The Best Time to Harvest an Oriental Eggplant

Transplants

• Eggplants are annual vegetables that require warm temperatures. Planting the vegetable too early will result in frost-damaged plants and failure to thrive. If you live in a cool climate you can still plant eggplant but, rather than starting from seed, choose to plant starts. Starts, or transplants, are available at nurseries and garden centers. These plants are already several weeks old and are ready to be transferred to warm garden soil. With a few weeks head start, the plants are able to grow to maturity and harvest before the first fall frost. Transplanted Japanese eggplant are ready to harvest within 60 to 85 days of planting.

Seeds

• Seeds sown in the ground will grow to harvestable plants within 100 to 120 days. The seeds must be planted when soil temperatures are within 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. The plants themselves require temperatures within the 75 to 85 degree range to flower and fruit. Time your planting to coincide with optimum temperatures. Cold weather stunts plant growth so starting seeds early will actually delay harvest.

Harvest Quality

• Counting the days until harvest is a rough method of determining when to pick Japanese eggplant but the true test is to feel the fruit and judge its appearance. Purple eggplant appears glossy when it is ready for harvest. Press your thumb against a shiny eggplant. If your thumb leaves a depressed area, the fruit is ready for harvest. Leaving the vegetable on the plant may allow it to grow larger but its quality will be sacrificed. Japanese eggplant are smaller than other varieties. They are ready for harvest when their size is that of a hotdog or your finger, depending on the variety.

Considerations

• Detach eggplant from the parent plant with clippers or a sharp knife. Leave the cap and an inch of stem on the eggplant. After harvesting your crop, incorporate compost into the soil to replenish the area's fertility. Plan on rotating your crop to allow soil to refresh. Avoid planting other nightshades, like potatoes or tomatoes in the area. Instead, plant leafy greens or herbs.