Discussion Board

I have planted two things this year I have never planted before, so I have a few questions:

1. I planted eggplant but not the big kind that you usually see in the grocery store. These are skinny. When is the optimum time to harvest (how big should they be?)

2. I planted purple hull peas...not sure why..I guess I have just heard of them for years. When do I harvest them? And does anyone have any special McD recipe for them?

Thanks to all the McDougallers with dirty fingernails for your advice!!

It's hard for me to know when to harvest eggplant, too. I think that once the skin turns dull they are overripe (???) If you don't see a lot of green near the stem end then I think you can harvest any time. But I hope somebody else will have a more definitive answer to this question! I have quite a bit of eggplant out there, though no where near ready to bear fruit. (In my opinion, the skinny long ones are the TASTIEST!!!)

Purple hull peas--when you find out, report back, as I would like to know! \

funny I'm not into the skinny ones that much. Those are japanese kind. They get about 6-8 inches long. They should have some give.

I'm not sure about the peas either as I've never tried them. I do feel the pods, as you can feel inside to know when to pick.