Look for a brightly coloured cap and stem on the aubergine. If the stem is not a bright and healthy green, the vegetable may not be fresh. Check the aubergine for firmness.
So, how do you know when aubergines are ready to harvest?
One source claimed harvesting Aubergines Once the eggplants are ready to be harvested (around 70- 80 days after planting out and 100-120 days from germination), look for shiny, well-rounded fruit with plump, smooth skin. Fruit needs to be cut, rather than pulled off the plant. Cut close to the stem, leaving about an inch of growth.
Can you grow aubergines to fruit?
I have found aubergines more difficult to grow to fruit setting. I have grown Black Beauty which did fruit but not prolifically. Aubergine seem to enjoy really hot weather, plenty of water and regular feeding as we all do!
This begs the query “How do you get aubergines to flower?”
Pinch out the growing tips of the main stems of your aubergine plants when 30cm high to encourage side shoots to develop. Once plants have started to flower, feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser or tomato feed, and mist with water to encourage the fruits to set. When you have five to six fruits remove any other small fruiting shoots.
An answer is that Aubergines need a lot of warmth and sun to crop well, so are best grown in a greenhouse. They can be grown outside, but rarely do well except in mild areas or very warm summers. Grow initially in 9cm (3½in) pots, then when the roots fill the pot, transfer to 23cm (9in) pots at the following times:.
Do aubergines go bad?
Aubergines provide nutrients and add a distinctively smoky flavour to dishes around the world. Aubergines tend to spoil quickly, which compromises taste and nutritional value. Understanding the difference between a fresh and a spoiled aubergine can make or break a meal so look out for the signs that your aubergine has gone off.
When is the best time to plant aubergines?
In late May/early June if they will be growing outdoors Aubergines can also be planted in the ground in warm areas of Britain: Choose your warmest, sunniest, most sheltered position, ideally against a sunny wall. Warm the soil with polythene or cloches two weeks before planting, once there is no danger of frost.
One source proposed aubergines are a warm-weather crop, and cannot be planted out until after the last frost has passed. They can be started from seed in pots indoors, around 8 weeks before the estimated end of the frosts for the year.