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How to Harvest Japanese Eggplants. Prepare to harvest Japanese eggplants around 70 to 80 days after transplanting, or when they’re about the size of a finger (for the Little Finger variety) or a hot dog (for the Ichiban variety), and the skin is glossy and wrinkle-free.
How do you know when Japanese eggplant is ripe?
Signs of Ripe Japanese Eggplant It should be shiny and firm. If you press your finger on the skin, it shouldn’t leave a dent in the flesh. Pick your eggplants before while they’re still young for the best flavor and texture. They should only be from 3 to 6 inches long, which is young enough for the sweetest flavor.
How do you tell if an eggplant is ripe?
Ripe eggplants should be firm but not hard. Flesh should be white with a slight green tint (orange eggplants ripen orange/green inside). If you are unsure of your eggplant’s ripeness, cut one crosswise and check the seeds. They should be clearly visible.
What is the difference between eggplant and Japanese eggplant?
Japanese eggplant are slightly smaller than Chinese eggplant and have the same dark purple skin as the American and Italian varieties. Also quick cooking but not as mild as Chinese eggplant, they’re excellent for grilling and broiling, and they stand up to the assertive flavors of garlic, soy, and ginger.
What does a Japanese eggplant look like?
Japanese eggplants are elongated and slender, averaging 20 to 25 centimeters in length, and have an oblong to cylindrical shape, tapering slightly at the ends. The eggplants may appear curved or straight and are capped with a green or dark purple stem, depending on the variety.
Is unripe eggplant poisonous?
False, raw eggplants are not poisonous. However, the leaves and flowers of the plant can be toxic. Plants in the nightshade family — which includes eggplants, potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and tomatillos — contain an alkaloid called solanine, which in very large doses can be poisonous.
Do eggplants ripen after picking?
Eggplants do not ripen off the vine and deteriorate rapidly, becoming spongy. Eat the eggplant as soon as possible after picking it. You can store it overnight at room temperature.
How long does it take for an eggplant to ripen?
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.
Should I peel Japanese eggplant?
Japanese eggplant has a thin skin, so it is no need to peel it and you can grill or bake them. It will be soft and pleasant to eat!Jul 27, 2018.
Can you eat raw Japanese eggplant?
Like all other eggplant, Japanese eggplant is never eaten raw. Because of its firm texture, which turns creamy during cooking yet holds its shape, Japanese eggplant is especially good for baking, broiling, grilling, and stir-frying. All eggplant is a good source of dietary fiber, B vitamins, and potassium.
Are Japanese eggplant bitter?
Most raw eggplants are very bitter because of the seeds, but when cooked, they become soft, savory, and soak up sauces and oils. That’s why they taste so good in dishes like pasta with sauce, Moussaka, and Ratatouille.
How large do Japanese eggplants get?
Japanese eggplants are elongated and slender, averaging 20 to 25 centimeters in length, and have an oblong to cylindrical shape, tapering slightly at the ends. The eggplants may appear curved or straight and are capped with a green or dark purple stem, depending on the variety.
How big do Japanese eggplant plants get?
A healthy and mature Japanese eggplant plant will take up about 3 feet of space in the garden for its canopy to expand and will grow about 4 feet tall. Space the plants a minimum of 24 inches apart so that the leaves and fruit aren’t crowded. The eggplants need to be in well-drained soil that is rich in nutrients.
How long do Ichiban eggplants get?
Ichiban’ eggplant is typical of all eggplants in growing well in warm weather, but it produces large numbers of 10-inch-long, dark-purple fruits in 50 to 60 days, unlike standard varieties that can take 70 days or longer.
What can I do with under ripe eggplant?
If you use it in a vegetable stew, chewiness won’t kill the whole dish. Or you could cut it in half, rub olive oil on it and roast it in the oven. If it softens, use it in baba ganoush or in ratatouille. If it doesn’t, feed it to the chickens.
How do you remove solanine from eggplant?
SALTING: Slice the eggplant, then sprinkle salt (coarse salt is best because less is absorbed) onto one side. Leave it for 30 minutes, to allow the solanine (a chemical found in the flesh) to leach out, and brush off with a damp cloth.
What color should an eggplant be on the inside?
Eggplant flesh will have tan to brown colored spots around the seeds. If this is the color you are referring to, it is edible. If the flesh is more brown than white, the eggplant may be spoiling and should be discarded.
Do you need to prune eggplants?
With adequate protection from frost, however, eggplants will grow for several years. This means they can get very large, and sometimes more than a little leggy or worn out. To ensure a strong plant and maximum fruit production, eggplant pruning is a good idea in the long term.
What should you not plant next to eggplant?
Eggplant – A good companion for amaranth, beans, marigolds, peas, peppers, spinach, and thyme. Do not plant eggplants near fennel.
Is overripe eggplant edible?
Ripe eggplants are probably one of the prettiest, most visually appealing fruits in the produce section, with taut skin. If you cut open the fruit and ask yourself, “is ripe eggplant brown inside?” you’re better off not to eat it. If the flesh is brown, it’s crossed into overripe territory.
