Vegetable Program
Crops

Jilo

Introduction

Jiló (Solanum gilo) is in the Solanaceae family and resembles eggplant in growth habit. It turns orange-red when ripe. This plant is originally from Africa and was brought to Brazil with the slave trade. It is still grown in Africa where it is known as "garden eggs".

The official language of Brazil is Portuguese; however, other Portuguese-speaking peoples, such as people from the Azores, Madeira, Portugal, or Cape Verde, do not use jiló.

Production
Grow jiló just as you would eggplant. The fruit is usually harvested immature, before turning orange or red. The fruit becomes more bitter as it matures.

Seed Sources
Thompson & Morgan Inc
P.O. Box 1308
Jackson, New Jersey 08527-0308
USA Telephone: 800-274-7333
Fax: 888-466-4769
Email: tminc@thompson-morgan.com
Web Page: http://www.thompson-morgan.com/seeds/us/
Listed in their catalogue as: Aubergine : Red Egg