If the seeds are brown, the fruit is over-ripe and probably bitter. Look for light yellow seeds. The stems of eggplants are tough and should be cut with a knife or scissors to avoid broken branches. Some varieties even have spines on the calyx and may require gloves at harvest. Harvest typically begins 55 to 65 days from transplanting.
Flesh is tender.
Orient Express ' has slender 8 to 10 inch long, glossy, black fruit. Ping Tung ' has 18 inch long fruit with dark purple skin. Bharta ' has large, round, black fruit with less seed. Osterei ' has small, white, oval fruit. Rosa Bianca ' has teardrop-shaped fruit with rosy lavender and soft white skin.