Aubergines

[Henwoman]

Has anyone had any success growing aubergines? I tried last year and the year before in my polytunnel, but only had a few very small aubergines. I have today planted an 18" high plant from the garden centre and am hoping for better success this year, perhaps with the help of ish people.

[chickenchargrill]

*sob* I had some lovely aubergine plants growing, but they were destroyed in the Great Lulu Disaster of April 2nd. Lesson learned - always dog proof your garden just in case you end up taking one on in an emergency.

[Mabu]

I'm really excited about my seedlings that are just popping up, but everyone talks about how hard they are to grow. I'll be heart-broken if all I get is a few scrawny fruits.

[Green Aura]

We've never had any of the monsters you buy from the supermarket but we've had loads of small ones. As I like the taste but can't stand the texture of aubergines I always cook them down to a mush anyway. So size doesn't matter.

I'm guessing that to get big ones you have to remove some of the flowers and give plenty of sunshine, water and food.

[Odsox]

I'm growing some this year for the first time ever, at the moment they are about 2 inches tall.
They are Vietnamese long skinny ones (Ping Tung) which may or may not do what they're supposed to, either way it's just an experiment as I don't like ordinary aubergines but these sounded different.
It's the only "new" thing I'm growing this year, which is a novelty in itself, just a few new varieties of other crops.

Edit to say, I just Googled Ping Tung and apparently it's in Taiwan but my seed packet says Vietnam, so I probably have some very confused little oriental aubergine plants.

[MKG]

Well, you're bu**ered from the outset, Tony - how is an aubergine supposed to thrive if it doesn't know whether it has to communicate in Taiwanese or Vietnamese? I don't know - the seed packagers of today!!!

Mike

[Odsox]

Ah, I have a cunning plan Mike.
As I'm a radio ham, I'm going to teach them Morse code ... a truly international language (well for an elite minority anyway)

[grahamhobbs]

I hate aubergines, I don't eat them and I don't like them in the garden (they are buggers for attracting red spider mite, which can then spread to lots of other things). So last year I refused to grow them but unfortunately the OH (1/2 Syrian) absolutely loves them, so I have relented and grown a few again this year.

The secret is to start them early, mine are now 6" to 8" tall. Because of the red spider mite problem, I refuse to grow them anymore in the polytunnel but in a very sheltered spot (actually the remains of a greenhouse), they don't need the intense heat of a greenhouse or polytunnel, they like a bit of air but to be in the sun and sheltered. Other than that they like to be fed and watered like tomatoes.