When to pick eggplants from the garden

When to collect

The timing of harvesting eggplant depends on the purpose of their use. If vegetables are grown for consumption and processing, then they should be removed from the garden at the stage of technical ripeness. If you need to collect seeds from the eggplant, it is better to wait until the fruit reaches biological ripeness.

Here the question arises - how to know that an eggplant has reached its technical or biological maturity? Well, firstly, you need to find out what is the ripening period for this type of eggplant. This information must be indicated on the seed package. By the terms of ripening, eggplants are divided into:

• early ripening - the ripening period of such vegetables is 90-110 days from sowing seeds for seedlings;
• mid-early - fruits ripen in the period of 115-130 days;

• late ripening - reach ripeness in 130-140 days.

If the plants have the right conditions, and during their growing season no force majeure circumstances (drought, frost, sudden changes in temperature, illness) have occurred, then usually the vegetables have time to ripen in due time, and by this time they correspond to their technical parameters.

This does not mean that ripening time is the decisive criterion by which the eggplant is harvested. It is equally important to take into account the technical parameters, especially in the case when vegetables are grown in cold climates, or the weather conditions did not meet the needs of the vegetable crop.

To technical ripeness, eggplants ripen within 3-4 weeks from flowering, or 2-3 weeks from the formation of the ovary. Technical ripeness implies such a state of the fruit, in which their internal and external characteristics fully correspond to the varietal description. The technical ripeness of a vegetable can be judged by the following characteristics:

• reaching the size corresponding to the varietal parameters;

• firm pulp without characteristic bitterness;

• glossy surface of the vegetable - of course, various hybrids have now been bred, for which smooth peel is not characteristic, but still, most of the classic varieties of eggplant have an even glossy surface.

There is a practice of determining the ripeness of fruits by color, however, in the case of eggplants, this criterion is not always appropriate. By color, it is easy to separate ripe eggplant from overripe (reached biological maturity), since the latter has a brownish color. It is impossible to separate an immature fruit from a matured to technical ripeness by color, since the eggplant ovaries initially have a color characteristic of the varietal description: purple, lilac, black-blue or white.

It turns out that the main sign of fruit ripening is the acquisition of the optimal size. It is different for each variety - there are eggplants that do not exceed 7-10 cm in length, but some varieties can grow up to 25-30 cm.Here you need to take a closer look at the fruit - if it has not grown within a week, this means that it's time for it take off.

Sometimes vegetable growers prefer to pluck small fruits, arguing that they are young and not bitter. However, this decision cannot be called correct. If, for example, cucumbers are more valuable while small, and the eggplant should be given time to ripen to the end. Of course, it is not forbidden to use unripe eggplants for food, but it should be borne in mind that they do not have such a rich aroma and taste.

As for the pulp, it should be dense and springy in consistency. In a fruit hanging on a bush, the state of the pulp is checked by light pressure. If the peel has caved in but flattened out quickly, the eggplant can be considered ripe. Conversely, if the pulp is too dense, and no dent appears in the peel when pressed, therefore, the vegetable has not yet reached technical ripeness.

In order to obtain seeds, the eggplant must be left on the bush until it is fully (biological) ripe. The following characteristics indicate the biological ripeness of the vegetable:

• dark, brownish, sometimes even yellowed skin color;

• loose, easily squeezed pulp;

• when cut, seeds are visible in black or brown.

To obtain high-quality seed, the largest and most beautiful eggplants are chosen. They are left on the bush for as long as possible - until the peel begins to dry out. Then the vegetables are removed and placed in a cool, dark place for 1-2 weeks so that the seeds can ripen.

Every gardener wants to save his harvest as long as possible. It is clear that it will not be possible to preserve early and mid-season eggplant varieties until winter, but vegetables of late varieties have high chances for this. If suitable conditions are created for such fruits, they may well survive until the New Year, and even longer.

For winter storage, eggplants should be harvested shortly before the first frost. In this case, you need to carefully approach the selection of fruits. Young specimens of a rich color, with a smooth and even skin, are suitable for storage. It is very important that there is no damage on the vegetables, and mold or rot on the stalk. It is not recommended to wash the plucked vegetables - you just need to put them in boxes, transfer them with parchment or straw, and put them in a dark, cold place.

Video "Growing eggplant"

When exactly it is necessary to harvest the eggplant, see the video.

How to do it right

Eggplants do not ripen at the same time. So first, the lower fruits are removed, which have stopped growing and meet all the technical parameters of the variety, and then, as they ripen, the upper ones. You need to check the ripeness of the fruits once every 5-7 days - so you will not allow them to overripe. Fruit should not be left on the bush, which no longer grow, as they slow down the growth of new ovaries.

Ripe eggplants are cut with a sharp knife or pruner along with a 2-3 cm long stalk. It is not recommended to tear off or remove the fruits in any other way, as this can damage the bush on which the crop is still ripening. As a rule, harvesting lasts until the very frost, until the last eggplant is ripe. In the cold, cut vegetables can be stored for a month, sometimes longer.

Video “Eggplant. Harvesting"

Experienced gardeners talk about how to properly collect eggplants from the garden.