One unique plant that we’ve been offering the last few weeks at the market is nicknamed “Pumpkin-On-A-Stick.” From the image above, you can see how it got its nick name.
Its real name is red ruffle eggplant. That’s right. It’s in the eggplant family. However, the plant itself grows tall like a tomato plant. It can average 3 to 4 feet in height, so it may require staking to keep it from falling over once it starts to produce.
It’s a slow grower and takes about 90 to 100 days to produce fruit. The leaves are very large, and as you can see from the photo above, the stems will turn purple as the plant grows taller. The fruit has a waxy surface, like an eggplant and can be eaten.
They are sweeter when they are green, and will turn more bitter as they ripen to an orange and red color. They are very popular in Thai and Vietnamese dishes. Most people prefer to cut the limbs and strip them of their leaves. The stems and fruit are then used as fall decor in vases, bowls or wreaths.
Whether you eat them or use them as decoration, Pumpkin-on-a-Stick is definitely a unique plant that can bring some flare to your garden this fall as the summer plants start to come to an end.
Hine Herbary 
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