When can I harvest eggplant?

Question: 

When can I harvest eggplant?

Answer: 

Begin harvesting the large, oval varieties when the fruit are 2 inches in diameter.  Continue to harvest the fruit until they are 4 to 6 inches across.  At the proper harvest stage, the fruit will be firm and shiny.  Overmature fruit will be dull, seedy, and tough.  Remove the fruit with a knife or hand shears, leaving an inch of stem on each fruit.  

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