Aubergines looking unhealthy

Hi all

I have some aubergine plants, about 10 weeks old (I raised them from seed) which are in 7" pots in my unheated polytunnel (have been there for a few weeks). They were doing very well when they were little and in the house, but since going into the poly they've started to look a bit unhealthy (it seems to me). Some of the lower leaves are wilting and turning yellow, and the growth seems a bit stunted.

My partner thinks overwatering might be the problem - there is algae growing on the top of the soil in the pots. I have also found some aphids on a few of the plants. We have had some cold-ish weather here the last week or so and so possibly it may have been too cold for them in the poly (nice and sunny today, though). We do ventilate the poly by opening both doors on warm days and as it's only little (8x10') I figure this should be sufficient.

Could anyone advise me on what might be wrong with them? They're supposed to be a variety that is adapted to cooler, shorter summers.

Paddy

 

In the early stages of growth they need a minimum of 15C - I doubt you are getting that in your Polytunnel I'm afraid. Although over watering could be a factor too.

My T&M "Enorma" says "Germination 20C-24C, grow on at 18C-21C - which is even higher than my "cropping notes" ...

What variety are yours?

P.S. Cna you bring yours in at night? (Although cold nights will be gone in a another couple of weeks - mine aren't out in the cold greenhouse yet)

 

Right, so it's probably best to bring them in at night then? We could try that although we don't have much room (the plants are pretty big!).

The variety I have is 'Diamond' which I bought from this site:

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/aubergines.html

 

"we don't have much room"

Then don't need light, at night, so anywhere that will be 15C or better will do.

There is a risk of them getting bust moving them often, of course. Bit of a two edge sword really :(

 

I've had a bit of a trawl for Aubergine Diamond - seed companies say it is the best bet for colder climates, people who have grown them have had limited success with germination, and not many fruit per plant - but then I don't suppose people who had success would be talking about them much.

So I don't know whether they need warmer night temperatures, or not, I'm afraid, so I'm just going by what my book says which is obviously a generalisation. Apart from the risk of breaking them, carrying them in each night, warmer night temperatures will do no harm.

 

Yes I'll take your advice and bring them in - even if they just go on the floor for the night!

It did warn on the seed packet that germination could be a bit 'hit and miss' so I sowed the entire packet (30 seeds) - and they all came up!! I gave some away but still have about 15 plants.

 

Just an update - I brought the aubergines in and found room on the windowsill so that I could leave them inside all the time (especially as the weather turned bad!) and it seems they are recovering.

I have another question though - many of the plants are developing flower buds, however some of these buds have dried up and dropped off without turning into flowers. I'm wondering why - I have kept them well watered and taken care not to overwater; they are nice and warm inside etc. I have had an aphid problem on most of the plants and have sprayed them with a weak washing up liquid solution - could this be causing the flower bud drop-off? If not that, then what else could be the problem? Perhaps the atmosphere in the house is a bit too dry for them?

Perhaps it's time I put them back in the poly - especially as the sun is shining!

Paddy

 

Two things I think. The atmosphere is probably a bit dry - spraying with a little hand held mister would help, but more importantly they tend not to set fruit early on - they need it warmer, lighter, more moist .... so IME it will be a good few weeks before they set flowers (they sort of auto-adjust themselves :thumb

 

I normally grow aubergines without too much difficulty (assuming a hot summer!) but have also had problems with young plants dying off this year. I reckon that it is aphids (which have also attacked my peppers). I don't go for the green option: I have swamped them with the most toxic pesticide that I can find! Fingers crossed.