How to Manage Pests

Harvesting and storing peppers and eggplants

Eggplants will begin to flower and set fruit 6 to 8 weeks after transplanting. After that it will take about 3 weeks for the fruit to be ready although it can be harvested and eaten at any earlier stage of development. Fruit should be harvested while still glossy. When the color dulls, the seeds become dark and the flesh becomes bitter. Because the stems are tough, use a sharp knife or hand clippers to remove the fruit from the plant. Eggplants do not have a long shelf life and should be used quickly after harvest. They will keep for about 7 to 10 days at 45° to 50° F.

Peppers are harvested any time after they develop the full desired color. Some bell peppers can be harvested from the onset of green color all the way through to dark red. Peppers keep best under refrigeration between 45° and 55° F.

Storage tip for peppers

Peppers should not be stored in the same bin as apples or bananas because they are subject to injury from ethylene gas, which apples and bananas release.