How To Sow & Grow Aubergines
The business of growing aubergines is often made out to be much more difficult than it actually is. In fact, aubergines are far easier to grow than tomatoes as there's much less fiddling about involved!
Growing Aubergines from Seed
If you’re planning to grow your plants in a tunnel or greenhouse, sow your seeds from late February to March, which will give you nice plants ready to set out in April–May.
If you’re planning to grow your plants outside, delay sowing until late March–April which will give you plants for setting out from late May to mid-June.
The hardest part of growing aubergines lies in germinating the seed but it shouldn't be too difficult, providing you use the freshest possible seed compost and keep a careful eye on temperature, watering and light. To achieve successful germination you really need a good steady heat so we recommend buying a decent heated propagator, ideally one with thermostatic controls. A propagation light can also be helpful.
Sow the seed into pots of compost, two seeds to a 3½"(9 cm) pot. Cover the seed with a layer of vermiculite or sieved fresh seed compost, roughly as thick as the seeds themselves.
Water the trays or pots thoroughly and stand them in a propagator in good light; a constant temperature of 64-77°F (18-25°C) is ideal. Keep the compost just moist but never soggy.
Once the seeds have germinated, keep a very close eye on them as the seedlings can turn leggy very quickly. Provide as much light as you possibly can and grow the seedlings on. If you are growing them on a windowsill or using a similar uni-directional light source you will need to turn the growing container several times a day in order to ensure that the seedlings do not grow towards the light.
Watering is also important. It is better to keep the compost just moist at all times, avoiding drought and waterlogging – too much water will produce weak, spindly plants. Once the seedlings have produced their first true leaves (that is, the first set of leaves after the seedling leaves) they are ready to be pricked out (transplanted) into modules or small pots. As with all seedlings, hold them by their leaves rather than their stems when pricking out. With aubergine seedlings the important thing is not to plant them too deeply. Unlike tomatoes, aubergine seedlings do not stem-root; if they are planted too deeply they are very likely to rot. To avoid this, plant them so that the compost is at the same level on the stem as in the original seed tray.)
Growing On (for those purchasing our aubergine plants, read from here on!)
Continue growing the plants and pot on as required so that you end up with individual plants in 3½"(9 cm) pots, standing about 6–8" (15-20 cms) tall, perfect for setting out. If you are planning to grow your plants outside and the threat of frost has not subsided, or you’re just plain not ready to plant them out into their final position, pot on again to avoid their growth being checked or plants becoming root-bound.
Planting Out
Aubergine plants always do better if grown under protection rather than outside because of the increased warmth and the greater control you have over watering. Both greenhouses and polytunnels are absolutely perfect for this. Whether growing inside or out, your options for the final setting out of plants are: in grow-bags, in pots or in the ground.
Grow-bags are ok but, like everything, they are made for a price (which is usually cheap); if they have been standing around for some time the nutrients will have been released and the compost grown stale. In our opinion, growing in containers is the best way and will give you the best results (and is how we grow our aubergine plants). You can easily make your own compost to fill the tubs by mixing fresh grow-bag compost with 25% horticultural grit or vermiculite to provide all-important drainage and adding 4oz (110g) of garden lime per 50 litres of compost.
If growing in grow-bags set out three plants per bag; if growing in containers, a 12-litre pot (12"/30 cms diameter) will be fine for one plant whilst a 40-litre tub (20"/50 cms diameter) is suitable for two or three plants. Plant firmly in compost and water in well.
If growing outside, harden off plants in late May/early June, then set out in a well-drained but moisture-retentive soil 3ft (90 cm) apart, in rows 3ft (90 cm) apart. Protect young plants with cloches or windbreaks if the weather is bad.
Training
Provide support for plants as necessary, using canes.
Watering/Feeding
Keep moist at all time but not really soggy. We also suggest watering in the afternoon where possible, to ensure the plants don't receive a shock from being watered with cold water.
We don't recommend using a liquid feed. Instead, ensure that you use a good-quality compost to begin with. This should be sufficient.
Pollination
Aubergines are self-pollinating and do not require assistance.
Pests
You will need to keep an eye out for aphids and white fly. We recommend spraying once a week with our BioFriend Plant Defence.
Harvesting
Pick fruits once they have reached their full colour and have stopped increasing in size.
A Word of Caution
Aubergines are vicious. Be careful when handling the plants, trimming leaves, or harvesting fruit as stems and leaves, and even flowers, will often have spines on them, depending on the variety, and they can be spiteful.
6 Results
Aubergine Seed 'Black Beauty'
A purple-black fruited variety of eggplant of excellent size and texture. Very prolific cropper, suitable for both indoor and outdoor growing.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 20 seeds.
Aubergine Seed 'Snowy'
An early-maturing variety of all-white skinned eggplant that produces fruits up to 7" (17 cm) in length with a dense flesh. Highly recommended.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Aubergine Seed 'White Casper'
Great for growing in the British climate, this heirloom variety producing egg shaped fruit approx 7" long with mild flavour and lovely texture.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 15 seeds.
Aubergine Plant 'Black Beauty'
Sometimes known as eggplant. Purple-black fruits are good-sized and well textured. Very prolific cropper, suitable for both indoor and outdoor growing.
Available from APPROXIMATELY late April / early May
Supplied as compost block grown plants.
Aubergine Plant 'Snowy'
A plant that produces a delightful, firm white aubergines, sometimes known as egg plant. An early cropping variety with a good yield.
Available from APPROXIMATELY late April / early May
Supplied as compost block grown plants.
Aubergine Plant 'White Casper'
An excellent variety for UK growing. An heirloom variety producing white skinned and fleshed fruits approximately 7" long with a firm texture and mild flavour.
Available from APPROXIMATELY late April / early May
Supplied as compost block-grown plants.
