Aubergines

Overview

Aubergine Solanum melongena

More familiarly known as the “egg  plant” because at one time the only aubergine that was grown produced white fruits that resembled a chickens egg. These days of course the fruits are produced in various colours, shapes and sizes. Aubergines really appreciate warm growing conditions and although they are recommended as being suitable for growing outdoors they really do need the comfort of a greenhouse to thrive.

Varieties to choose (all sold by Kings Seeds)

• ‘Moneymaker’ F1: Very productive, extra early variety. Glossy black, semi long fruits.
• ‘Long Purple’: One of the most commonly grown varieties. Medium sized fruits, deep violet colour and good flavour. Feed as you would tomatoes.
• ‘Snowy’: Early maturing, cylindrical white fruits. Very attractive and tasty.

How to grow

Sow

Aubergines are raised from seed and they require a long growing season to reliably produce fruits by the mid summer. Sow the seed in small pots or trays filled with fresh seed compost in gentle warmth during February to mid-March. When the seedlings are large enough to handle prick them out individually into 3”/9cm pots filled with fresh potting compost. Set the large seed leaves just at the surface of the compost.

Growing on

Wait until the roots begin to fill the pot before transplanting or potting them on into the next size up pot. Re pot them until they are finally in a 12”/30cm pot or 2 plants in a growbag. Allow at least 2ft/60cms between plants. When the aubergine plants are 12”/30cms tall pinch out the growing tip out to encourage the development of side branches. Only allow four branches to grow and only allow one fruit to develop per branch. Once a flower has been pollinated and has set fruit remove all other flowers as they appear. Immediately after pinching out support the plant using a short, strong cane because the weight of the aubergine fruits will pull the plant apart.

Aftercare

There is no need to begin feeding the plants until they start to produce flowers, feeding too soon will only encourage leaf growth and cause the delay flower production. Feed once a week using tomato fertiliser using the same rate as is recommended for tomatoes.  Water regularly and don’t allow the compost to dry out at any time.

How to Harvest

It can be difficult to know just when an aubergine is ready for cutting. Wait until the skin has a healthy shine to it and the flesh gives slightly when it is gently squeezed. Cut the stalk to avoid the risk of damaging the plant.

 

Issues

Aubergines are notorious for attracting whitefly and aphids; to control this problem set up sticky traps and spray the plants with insecticidal soap before introducing any biological control to clear up these pests. Use encarsia formosa for the white fly and aphidius for the aphids. The other major pest is the dreaded red spider mite which is an indication of too dry an atmosphere in the greenhouse. Aim to maintain a buoyant, moist feel to air in the greenhouse and spray the plants regularly using water. Hard water will mark the fruits so use soft water if possible. The symptoms of red spider mite are pale and sick looking leaves and the leaves look a little silvery, in a bad attack the leaves will be covered in a silver web. Red spider mites are almost invisible to the naked eye don’t mistake the small red spider like insects often seen in the garden for them.