Aubergine growing advice

Fruit should be very shiny. If it loses it's shine, it's past it. Use secateurs to snip the stem and take it by the fruit end. They've got vicious spines!

 

I have a Jackpot @JWK although it's been outside since it arrived early May, and only just seeing a couple of little flower buds on it. Being a very new gardener I just potted it up and hoped for the best. It's still alive a kicking even after all the wind and wet weather. I love aubergine so wanted to give them a go but since read that aubergines are very hard to grow outdoors in UK If I knew this beforehand I would not have bothered as don't have a greenhouse.

I have also got 2 Black Beauty seedlings, I didn't think they were going to grow in time, hence buying in the Jackpot.....they are still less than half the size but healthy looking (I think)considering they have also been sat on our patio table since May. I went for both varieties as can be grown in containers, Jackpot only reaches about 21" in height, but have no idea what else I need to do with them!

Obviously it's how I come across this thread! Can see this was posted back in 2021, how did the story end with yours?

 

I've got a few on the go, first time of growing them, I've never eaten one

I have mine in the greenhouse but I planted one out a few days ago.
Mine are only just budding up.
I get the feeling they need more heat than outside conditions in the UK usually get but its worth a go.

 

You have never eaten an aubergine before?? or just one you have grown?

I do have a mini greenhouse, one of the cheap 4 tier plastic ones I used for seedlings earlier in the year, do you think it may be worth popping over it? May would also use for my sweet pepper (flamingo), in same size pot, just to make it worth putting it together again! Be a shame to have bought it and also wasting compost on it if not even going to get any fruit.

 

No, not something that ever looks worth eating to me, but I like growing things.

I think it might be worth trying the mini greenhouse any extra warmth will help for the peppers as well.

 

I covered mine with a pop op cloche last year and that helped. I haven't bothered this year as the seeds didn't come up.

 

I doubt they will ever make it this far north in Liverpool... A beautiful fruit, but in my opinion too difficult just yet to grow this far north, unless under glass, and even then limited. I'm shamed to say we had to compost loads of them when we could grow abroad, simply because they were so easy.

 

it is gutting, but as it's my first year, I see everything I'm attempting as an experiment and a big learning experience! thankfully I only paid for one plant on the cheap and grew a couple from seed, I now know would be a waste of compost to pot up further. I will cloche the one I have and see what happens.

 

I have two, both compact ones, one is white knight can't remember the other ones name. Pretty small and getting infested with orange aphids. Last time I grew them was about five years ago and I got one aubergine the size of a finger. I don't hold out much hope for them this year.

 

I have had decent success with aubergines - but usually the white varieties (Dourga and Casper principally). Mine tend to do fine outside (South UK) but do have them in the poly tunnels for some days - and the nights if its going to be a bit chilly.
I also move them around the garden with the sun - which isn't great for my back, but seems to be needed!
I always make the effort to try and self-fertilize by lightly flicking the flowers morning and night.
This year i've got about 10 plants. Most have flowers now, but only a couple of fruit have set - which is a bit behind previous years. The heat last week really helped.

I've found that ones I've kept in the poly tunnel all the time do not do as well and the flowers tend to drop off, so I do not do this anymore.

I've tried a number of purple varieties but have only ever got success with the Czech Early variety. Really didn't like the taste though.