When to Harvest Eggplant Harvest eggplants when they are firm and glossy and big enough to eat —about one-third their maximum size. To test eggplant fruit for maturity, press the fruit with your thumb; if the flesh springs back it’s green and not ripe;
A just ripe eggplant when sliced will have soft, well-formed but immature seeds; an immature and un ripe eggplant will More.
You should be wondering “When to harvest eggplants?”
I found the answer was 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.
When to harvest eggplant in a garden?
Eggplants as we know it can either be planted from seed or transplanted, if the plants are transplanted they can be harvested in about 60 to 85 days . The time of harvest completely depends on the variety you have planted. But almost all varieties mature in July, august and September. Some variants start to mature late September and into October.
Harvesting eggplants should occur when the inner flesh is cream colored, fruits are firm and before seeds are visible. Learning when to harvest eggplants may require cutting into the fruit to check the color of the flesh and the size of the seeds. Skin color and size of the fruit will also determine when the eggplant harvest should begin.
Our favorite answer is 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. Did you find this helpful?
How long does it take for an eggplant to grow?
Eggplant is a warm-season plant packed with dietary fibers and other nutrients. Like most other plants that love the warmth, it is a perennial fruit that requires a steady supply of full sun and water. You can expect a good harvest within 16 to 24 weeks when planted in a growing zone with an ideal climate.
Do eggplants need to be harvested?
1 Eggplants need to harvested in time or a little over time but never before or too much after maturity. Eggplants when harvested at the right time have a lovely aroma and taste . If harvested before of after time they will be chewy and bitter to taste.
Another popular question is “Can eggplants be left on the plant after harvest?”.
One thought is that as you continue to harvest, the plant will continue to produce flowers and set more fruit. Do not let the eggplants hang on the plant once they are mature, because their quality will decline .
Lets see if we can figure it out. After the fruit is harvested , seasoned gardeners tend to prune eggplant, they swear by the fact that the plant grows faster and it stimulates a second crop. This is in fact true. When you cut back the plant to about 3 inches from the ground you can expect the plant to yield a second time as long as the weather temperature remains favourable.
When to pick eggplant?
The ideal time to harvest the eggplant is in between the springy and indentation stage . Knowing when to pick an eggplant is the most important as this surely determines not only the taste but the quality of your overall dish. It may so happen sometimes that you have already harvested the fruit but are not very sure if it is ripe.
Is it better to pick eggplant early?
It is better to harvest eggplants early as they taste great tender and mature off the plant. This way it will last longer when stored properly. It is also said that eggplants need to be picked as soon as they are ripe. This can be done by clipping it off the plant with sharp sheers.
Both an under-ripe and overripe eggplant will be bitter tasting. It is better to harvest eggplant just before its ripe than to wait too long. Cut eggplant fruits from the plant with a garden pruner or sharp knife.
How do you know when eggplant is ready to eat?
Harvest eggplants when they are firm and glossy and big enough to eat— about one-third their maximum size . To test eggplant fruit for maturity, press the fruit with your thumb; if the flesh springs back it’s green and not ripe; if your thumb leaves an indentation, the fruit is overripe; the best tasting eggplant will be in between.