Aubergine

Growing Guide

Aubergines are a delicious Mediterranean used in a number of dishes such as parmigiana, fritters, curries and baba ganoush. Aubergines can also be grilled, roasted and stuffed.

In the same family as tomatoes, peppers and chillies, aubergines can be easy to grow if you give them the right conditions. They need a good, rich, moisture-retentive soil, plenty of sun and warm conditions. A sunny greenhouse or windowsill is perfect for them.

Sow aubergine seeds indoors from January to May.  Sow seeds on the surface of a free draining, moist seed compost and cover with 5mm layer of vermiculite or compost. Place in a propagator or seal the container inside a polythene bag until after germination. Ensure the compost remains moist whilst waiting for germination. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, carefully transplant them into 7.5cm pots and grow on at a lower temperature.

Outdoors, once all risk of frost has passed plant aubergines in rich fertile soil at a distance of 90cm apart, in rows spaced 90 - 120cm apart. Grow aubergines in a sheltered position in full sun.

Aubergines need reliable temperatures of around 20°C to thrive.

To encourage plants to fruit, you can either gently tap or shake the flowers with water to help release the pollen, or grow pollinator plants nearby to entice pollinators (this may be an issue in a closed greenhouse).

Pinch out the growing tips of the main stems of your aubergine plants when 30cm high to encourage side shoots to develop. Once plants have started to flower, feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser or tomato feed, and mist with water to encourage the fruits to set. When you have five to six fruits remove any other small fruiting shoots. Taller varieties may need staking, particularly when fruits are ripening. Keep plants well watered and mulched.

TOP TIPS

When flowers appear on the plant, lightly mist with water to aid pollination and include a weekly feed into your watering schedule.

The general rule of harvesting aubergines is to pick fruits before the skin loses its gloss. This can be a symptom of over-ripeness, but check the habit of the variety you are growing as some aubergines have less shiny skins.