Harvesting Time Most varieties of white eggplant take between 100 and 120 days to reach maturity when grown from seeds or around 75 days after they have been transplanted.
Can you pick an eggplant too early?
You cannot harvest eggplants too early. 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.
How big do white eggplants grow?
Cultivar Comparison Table
| Variety | Days to Maturity | Fruit Size & Shape |
|---|---|---|
| Ghostbuster | 72–80 | 6–7 inches long, 4 inches wide; oval |
| Gretel | 50–60 | 3–4 inches; elongated |
| Japanese White Egg | 65 | 2–3 inches; egg-shaped |
| Paloma | 65 | 4–5 inches long, 3 inches wide; bell-shaped |
Why did my white eggplant turn yellow?
Why is my eggplant going yellow? JERRY: As eggplant mature they do tend to go yellow and this means they’ve past their best in terms of taste. One variety from India called ‘Udumalpet’ produces fruit that are naturally yellow when ripe.
How do you tell if an eggplant is ripe?
Ripe eggplants should be firm but not hard. Flesh should be white with a slight green tint (orange eggplants ripen orange/green inside). If you are unsure of your eggplant’s ripeness, cut one crosswise and check the seeds. They should be clearly visible.
How many eggplants do you get per plant?
The standard eggplant produces egg-shaped, glossy, purple-black fruit. ‘Black Beauty’ is the traditional eggplant size. One plant produces 4 to 6 large rounded fruit.
Do you have to peel white eggplant?
White eggplants, similar to their purple counterparts, and best enjoyed cooked. They become creamy and milk with a light, sweet flavor. Neither the soft seeds nor edible skin needs to be removed. Best cooking methods: sautéing, roasting, pan-frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, grilling, steaming, barbequing, and baking.
How do you take care of white eggplant?
Full bright sun, at least six hours per day, and consistent moisture is important for growing healthy eggplants. Keep the soil moist with deep, slow waterings weekly or more often during dry weather. Eggplant plants need about 1 inch of water per week, but if the soil feels dry and the weather is hot, add more water.
What is white eggplants good for?
White eggplants are best suited for cooked applications such as sautéing, pan-frying, deep-frying, grilling, and baking. Their skins are firmer than purple varieties and should be peeled before cooking. They can be sliced and grilled, used in stir-fries or sautéed with other vegetables as a side dish.
Are yellow eggplants safe to eat?
In any event, your eggplants are edible regardless of color, though specimens that are yellow because they are overripe will not have the best taste as would an eggplant picked at the peak of ripeness.
How long does eggplant plant last?
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.
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 does unripe eggplant look like?
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.
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.
Are green eggplants safe to eat?
If you find that you mistakenly planted a green eggplant cultivar, you can definitely eat the fruit. If you pick them while they’re still young, and they have firm, glossy skin, then they will be tender and flavorful.
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.
What can you not plant with 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.
Can you eat white eggplant raw?
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 white eggplants turn purple?
Usually, only white eggplants start off white. Many eggplants will be pale when they first start to grow, but they will still reflect the color that they are going to grow into as the fruit gets bigger and ripens. A dark purple eggplant will usually be dark purple as soon as it starts growing.
What is the name of white eggplant?
The names of many white eggplant cultivars are, ironically, quite colourful: caspar, ghostbuster, Japanese white egg, paloma, and white comet.