When to pick Japanese Eggplant?

[MustGrowMore]

Hello!

I have a couple eggplants, but not sure when do you pick them? At a certain size? How can I tell when they are ready to be enjoyed?

JapaneseEggplant.JPG (58.48 KiB) Viewed 1283 times

[imafan26]

Pick them before the skin loses their shine, otherwise they will be hard and bitter. Scarring and curling of the fruit are often caused by thrips feeding on the blossoms.

https://203.64.245.61/fulltext_pdf/EB/20 ... eb0122.pdf

[MustGrowMore]

Thanks Greener Thumb!

So should I pick these now? Since they are curled, assume they aren't good?

Thank again!

[imafan26]

The curling is from the scars not being able to grow with the fruit. As long as the eggplant is shiny they are still good, just cut out the scarred parts as they will be hard. You want to pick the eggplant before the seeds turn brown an mature, it would still be edible, but more bitter.

The leaves of the eggplant look a little yellow, I think it could use some fish emulsion.

[MustGrowMore]

Perfect!

By emulsion you mean? Sorry new gardner