minimum size to pick cloud nine?

[tjg911]

i never grew this variety before and i have 3 plants. all 3 are covered with flowers and several small fruits are developing. i don't want to be swamped with eggplants so i wonder if i pick them at the 4" size will they be ok or must they be more mature? seems i read somewhere that eggplant is edible at 1/3 their full size. since this variety gets large, 8" if i remember correctly, i'd prefer to use them smaller.

thanks,

tom

[tjg911]

by the end of the weekend these will be the size in question----comments???

[nctomatoman]

Hi - just back from Philly business trip. You can pick eggplant any size you like - from egg sized to full sized (which of course depends upon the variety). Also, picking will induce more flowering/production, so maybe try some at different stages to see what suits you best. Once they stop getting larger and are at their full size, they will slowly turn yellow - at which time seed can be saved (but they are not good for eating at that stage).