The Solanum family includes peppers, potato, tomato and even deadly nightshade as well as our aubergine (Eggplant). The small flowers all look similar but the resulting fruit are quite different.

Aubergines Varieties to try

• Aubergine ‘Antar’ fruit can be dark purple and are a satisfying 9” long
• Aubergine ‘Moneymaker’ produces good, early crops whether it is grown in the greenhouse, in patio containers or outdoors. The Height and spread is upto 24”. The purple fruit are long and slender with an excellent flavour.
• Dwarf Baby Belle F1 should have lots of 2” fruit on a 20” plant
• Red Ruffled also more prolific fruit but bitter and used for Asian cookery
• ‘Florida High Bush’ Aubergine has an upright branching habit and carries its fruit well off of the ground. The white flesh is delicious grilled, baked or fried.
• Aubergine ‘Listada de Gandia’ produces a large and early crop of stunning, white streaked, purple skinned, oval fruits up to 6” in length.
• There are 15-20 different varieties of eggplant mainly of Asian origin.

Other Eggplants
Thai long green is one of the modern thin skinned varieties that should grow well in the south of the UK.
Diamond Eggplant is mild with no bitterness and coming from Russia it should thrive in the UK
Aubergine ‘Black Beauty’ is an heirloom variety worth considering.
Aubergine ‘Prosperosa’ produces spherical, ribbed, pale purple fruits with firm, flavoursome flesh. This Sicilian heritage variety has a mild flavour and no bitter after taste

Aubergines from Thompson Morgan
Read tips for growing Aubergines