How early can I harvest eggplants? I'm growing Ichiban and Black Beauty. I purchased plants from the nursery, and the Black Beauty says "may be picked while small."

I know if I let eggplant get too "old" on the plant, it will get bitter. However, is there a "too young" stage? Can I pick small fruits (like zucchini, for example), if I want to use them small, or is there a far too young stage? I'm not talking about picking the nubs out of the blossoms, but truly, how big is big enough, but still small? I also don't seem to have a feel for that "springy" deal, that lets you know they're ripe. I really messed up on that one last year! :-)

Thanks!

-Jo

I don't pick until they are mostly purple. They usually start out sort of greenish, whitish, lavendar, so I let them get that dark purple before harvesting, but size isn't that important.

Hope this helps,

Maggie

Thank you so much! Actually, I have some Ichiban that are pure purple, but only about 2", so I think I can wait awhile, but if I picked them at 2", and pure purple, they'd still taste good?

Again, thank you!

-Jo

Ichiban is my favorite eggplant, the one I plant every season, with a few new ones, and judge the others against. I usually wait until it is about 8" long, and about 1 1/2-2" in diameter. It is almost black then, but if left on a bit too long, and it stops growing, then starts turning lighter in color, pick it immediately! This is when the seeds are getting darker, and the flesh starts getting bitter. You can pick it a little smaller, esp. if you have a lot of them, to avoid this happening. Ichiban isn't as bad as some varieties as far as turning bitter, but it will eventually. Letting it get to max. size, but not past that stage, lets the flavor develop to the max. Some varieties that "don't turn bitter", as their ads state, also don't have flavor, IMO.

Dave

Thanks, Dave;

Here's the situation. I have some ideas for recipes that would use very small eggplants, cut in half, as part of the melange I want to try. However, as I only have 4 plants total, I'd hate to pick them too early. The idea is for a mix of roasted baby veggies with garlic and fresh herbs, so the real question is, how early can I pick them and make sure they're really ripe. This is my first experience with Ichiban. I couldn't resist all the great reviews it got, but again, I'd hate to spoil it because I picked it too soon.

Once it turns purple, is there a "too soon?" to harvest a few?

Again, thanks. Believe it or not... I actually used to be able to communicate! LOL~

-Jo

If an eggplant starts to lose it's shine, then it's been too long on the vine.

My black beauty always start out the color they will be. I pick when they are about 7-8 inches long.

If you pick them small the eggplant will set more fruit. If you leave them on the plant you will only get a few. I grow about 16-20 plants of several varieties so I can harvest some every week from different plants.

What GardenDmpls said is the absolute key. Ichiban Eggplant is one fruit that benefits from picking and will produce all season long if you keep harvesting. In fact, they will form a bushier plant with more flower producing branches if you harvest the first fruit small.

Why not try harvesting a couple now. I only grow 3 or four of a few varieties (3 varieties this year) as they don't freeze well, but I always have loads of fruit, once they start to set.

Maggie

Unless you're growing a "baby" variety of eggplant that's specifically meant to mature small, do NOT pick them when they're very small.

"Ichiban", "Black Beauty", "Rosa Bianca", "Blush", & "Casper" I can personally attest definitely taste "immature" - as in slightly sour/bitter - when picked too young. I don't use any of the above until they're at least 7"-9" long & have a shiny, evenly-colored skin (no traces of green). At perfect maturity they should also yield ever-so-slightly to finger pressure - shouldn't be hard as rocks.

Breezy, I agree about the purple color, but here at altitude, mine almost never reach 7" long. I usually get a ripe ichiban at about 4". I have grown some lovely full size like black beauty. They are nearly as long as the plant is tall, but still only about 6-7".

That's why I use the color rather than size as the ripeness determinant.

Maggie

I HAVE NEVER SEEN THESE SEEDS, WHERE DID YOU FIND THEM
Ichiban

Garden926 - "Ichiban" eggplant is the most common variety of Asian eggplant available. Quite possibly EVERY seed company on the planet has it available.

Do a websearch on "Ichiban Eggplant seeds". You'll be amazed at the sheer number of seed purveyors offering it.

How is it y'all are picking eggplants already? We've had a 100+ degree heat wave here, yet I was told not to worry that my eggplant flowers were dropping as it was early still and "hadn't warmed up enough yet." Do you grow 'em under torch lamps or something?

Who on this thread has said they're picking eggplants already? No one that I can see.

We're all just talking about past experience. Read a bit for comprehension.

Hey, if somebody is harvesting eggplant already, I'm coming to their house.