[No. 336] Getting ready for summer, eggplant standby—feeling the future in the purple stems 🌿🍆

As the season for summer vegetables approaches, the field has started to stir little by little.

The star of this installment is the eggplant.

Purple stems.
Slightly thick leaves.
Even at the seedling stage, I can feel something like the 'power to grow from here on out'.

Along with cucumbers and tomatoes, it is a representative summer vegetable.
It bears fruit in the heat and takes on various forms on the dining table.

As far as I can recall, this might be the first time I have covered eggplants in depth in a note article.

What kind of appearance will it show this summer?
Looking forward to its growth, I would like to write about eggplants this time.

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A vegetable characterized by its purple color 🌿🍆

One of the characteristics of the eggplant is, after all, its purple color.

The purple extends even to the stems and leaf veins, and the impression changes depending on how the light hits it.
When I see it in the field, I feel it is a vegetable with a strong presence amidst the green.

It is said to be native to the area around India and is a plant relatively resistant to heat.
It is a vegetable that has been loved in Japan for a long time, and the name varies slightly depending on the region.

'Nasu'
'Nasubi'
'Eggplant'

In everyday conversation, I often say 'nasubi', but
I also often see the 'nasu' notation in supermarkets and dish names.

The kanji '茄子' has a somewhat old-fashioned atmosphere.

Presence as a summer vegetable 🌞🌱

Eggplant is one of the representative summer vegetables alongside cucumbers and tomatoes.

It grows in the heat, and I have the impression that it becomes more energetic as the temperature rises.

On the other hand, it is also characterized by being harvestable for a long time until autumn.
Although it has a strong image as a summer vegetable, it can be enjoyed as autumn eggplant depending on how it is managed.

'Don't let your daughter-in-law eat autumn eggplants'

It is a famous proverb, but there are various theories about its meaning.

・Don't want to let them eat it because it's delicious
・Caring for them because it cools the body
・Wanting to protect the harvest that was carefully grown

It seems there are various interpretations.

I think it has been a familiar and beloved vegetable for a long time.

The harvest is yet to come 🌱📅

The seedlings this time are still in the middle of growing.

From here, the temperature will rise, flowers will bloom, and they will gradually turn into fruit.
If all goes well, the harvest should begin from early summer through the height of summer.

It is said that the condition of eggplant fruit changes easily due to lack of water or fertilizer.
It might be a vegetable where management makes more of a difference than it looks.

Goes well with both rich and light flavors 🍳🥢

Rather than eating them as they are,
I have the impression that eggplant is a vegetable that "becomes delicious with a little extra effort."

Stir-fried vegetables.
Deep-fried eggplant.
Grilled eggplant.

By absorbing oil, it takes on a unique, melty texture.
It goes very well with fat.

On the other hand, it also goes well with light dishes.

Finely chop cucumbers and eggplants,
chill them, and dress them with noodle soup base.

In the summer, this way of eating is also delicious.

It goes well with the richness of oil,
and it also goes well with cold dressed dishes.

Eggplant might be a vegetable that possesses both "heaviness" and "lightness."

Caution 🛠️

🌱 This article is based solely on personal experience and impressions.
📍 Appropriate methods vary depending on the region and environment.
⚠️ Please always perform tasks safely.
✅ Please take responsibility for your own judgments and actions.

Undercurrent × Cultivation
Fields, bodies, and investments—a way of life that keeps on tilling.
Renji Enko