Harvesting eggplant: three mistakes to avoid

2022-08-14T14:16:04.337Z

With a warmer climate, the aubergine is also increasingly being grown in Germany. Timing and technique are crucial for a good harvest.

With a warmer climate, the aubergine is also increasingly being grown in Germany.

Timing and technique are crucial for a good harvest.

Unfortunately, the heat-loving aubergine plant, originally from India, does not yield very much in the garden in our latitudes: In the open field you often only harvest three to four fruits per plant, in the greenhouse the yield is somewhat better.

The joy of a ripe aubergine is all the greater, but you should avoid a few mistakes when harvesting, so that at least nothing goes wrong.

Harvesting eggplant: three mistakes to avoid

Since the aubergine harvest is not lush, the right time is important.

Actually, the aubergine is not very demanding as long as it gets enough heat and sun.

She feels comfortable in a sheltered spot on the wall of the house, explains gardener Alexandra Seidenstücker on

mdr Garten

, the plant can also be cultivated well in a bucket on the balcony.

The aubergine is not very susceptible to diseases and is only occasionally attacked by spider mites or Colorado potato beetles.

In addition, she only needs water regularly, but not excessively.

Harvesting eggplants - Mistake no. 1: The wrong time

If you harvest aubergines too early, they often still show green spots.

If you are too late, the fruit will become spongy and lose its aroma.

In addition, harder seeds form, which are not tasty.

The right time is late July or early August when the fruit is shiny and yields slightly when pressed.

The color is a rather bad guide, as it depends on the variety.

The You Tube channel

SelfBio

takes a very pragmatic view: "If it stops growing, it's done."

Harvesting Eggplants - Mistake #2: Cut, don't break

Since it is not easy to break off the shoots, you should cut off the fruit with scissors.

Otherwise, like harvesting cucumbers, you run the risk of damaging the entire plant.

So that the plant does not collapse under the weight of the fruit, it should be supported in good time with sticks or climbing aids.

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Harvesting eggplants - Mistake no. 3: Not enough fertilizer during the growth phase

Yellow leaves can be an indication of a nutrient deficiency, which can also occur during fruiting.

You can counteract this with manure, horn shavings or another organic fertilizer.

According to

SelfBio

, it makes sense to fertilize the vegetables with more phosphate and potassium than at the beginning of planting, since the plant should not develop any more leaves, but fruit.

10 plants that tolerate heat - from flowers to vegetables

A colorful perennial from the steppe: the Maideneye loves the sun.

Verbena reduces evaporation with small leaves.

It is very popular with butterflies.

Paprika and chili plants originally come from Central and South America and need a lot of heat and light.

The flowers of the purslane only open when the sun shines, the fleshy leaves store water for dry times.

The black radish can store water in the thick tuber.

If it's dry for a long time, it gets sharper.

The tropical climbing plant Dipladenia or Mandevilla flowers in white, pink and red. It also looks good on a south-facing balcony.The tropical climbing plant Dipladenia or Mandevilla flowers in white, pink and red. It also looks good on a south-facing balcony.

Of course, the eggplant also needs to be watered, but it also required a lot of heat.Of course, the eggplant also needs to be watered, but it also needed a lot of heat.

The steppe sage survives, as the name suggests, long heat and dry periods. The steppe sage, as the name suggests, survives long heat and dry periods.

A prairie plant for the balcony and garden: the magnificent candle blooms until the first frost.A prairie plant for the balcony and garden: the magnificent candle blooms until the first frost.

The onion also gets by with a little water.

But if you get more, the tubers will get bigger. The onion can also get by with a little water.

But if she gets more, the tubers will get bigger.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-08-14