If the eggplants are cared for properly, the time to harvest comes in July when the fruits ripen early. Later ripening varieties are ready from August onwards. What do you have to pay attention to when you want to harvest your egg crops?
When and how do you harvest eggplant correctly?
Aubergines are best harvested from July to late autumn, when the skin is shiny and free of spots, gives slightly when pressed with your finger and the flesh is light to almost white. Carefully cut the eggplant using the base of the stem while holding the plant.
It's all about the right time
Aubergines are harvested when they are not yet fully ripe. However, the harvest must not be done too early. Then the fruits contain too much solanine, which is slightly toxic. Overripe fruits lose a lot of their aroma and are no longer suitable for drying.
Harvest outdoor eggplants from July to late autumn
Depending on the eggplant variety, the harvest season begins in July or August and lasts until the onset of frost. Eggplants in the greenhouse are often ripe earlier and can be picked well into winter.
External signs of the right harvest time
Aubergines are ready to harvest when the skin is shiny and has no spots. It gives slightly under finger pressure. The color depends on the eggplant variety. It can be dark purple, but also white or green.
The inside of the eggplant must be light, almost white, inside. If it is greenish, the fruit was harvested too early. The toxic solanine content is then too high and the eggplant should not be consumed. If the flesh is already brown in color, the eggplant is overripe and tastes bitter.
How to test eggplant before harvesting:
- Shiny Bowl
- No stains
- Gives slightly to finger pressure
- Light flesh
- Whitish kernels
Get seeds for propagation
Aubergines, like tomatoes, contain small seeds. They also have to be white. If you want to plant eggplants from the seeds next year, let the fruit become overripe so that the seeds look very dark.
Pick eggplant carefully
The aubergines are carefully cut off with the stem base. The plant must be held with one hand so that the shoots do not break off.
Tips & Tricks
If the harvested eggplants are still too unripe, you can let them ripen a little more by placing them near apples. These produce a gas that causes other fruits to ripen. Check regularly how far the ripening process has progressed.
