When it comes to gardening, we can agree that it is a tedious task, right from planting to watering to upkeep to fertilization to harvesting. While on the topic of harvesting eggplants let’s have a look at the repercussions of harvesting them too early or late. Along with this it also depends on the amount of water and nourishment the plant receives. Your Black Beauty eggplants are tender and flavorful when picked while still young. Eggplants when harvested at the right time have a lovely aroma and taste. So if you buy any product from our link, then we may get a small commission from it. Eggplant : Black Beauty Purplish-black smooth eggplants. You only need one tool for picking Black Beauty eggplants without damaging the foliage or stems. 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. When it comes to eggplants however almost all variants of the eggplant are picked after maturing on the vine. If your thumb leaves an indentation the fruit is overripe. In some varieties, like Black Beauty (IME), bitterness can occur with the seeds. Once you see these changes in your eggplant be rest assured that they are ripe and ready to harvest. This way you will increase the chance of a second harvest after pruning. If they’re allowed to grow to maturity, the skin becomes dull, and the flesh becomes spongy and bitter. What you are looking for is a smooth glossy finish. If you pan to refrigerate the fruit, you cannot go below 50°F (10°C). Rating Required. This can increase or decrease over time depending on the plant. To determine … Most eggplants are around 3 to 6 inches in size some bigger variants can go up to 10 to 12 inches as well. You might even cause the unripe fruits to fall off. This being said eggplants yield fruit annually and they average to 0 – 12 per year. Harvesting eggplant the right way. It is better to harvest eggplant just before its ripe than to wait too long. Protecting your arms and hands also prevents any fungus, disease or pests from transferring onto your skin. It can take eggplants 16-24 weeks to grow before they can be harvested. To know of the Japanese eggplant is ready to harvest along with the texture you will also need to feel the fruit. There are countless varieties of eggplant you might consider growing. This will make the process easier and the plant will also thank you for not tugging onto it. Fill the container with a mixture of potting soil and compost and make sure to give your eggplants lots of water and fertilizer. Grows best in warm weather. (Exclusive Tips), Best 15 House plants with red and green leaves (Exclusive Guide), Why Are My Mint Leaves Turning Black: Everything You Need to Know to Prevent Black Spots on Mint Leaves. While harvesting the Japanese eggplant texture is the most important. In most case, you can consume eggplants immediately after they have been harvested. The large fruit and early harvesting nature of the plant make it a great choice to grow at home. When it comes to growing eggplants it also depends on the amount of sunlight it receives. It takes from 60 to 70 days for them to become ripe. 2' apart and are in the same raised bed as Zuchinni & Purple Bell Pepper. When ready to harvest it will have a waxy appearance that looks spectacular. The thicker skin makes it suitable for roasting and making dips like baba ganoush. They can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. The average cycle of eggplant is 60 to 80 days from germination to harvest. In terms of taste, the under and overripe fruit will have a bitter taste as compared to the perfectly ripe one. Mulching: Use mulch to suppress weeds, keep soil moist, and retain warmth as … The imperial black beauty is considered one of the shortest eggplant trees. Cradle the eggplant in your palm, gently lifting it, and exposing the stem. When – Start seed indoors to allow at least 10 weeks for young plants to develop. The size of the eggplants will differ but you will still be able to enjoy them. This will make the harvesting process easy. Little Finger – The little finger variety features long thin eggplants, as you may expect from the name. How to Harvest Eggplant. It may so happen sometimes that you have already harvested the fruit but are not very sure if it is ripe. Like other variants, you will need to feel the fruit before plucking it off the vine. These fruits take their time to mature. This being said it is difficult to ripen eggplants off the vine. Once an eggplant shows signs of being ripe, it is time to harvest. Harvest: For best quality, harvest before its glossy skin begins fading to dull purple. It … These are warm-season crops and grow better in full sun. If the eggplant is unripe there won’t be visible seeds. Picking eggplants correctly is important to avoid stem and foliage damage that could prevent future fruit growth. If your eggplants have dull skin, then they’re overripe, and will have a bitter taste. And more. this will not only help preserve the texture but also prevent dehydration. Blunt instruments will not only make it extremely difficult to cut the fruit off the plant but it will also damage the plant. Pick eggplant when they begin to lose their glossy sheen (or before). In most cases, the harvesting process is the same for all variants but sometimes exotic variants might come with special instructions. You may like the following gardening articles: Eggplants are extremely easy to plant and harvest. When the seedlings are … Eggplants need to be firm to touch and not hard, hence if the fruit is hard you can leave it on the plant a little longer. When it is time to pick your eggplants, you will want to make sure you do it correctly. Plants are bushy and can be trellised. Hello, I am growing a "Millionaire Eggplant" and a "Black Beauty", but it seems the Millionaire is growing faster than the Black Beauty. The optimal temperature for storing eggplants is 55°F (13°C). Ready in approximately 67 days from planting, each vine will produce several fruits. It may in some cases expedite the eggplant seed to harvest time. Black Beauty. A warm, loam soil enriched with compost or well-rotted manure. One of the very best varieties producing tender, tasty purplish-black with smooth, glossy skin fruits. This is a good eggplant to pick! It will only mature. This part of the gardening process is very important. Lastly, when to harvest eggplants is as important as knowing how and when to plant eggplants. The simple answer to this is to pay attention to the fruit. While harvesting an eggplant it is important to use sharp instruments and cut the fruit at the top. This is indicative of the fact that it can be harvested. Black Beauty eggplant is a hit with gardeners who want an eggplant variety that produces deep, purple, plump fruit earlier… Eggplant Cracking the Japanese Eggplant Growing Code