Eggplant Eggplant Eggplant (US), aubergine (UK), or brinjal (South Asia and South Africa ) is a plant species in the nightshade family Solanaceae, "Solanum melongena", grown for its often purple edible fruit. The spongy, absorbent fruit of the plant is widely used in cooking in many different cuisines, and is often considered a vegetable, even though it is a berry by botanical definition. As a member of the genus "Solanum", it is related to the tomato and the potato. Like the tomato, its skin and seeds can be eaten, but, like the potato, it is not advisable to eat it raw.
West Side Community Garden Mall Gardeners, Riverside park gardeners, the 111th Street garden and other neighborhood Gardens. In the gated vegetable garden area near West 90th Street, are 87 individual vegetable beds,6 school class plots, a berry patch and a Rose garden. There are also community compost bins by the "Compost Gate" where neighbors may deposit their coffee grounds and other vegetable waste. Along the west fence is a community herb bed, and espaliered fruit trees. There are more fruit trees planted along 90th Street and a large Persimmon tree showers down sweet golden fruit each fall. Outside the Vegetable fence is a walkway