Eggplant

petals1973 5/17/2011, 2:05 pm

This is my first year to grow eggplant. I was wondering how do you know when your eggplant is ready? I have a pinstripe eggplant & i have read it grows medium sized fruit. How big is a medium sized eggplant?

Thanks!!

Margarita

quiltbea 5/17/2011, 2:56 pm

Its ready to pick when the skin has a high gloss.
To test: Gently press thumb into fruit.
If the shiny skin dulls and stays a bit dented, its ready.

Harvest them smaller rather than bigger so the plant continues to produce new fruit. Cut them off with about an inch of stem.

If you allow them to get too big, they will stop producing new fruits.

sherryeo 5/17/2011, 6:59 pm

I hope it's ok to ask more questions about eggplant since that's the topic here? Should you trim the bottom leaves off the eggplant bush as you do tomatoes to keep soil from splashing on the plant during watering and to try to keep bugs down? Should you pinch the suckers off eggplants?

I have two eggplants - one in each of my 2 4X4s. They're really looking healthy right now and are getting their first blooms. Is it ok to let the first blooms go or should the first blooms be pinched out for any reason (I don't think so and kind of hope not - I'm excited about the blooms -so beautiful on eggplants).

Thanks for any replies!

**camprn** 5/17/2011, 7:06 pm

sherryeo wrote:I hope it's ok to ask more questions about eggplant since that's the topic here? Should you trim the bottom leaves off the eggplant bush as you do tomatoes to keep soil from splashing on the plant during watering and to try to keep bugs down?

Maybe the very bottom leaves only.

sherryeo wrote: Should you pinch the suckers off eggplants?

I do not do this.

sherryeo wrote:
I have two eggplants - one in each of my 2 4X4s. They're really looking healthy right now and are getting their first blooms. Is it ok to let the first blooms go or should the first blooms be pinched out for any reason (I don't think so and kind of hope not - I'm excited about the blooms -so beautiful on eggplants).

Thanks for any replies!

I leave all the blossoms on the plant. Aren't they one of the most beautiful flowers? I love them. I love you

sherryeo 5/17/2011, 7:34 pm

camprn, I'm so glad to hear I don't have to pinch the blossoms out. Yes, I think they are the very most beautiful blooms on veggie plants! I I love you

them, too! Ok, so I've been doing things right, I think, then eggplant-wise, except for trimming the very bottom leaves off. I think that's probably a smart thing to do and will do so. I have high hopes for my eggplant this year. Thanks again for the reply!

petals1973 5/17/2011, 9:08 pm

quiltbea wrote:Its ready to pick when the skin has a high gloss.
To test: Gently press thumb into fruit.
If the shiny skin dulls and stays a bit dented, its ready.

Harvest them smaller rather than bigger so the plant continues to produce new fruit. Cut them off with about an inch of stem.

If you allow them to get too big, they will stop producing new fruits.

thank you for the info. I'll have to go and push on my eggplants. They are about the size of a tennis ball right now.

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