I start eggplant seeds a week later than my peppers and a week earlier than my tomatoes. March 3rd this year
My biggest joy in the garden isn't my first red ripe tomato, it's my first eggplant, gawd I love that feeling.
By late august my wife is ready to divorce me because I have her making some type of eggplant dish every other day. She sees me come in from the garden and when she sees purple she just shakes her head.
I have made flour from it for pizza crust, just breaded and fried, in stews, eggplant parmigiana, Jambalaya, stuffed peppers, pizza topping, caponata, I even used it for burgers.