Eggplant

Eggplant Harvest Information On How To Harvest An Eggplant

Eggplant Harvest Information On How To Harvest An Eggplant

Harvesting eggplants includes cutting a short piece of stem above the calyx (cap) attached to the top of the fruit. Use pruners or a sharp knife. Harvesting eggplants at their prime may take several days to a few weeks in succession, and frequent eggplant harvest promotes heavier yield of the fruit.

  1. How do you know when to pick eggplant from the garden?
  2. How do you tell if an eggplant is ripe?
  3. What month do you harvest eggplant?
  4. How do you pick an eggplant?
  5. How many eggplants do you get per plant?
  6. How long does it take for eggplant to grow after flowering?
  7. Is unripe eggplant poisonous?
  8. Does eggplant ripen off the vine?
  9. Should Eggplant be firm or soft?
  10. Does eggplant come back every year?
  11. Do eggplants like full sun?
  12. What's wrong with my eggplant?
  13. Are male or female eggplants better?
  14. Is eggplant OK if a little brown inside?
  15. Should Eggplant be refrigerated?
  16. What should you not plant next to eggplant?
  17. Should eggplants be pruned?
  18. Can I use Epsom salt on eggplant?

How do you know when to pick eggplant from the garden?

If the skin turns dull, this indicates over maturity, so harvest immediately no matter what size. Harvest eggplants using pruning shears since the stem is tough. If you leave the fruit on way too long, it will begin to change color. When fully ripe, eggplants will turn yellow, seedy, bitter and inedible.

How do you tell if an eggplant is ripe?

Eggplants should be picked as soon as they are ripe, with slightly immature fruits tasting best. One of the easiest ways to determine if they are ripe is to gently squeeze the eggplant. Once you release, the skins should "bounce back". If indentations remain, the fruit is not quite ripe yet.

What month do you harvest eggplant?

Harvest eggplant 65 to 80 days after transplanting, depending on the variety. When starting from seed, expect 100 to 120 days to maturity. July, August, and September (even into October) are all harvest months for eggplant, depending on where you live and the variety you planted. Don't wait too long to harvest!

How do you pick an eggplant?

5 Things to Look for When Buying Eggplant at the Grocery Store

  1. It's heavy for its size. Eggplant should feel heavy in your hand, which is a sign that the flesh is fresh and in good condition. ...
  2. The skin is vivid, smooth, and shiny. ...
  3. The stem is green. ...
  4. It feels slightly firm. ...
  5. Choose small- to medium-sized to avoid bitterness.

How many eggplants do you get per plant?

My experience has been that 2-4 eggplants per plant is more common with the classic varieties such as Black Beauty than 6-12 fruit. The smaller fruited Italian, Chinese, Indian, or Japanese varieties produce greater numbers, but maybe not more total weight.

How long does it take for eggplant to grow after flowering?

How long does it take for eggplant to grow after flowering? Depending on the variety and the region in which you are gardening, different cultivars of eggplant will develop mature fruit within 50 to 80 days after flowering.

Is unripe eggplant poisonous?

False, raw eggplants are not poisonous. ... Vegetables in the nightshade family contain anywhere from 2 to 13mg of solanine and eggplants contain 11mg at the most. So you would have to eat 36 raw eggplants to cause any harm. Therefore, there's no need to be concerned about eating reasonable amounts of raw eggplant.

Does eggplant ripen off the vine?

Eggplant is a warm-season vegetable plant that produces an oblong-shaped fruit. While it is not easy to ripen the eggplant fruit off the vine, the best-tasting ones are those picked at an immature size. The only time you want to allow the fruit to ripen on the vine is for seed production for future planting.

Should Eggplant be firm or soft?

"Eggplant should be slightly firm but not hard," says Leone. In other words, if you push on it with your finger and the veggie feels very soft, or you're able to puncture the skin, it's too far gone. A perfectly ripe eggplant will not have as much give when touched as a ripe tomato or peach.

Does eggplant come back every year?

Although eggplant is a perennial, it is more commonly grown as an annual. Eggplant flowers are star-shaped in various shades of purple and usually form on opposite leaves as either solitary blooms or grouped in clusters of two or more. They are perfect and primarily self-pollinating.

Do eggplants like full sun?

As a basic rule of thumb, vegetables grown for their fruit or roots—such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash, potatoes, or carrots—require full sun, which is defined as a garden location that receives at least six hours of direct sun each day. ... Keep in mind, though, that no vegetable can thrive in deep, dense shade.

What's wrong with my eggplant?

There are several eggplant diseases that affect these crops. Some of the most common include blossom end rot, wilt diseases, and various types of blight. ... Verticillium wilt is similar to bacterial wilt but is caused by soil-borne fungal infections. Plants may become stunted, turn yellow, and wilt.

Are male or female eggplants better?

Despite the ages old, old-wives tale that there are male and female eggplants and the male of the species is better eating – detected because it has an “outie” blossom end as opposed to the female “innie” blossom end – there is no such thing.

Is eggplant OK if a little brown inside?

Eggplant flesh will have tan to brown colored spots around the seeds. If this is the color you are referring to, it is edible. If the flesh is more brown than white, the eggplant may be spoiling and should be discarded.

Should Eggplant be refrigerated?

Eggplants do not store well for long periods of time. ... If you don't intend to eat the eggplant within 2 days, it should be refrigerated. To refrigerate, wrap in a paper towel and place in a reusable container or perforated plastic bag in the crisper section of your refrigerator for use within 5 - 7 days.

What should you not plant next to eggplant?

Eggplant – A good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme. Do not plant eggplants near fennel. Fennel – Not a companion for any garden food plant, fennel will actually inhibit growth in bush beans, kohlrabi, tomatoes, and others.

Should eggplants be pruned?

ANSWER: Eggplants, like fellow nightshade family member tomatoes benefit from staking and pruning. ... Unlike tomatoes, which are pruned down to a single stalk, eggplant should be pruned to three main branches. Prune your eggplant early so that a leaf canopy forms before fruiting to prevent sunburning the fruit.

Can I use Epsom salt on eggplant?

When the first blossoms appear, spray the plants with a seaweed extract with one teaspoon of Epsom salts dissolved per gallon. The solution improves fruit set. ... Young fruits are best; mature eggplants may be bitter. Eggplant can be grown successfully in a container.

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