The Brinjal fruits are harvested when they are immature, the fruits
are harvested when they reach marketable size.
Although the fruit is harvested before it fully ripens, it should
be allowed to attain a good size and colour.
They should be firm, and the outside color glossy purple.
Its surface should not lose its bright and glossy appearance.
At harvesting, the calyx and stem-end are left attached to the fruit.
Large, round varieties should be handled with care.
Depending on the variety and the season it produces 250 to 400 quintals
of fruits per hectare.
Over mature fruits are spongy and seedy.
Loss of their glossy color and dark colored seeds are signs of over
maturity.
Fruits can be harvested up until the first frost and should be picked
as they mature to ensure continued fruit set.
Harvesting is done by hand; the fruits are cut from the vines, with
the calyx, or cap, and a short piece of stem left attached to each fruit.
Careful handling is required because fruits bruise easily, which can
result in significant surface disfiguration.
Usually the fruits are packed in baskets for the markets.
The harvesting starts from 50th day onwards and continues for 50 days
in the first phase and a second phase can be obtained after 20-25 days
if adequate nutrition and irrigation are provided.
The crop can be removed after 110 days if the 2nd flush is not desired,
otherwise it can be retained for 150-160 days.
The size of the fruit reduces during the summer.
The calyx is purple blue and is soft and edible too. During summer
the calyx tends to become green.
The fruit can be stored for two to three
days during winter and one to two days during summer under ordinary
conditions but it can be kept for about a week in a fairly good conditions
at 7.2o to 100 C and 85 to 95% relative humidity.
Brinjal fruits are sensitive to chilling injury below 500F
and deteriorate rapidly at warm temperatures, so they are not adapted
to long storage.
Pitting, surface bronzing, and browning of seeds are symptoms of chilling
injury.
Symptoms may not become pronounced until after the fruits are removed
from low temperatures.
Chilled fruits are susceptible to Alternaria decay when they
are returned to room temperatures.
Eggplants are sold for distant as well as for local markets, because
the fruits do not keep well, they are stored only fir incidental movement
to market.
Fruits can usually be held no more than 7-10 days at 46-540F
and 90-95% relative humidity.
Harvesting And Storage
