Know those black stems of dangling little "pumpkins" that florists sell in autumn? Pumpkin-on-a-Stick has been delighting gardeners for decades. In Southeast Asia it's used in stir fries. We grow it for flower arrangements. It's really an eggplant.

This looks like no eggplant you've ever seen. It grows 3' to 4' tall with huge leaves and prickly purple stems. In fall the 3" fruits turn bright scarlet. Eat them or dry them. Florists strip off the leaves and use the black sticks and bright dangling fruit in floral arrangements. Grow it wherever it can be admired. Half the fun is watching visitors guess what it is.

This annual is easy to grow anywhere. Direct sow when the weather warms up or start seeds early indoors. Plant as you would a tomato, in rich soil, regular water, full sun. The fruits are heavy and it will need staking, but the stems are woody and strong. A single plant will yield dozens of "pumpkins."

15 seeds

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