My love for eggplant is a recent thing, and thanks to All-America Selections, one of their 2022 AAS Winners for 2022, and eggplant variety named Icicle, I will be growing a very cool white-skinned version of this vegetable next summer.

Icicle Description

As I said, Eggplant Icicle, from the breeders at Known-You Seed America Corporation, is white-skinned variety. And unlike other white eggplants, this one produces larger fruits with fewer seeds. The seeds are what add to an eggplant’s bitterness, so having fewer is always a good thing. And also unlike other white varieties, Icicle’s white skin doesn’t tend to become yellow.

As for the plant itself, it’s large and durable with enough vigor to hold up to insect and environmental (e.g. wind) issues. It averages about 4 ft. in height and 2 ft. wide, tall enough to keep its fruit off the ground. Wow, 4 ft! While they do recommend to use stakes to support the plants, one of the AAS judges commented that Eggplant Icicle was sturdy and remained upright despite a heavy fruit load, which is on average about 8-9 per plant.

Speaking of the fruits, these white eggplants have fewer spines on its stem and calyx. If you’ve ever harvested eggplant, you know to be ginger when removing the fruit from the plant. Fewer spines makes harvest way less of a prickly experience. The fruits themselves are cylindrically shaped, about 7 in. long and 1.5 in. wide.

But how does it taste? The AAS judges called the taste and texture “improved.” One judge’s child even enjoyed it breaded and fried. I’m not so sure I would have eaten eggplant at 11 years old, so that’s saying something.

How to Grow Icicle Eggplant

Start Eggplant Icicle from seed indoors according to seed packet directions. If purchasing Icicle transplants from a garden center, space them in well-draining soil about 2-4 ft. apart in a full sun location. First harvest will be ready about 80 days after sowing or 55-60 days after transplanting into the ground. Icicle is a vigorous variety with a great fruit set, so as I mentioned, the plants benefit from being staked in some manner.

If you don’t have in-ground garden space, you can indeed grow Eggplant Icicle in a container. Choose a container that is 18-24 in. in diameter. Since it grows vigorously, you’ll want to be sure that pot gets enough water, especially during the height of summer. And do be sure to use stakes or a tomato cage to keep it growing upwards.

Preparation Suggestion

As I said I really got to love eggplant after a colleague planted a 30 ft. row of all types of them in the summer of 2020. He had LOTS of eggplant to give away. Once they were ready for harvest, I would pluck a few at the end of each day and make a simple eggplant preparation to accompany dinner. I’d slice the long, cylindrical fruits longitudinally in half, toss them in olive oil, salt, pepper—sometimes with red pepper flakes, sometimes with thyme–lay them out on a sheet pan and roast them at 375-400F for however long it took for them to become soft and delicious. Turn them once about halfway through. No need to remove the skins, they soften up pretty well. And with Eggplant Icicle having fewer seeds, the final roasted product should be even more delicious.