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.
What color are eggplants before they ripen?
Eggplants are actually eaten before they turn ripe. That classic, shiny, purple color is the color of an underripe fruit. When eggplants begin to ripen, their skin turns dull and their color changes to a rusty brown or yellow color, depending on the variety.
Will eggplant ripen off the vine?
You can ripen eggplants after harvesting, but results vary, depending on the problem. Ripen them on the counter at room temperature. It helps to put the eggplants in a paper bag where they should ripen within a few days.
How many eggplants do you get per plant?
Eggplants typically grow 18 to 36 inches tall with a spread of 24 to 36 inches. Each plant bears between two to 12 fruits, although this number varies based on the variety and growing conditions.
How big should an eggplant be before you pick it?
You can harvest eggplants any time that you see it, starting when it’s only an inch or two long.
Can you eat green eggplant?
Underneath the skin, the white to ivory flesh is dense and spongy with a few edible seeds. Green eggplants must be cooked and develop a meaty, tender, and soft texture when heated. The eggplants also have a mild, sweet flavor with subtle earthy nuances and fewer bitter notes than other colored eggplant varieties.
How long does it take for an eggplant to ripen?
65 to 80 days
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.
What does over ripe eggplant look like?
Seeds of a ripe eggplant should be a light yellow. If the seeds are brown, the eggplant is overripe and likely bitter. The skin of purple varieties turns bronze when they are overripe. White eggplants will start turning yellow when overripe.
How long do eggplant plants live?
three years
How long do eggplant plants live? Eggplant plants can live up to three years in very warm climates, like zones 10-12. But in most regions they’re grown as annuals, and only live for one season.
Can you eat raw eggplant?
Can You Eat Eggplant Raw? Luckily, the answer is yes! While the leaves and flowers can be toxic, the eggplant itself is safe to consume both raw and cooked, and the compound that some might be sensitive to, solanine, is only toxic when consumed in large quantities.
Do eggplants grow back every year?
Eggplant plants can come back every year but they usually won’t. Eggplants rarely survive long past the harvest months. A perennial plant eggplant is a rarity outside of tropical climates. Eggplants can come back every year in ideal, tropical conditions.
How often should eggplant be watered?
Watering Eggplant
Plants that receive inadequate water will develop small, bitter fruit. Keep eggplant happy with at least an inch of water per week, and up to two inches during the hottest stretch of summer. If it has rained any less than an inch in a week’s time, make up the difference with supplemental irrigation.
Can I plant just one eggplant?
Eggplants grow into large, stately plants that need plenty of elbow room. In containers, plant one per 18 to 24 inch container. Before fruits form, stake the stems to provide extra late-season support.
How can you tell if an eggplant is good?
Look for a smooth, shiny eggplant. Dull skin indicates that the fruit is beyond good eating as it is turning bitter. Eggplant varieties typically retailed in the United States have a deep, rich purple-black color, which should be even with no streaking.
Why are my eggplants so small?
Why are my plants so small and growing slowly? Eggplants are sensitive to the cold. Either a transplant has been planted into cold soil, or a young plant has experienced cold weather, or a transplant that became root bound before being planted may be stunted for a short while or for the full growing season.
Can you eat small eggplants?
Baby eggplants are a delight to eat. But you can leave them too long. Eggplant should be harvested when they are one-third to two-thirds full mature size.
Why did my purple eggplant turn green?
Overripe Eggplants Change Color
When they become mature, the eggplants change from deep purple to bronze colored. While this is happening, they can go through a stage when they’re a dull, olive green color. If your fruit grows to full maturity, it becomes bitter tasting with a spongy texture.
What happens if you eat unripe eggplant?
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. You should, however, be wary of green potatoes.
What does an overwatered eggplant look like?
An overwatered eggplant will also show symptoms of this problem on its leaves. Look for leaves that feel wet, soft, and limp. More symptoms of overwatering include premature leaf drop of new growth and soft, brown, or mushy roots that prevent the plant from taking water, causing leaf curl and wilting.
What should you not plant next to eggplant?
What Not To Plant With Eggplant. Do not plant fennel near your eggplant. Fennel inhibits growth in many plants, including eggplant. Geraniums can host diseases that also affect eggplant such as leaf blight and root rot, so it is best to avoid planting them with eggplant.
What do you do after harvesting eggplant?
If you’ve got a crop of eggplant coming in, it’s important to know exactly when to harvest them since eggplants can over ripen easily. Once they’re ready, all you need to do is cut them from the stem. Eggplants generally keep for 1-2 weeks after harvesting, as long as you store them properly.