SedonaDebbie said: Never heard of eggplants with thorns on their leaves. Can I ask... why are you looking for them, are they special in some way? I have grown 'ping tung' (great eggplants) for several years and they were never thorny.
I'm trying to develop a hardier eggplant that is much like its wild ancestors, thorny leaves and fruit. This is also a protective feature against the beetles that eat eggplants and can destroy a crop, as they avoid the plants with thorns. I also heard thorns aid in slower dehydration in drought times, eggplant originate from Africa.
I have grown some eggplants with thorns on the fruit, but so far none or very few on the leaves. The thorn on the leaves I had do hurt! I've tried all varieties mentioned and they had no thorns at all. Maybe seed saving each year is the best way selecting the thorniest plants.
