Black Beauty Eggplant Harvest

Black beauty eggplant harvest

Harvest the fruits when they are still glossy and 6 to 8 in. (15-20 cm) long for traditional-sized eggplant, 2 to 3 in. (5-7 cm) long for mini-size eggplant. Use a knife or pruning shears rather than breaking or twisting the stems.

When should eggplant be harvested?

Harvest eggplant 65 to 80 days after transplanting, depending on the variety. When starting from seed, expect 100 to 120 days to maturity. July, August, and September (even into October) are all harvest months for eggplant, depending on where you live and the variety you planted.

How big should a black beauty eggplants get?

Black Beauty eggplants are a popular heirloom variety of eggplant with big yields! The bushy spreading plants grow up to 30" tall and hold their purplish-black oval fruit well off the ground. This top-notch fruit averages 2 pounds, holds well, and retains good color.

How long do black beauty eggplants take to grow?

Grows beautifully in garden beds or containers. Add a cage to your eggplant to help support stems when heavy with fruit. Place in full sun, and feed regularly. Matures in 80 days.

Can eggplant be harvested too early?

Eggplants should be picked as soon as they are ripe, with slightly immature fruits tasting best. One of the easiest ways to determine if they are ripe is to gently squeeze the eggplant. Once you release, the skins should "bounce back". If indentations remain, the fruit is not quite ripe yet.

Will eggplant continue to ripen after harvest?

You can ripen eggplants after harvesting, but results vary, depending on the problem. Ripen them on the counter at room temperature. It helps to put the eggplants in a paper bag where they should ripen within a few days.

Do eggplants grow back every year?

You sure can! It's called overwintering. And, if your climate is warm enough (or you can keep the plant warm enough) you can keep your same eggplant plant alive for years to come. You can do this with a variety of other plants too, such as peppers (hot or sweet), tomatoes, & okra!

Is it right to pull the eggplant from the stem to pick it?

Cut eggplant fruits from the plant with a garden pruner or sharp knife. Leave one inch of green stem attached to the fruit. Eggplants are very difficult to pull away from the plant by hand; doing so can damage the plant.

How many eggplant does one plant produce?

Eggplants typically grow 18 to 36 inches tall with a spread of 24 to 36 inches. Each plant bears between two to 12 fruits, although this number varies based on the variety and growing conditions.

Can eggplants get too big?

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 many times does an eggplant bear fruit?

Eggplants grow 18 to 36 inches tall and 24 to 36 inches wide. Each plant produces 3 to 4 well-developed fruits weighing up to 2 pounds each. Eggplants require a long growing season of 100 to 140 warm days with air temperatures consistently between 70° and 90°F (21-32°C) to reach harvest.

Do Black Beauty eggplants need support?

Growing Eggplant Eggplants can be overloaded with fruit, causing the plant to fall to the ground. Minor support may be needed for large eggplant varieties like Black Beauty. Reusable garden plant clips make it easy to support your crop! Compostable plant clips available too!

Do eggplants keep producing?

Question: Will my eggplant plant continue to produce through the fall and winter? Answer: They are warm season vegetables so they slow down considerably as temperatures drop. Although eggplants will keep growing and flowering, they are more productive if cut back and allowed to regrow during late summer.

What should you not plant next to eggplant?

What Not To Plant With Eggplant. Do not plant fennel near your eggplant. Fennel inhibits growth in many plants, including eggplant. Geraniums can host diseases that also affect eggplant such as leaf blight and root rot, so it is best to avoid planting them with eggplant.

Why does my black beauty eggplant flower but not fruit?

ANSWER: If your eggplant produces flowers, but the blooms fall off before they can develop into fruit, there are two main reasons why this could be happening. Your eggplant may be dehydrated from lack of water, or the blossoms may not have been pollinated.

Can eggplant survive 40 degree nights?

Eggplant temperature requirements are high. They need temperatures from 20°C to 30°C (70°F – 85°F) and plenty of sunlight in order to thrive. Frost or temperature above 35°C (95°F) may cause a delay in flowering and serious damage to tissues and flowers.

At what temperature do eggplants stop growing?

The optimum daytime growing temperature ranges between 70°F and 85°F. When temperatures rise above 95°F, eggplant ceases to set fruit and may drop flowers or abort immature fruit. Fruit set is also reduced when temperatures fall below 60°F.

Do you refrigerate eggplant after harvest?

The best place to store eggplant is not in the refrigerator, but at room temperature, where it's likely to last longer. Keep eggplant in a cool spot, away from direct sunlight, and use it as soon as possible after harvesting or buying.

What is the best way to store fresh picked eggplant?

Place the eggplant in a paper bag or a vented bowl. No need to tightly close the bag or cover the bowl—eggplants require airflow to stay fresh. Keep the eggplant out of direct sunlight and place it in a cool room, about 54 degrees Fahrenheit.

Is it OK to eat unripe eggplant?

A. Yes, eggplant is safe to eat, both raw and cooked. As a part of the nightshade, it also contains the alkaloid compound solanine. However, solanine is not present in potent doses in eggplant.