brendan says...
Yes amanda,
The trick is to pick & eat them young, it's usually only the old ones that have the seeds :-)

Brad says...
a friend recently advised to pick eggplant before they start to lose their shine. when they go dull, they go seedy. I believe it

Phil@Tyalgum says...
Yes have just prepared another batch as I seem to get fairly constant requests for them. No doubt they are prohibited in WA so when I send them they will be unlabelled.
wilkenna@bigpond.com

Charles cant spell says...
If it (pea eggplant) is the same as the Turkey Berry then its on the invasive weed list, hence the difference. I.e the one that grows well in our local conditions and produces crops without excessive pampering and fertilisers is prohibited.

Obvious isn't it :)

Julie and other WA folks can have seed from me, I am trying more cutting but they are not taking yet for some reason. JK wants some to.

Phil@Tyalgum says...
I grow it with a view of using it as a rootstock on grafted eggplants in cooler climates, where it can become quite a sturdy shrub. No doubt they do ok on their own in your climate Amanda!

http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/sicily/italian-grows-tomato-eggplant-tree

Charles cant spell says...
no I doubt it, this plant gets 2-2.5 meters, even with a eggplant or tomato on it I suspect if it took it would be far more vigorous, I think the grafts in the shops are just susceptible (but good tomatoes) on unsusceptible tomato rootstock for Verticulm and fusairum wilts etc.

And like Phil I have it for grafting purposes, also have Kangaroo apple now but it doesn't look as similar for stem grafting purposes. But yes untried yet. Joe - Tass1 trees apparently did some and the italian guy down the road has purple mandarin sized eggplants all over bushes that are about 1.8 m all the way along his fence. One day I will drop in and have a chat.

amanda says...
CSS/others: If I picked the 'wrong' bush tomatoe and got one of the poisonous spp - could the fruit end up being poisonous from the graft?
This is a pic of the bush tomatoe - but apparently it takes a knowledgable person to make sure you have the right one!?

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amanda says...
Ta Phil... :)

speedy says...
Mine frosted a couple of days ago.
they come back in the spring though.
They'll grow them from cuttings if no seed is available.

Charles cant spell says...
Hi JK still trying to get come cuttings to strike, onto a second lot, I am guessing it likes warm weather or some kind of pampering to strike. Or maybe my wicking beds are just to wet.

gus says...
Hi Phil

I don't suppose you have any of the S. mauritianum seeds left do you?

gus says...
Thankyou Phil but I actually already have some torvum. Yes I did have grafting in mind but was a little put off by the fact that torvum only last a couple of years. I thought I would be better of with mauritianum as they last for many years?

Phil@Tyalgum says...
The torvum are actually tree-like gus, they must be about four metres tall and as much wide, look like they have been there for decades. Much more substantial that the wild tobacco (mauritianum). But happy to send seeds all the same, just watch it in bushland areas.

gus says...
Thanks Phil, maybe I should try out the torvum first and see how I go.
Was hoping an eggplant tree would last for several years but everything I have read about torvum suggests they only last a couple of years?
I will try it out and see how I go

gus says...
My skills are very limited but if I get something going will post some pictures.
Thanks again for the info.

Khun Ying says...
Sawadee Ka K. Paddy,

I'm original from Thailand too. At this moment, I'm in Canberra but plan to move to Donnybrooke, Brisbane at the end of the year.

I've been looking for this eggplant as other type of Asian vegetables that I like in Thailand. So I can grow them for my cooking.

In the furture, I have some, I will share with you if you leave your email or send me an email.

Cheers,
Dt.

gus says...
Except in Brisbane

malee says...
Hi phil do you still have any pea egg plant seeds left?

John Mc says...
Do you think they use S.torvum for the rootstock of grafted tamarillow? I bought one last week and cut the scion off the top just for the rootstock that was sprouting underneath. Mad huh?

Charles cant spell says...
Yep should be able to dig them up, I think I have a cutting or two, JK was after one a while back also. May as well drop in for a look and chat might find something else you want a cutting of. I will email you details.

Nick says...
If anyone wants some pea eggplant seeds I recently bought a packet in Thailand :)

Nick says...
Hey nick, just send me your address to niksmaster2008@hotmail.com and I'll send the seeds as soon as possible!

Phil@Tyalgum says...
Actually I think the species I have is Solanum chrysotichrum, although superficially alike, it doesn't seem to crop well like the pea eggplant. It would still make a good eggplant rootstock tho. I'm not so sure the fruit are edible in this species, although they do look remarkably like S. torvum.

charles says...
hi Im learning to cook This food and i keep getting items in the recipes that i can't seem to find can I please get some help from you guys i am looking for Thai eggplants and pea eggplants not to sure if they are available in or around Wide bay QLD have looked all over the place but can't find them :)

John Mc says...
I bought a grafted Tamarillow, removed the graft and grew the rootstock on for propagating eggplants and tomatoes onto.
I was hoping the rootstock was going to be Solanum Capsicoides (Devil’s Plant or Cockroach Berry) or Devil’s Fig (Solanum Torvum), no luck, the propagators used what appears to be Wild tobacco (Solanum mauritianum).

Can anyone tell me if the latter is as good as the aformentioned for grafting eggplants and tomatoes? If not, which cv has the better characteristics for things like growing on for several years, cold hardiness?

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Gus says...
Has anyone seen Solanum chrysotichrum (giant devils fig) or Solanum Capsicoides in Perth?

Michelle Brisbane, now Jakarta says...
Have now tried pea eggplants! Yum!! Had to move to Jakarta to do it!!