Answer
Harvest when the skin is shiny; if the fruit is dull, it is overripe. Bitterness may be found in both underripe and overripe fruit. White eggplants should be picked before the skin turns yellow. Cut eggplants using pruning shears or a sharp knife, leaving a small stub of stem intact.
A glossy covering on the fruit indicates that it is ready to eat. Overripe fruits have dull coats or seeds that have become brown. Pick eggplants as soon as they are ready, with somewhat immature fruits tasting the finest. Squeezing the eggplant lightly is one of the simplest methods to tell whether it’s ripe.
Glossy, thin skin is ideal. Although eggplant harvesting may begin when the fruits are fully formed and little, developing the fruits to full size before harvesting results in more fruit for use. When the inside flesh is cream coloured, the fruits are firm, and the seeds are visible, eggplants should be harvested.
When the eggplants reach a length of around 10 inches, it’s time to harvest them. It normally takes 50 to 60 days for this to happen. With a sharp knife, cut the fruits off at the stem.
Choose one that feels substantial in comparison to its small. Avoid eggplants that appear to be limp, as they may have passed their prime. Look for an eggplant that is smooth and lustrous. The fruit’s dull skin suggests that it is beyond its prime and is becoming bitter.
When eggplants are firm, glossy, and large enough to eat—roughly one-third of their maximum size—harvest them.
True Italian eggplants have finer flesh and thinner skin than traditional purple eggplants, though in some markets, the term “Italian eggplant” is simply applied to the size of the eggplant. The flesh of this eggplant is sweeter and less astringent than that of American eggplant.
Estimated Eggplant Yields Keep in mind that Italian oval eggplants yield about eight fruits per plant, whereas Asian eggplants produce 10 to 15 elongated fruits per plant.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the eggplant into 1″ cubes after peeling it. Place in a colander with a pinch of salt. Drain the eggplant, rinse it, and dry it before placing it on a baking sheet. Toss with olive oil and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden and tender, tossing halfway through. Serve with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Eggplants should be firm but not hard when ripe. Orange eggplants ripen orange/green inside, so the flesh should be white with a slight green tint. If you’re not sure if your eggplant is ripe, cut it in half crosswise and look at the seeds. They need to be easily visible.
While it is difficult to ripen eggplant fruit off the vine, those picked at an immature stage have the best flavour. Allowing the fruit to ripen on the vine is only beneficial for seed production and future planting. The best fruit for cooking, freezing, and preserving is small, immature fruit.
Between 100 and 120 days
Raw eggplants are not poisonous, contrary to popular belief. The nightshade family of plants, which includes eggplants, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, and tomatillos, contains an alkaloid called solanine, which can be poisonous in high doses. A dose of 400 mg of solanine would be lethal for the average adult.
Plants that are healthy will help you fight pests. Young plants in hot climates should be watered twice a week to a depth of 12 inches. Because eggplants dislike standing water, they should be watered deeply and infrequently once they reach maturity. Allowing the leaves to wilt during the day is not a good idea.
Soil requirements: Eggplants need well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Amend soil with 3 to 5 inches of compost or other organic matter prior to planting. Soil pH should be 6.2 to 6.Water requirements: Keep soil consistently moist throughout the growing season.
One of the most important elements of container grown eggplant is the container. Growing eggplant in containers requires 12 to 14 inches of space per plant or three plants can be placed in a 20-inch container. Unglazed pots dry out more quickly than glazed pots, but they also allow the evaporation of excess moisture.
The taste: Japanese eggplant is milder and less bitter than other varieties. Since it’s extra spongy, don’t overdo the marinades — a little goes a long way.
If grown under the right conditions, Japanese eggplants grow up to 4-feet tall and 3-feet wide. The plants reach full size in 50 to 60 days. They need plenty of space in the garden, so all parts of the plant get direct sunlight.
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