Grow Eggplants from Seed

• Fill a pot with seed compost then firm lightly.
• Scatter a few seeds across the surface – not too thickly
• Cover with a thin layer of soil or vermiculite, water and label.
• Place in a propagator or warm spot or on a windowsill with a plastic bag over the top to help germination. Remove bag when seeds have germinated in about 7-10 days.
• When seedlings are 3cm tall give each their own 7.5cm pot.
• Pot into a larger pot with general purpose compost when roots show through drainage holes.
• When plants are 25cm tall, stake with a cane and pinch out the top to make new branches.
• Plant into large pots for a sunny sheltered spot or grow in a greenhouse
• Pinch out the growing tip when 18″ high and the side shoots when 3/4 fruit are set
• Feed, using a high potash feed, when the fruit has set .
• Aubergines can suffer from blossom end rot, so ensure that plants do not dry out.

Watering
Aubergines are incredibly thirsty and dry compost will quickly lead to a check in growth.
Ensure that the plants never dry or the fruit will be poor and tough.

Feeding
The first flowers will appear when the plants are quite small.
Give high potash feed when first flowers show.
When this happens feed weekly with a liquid feed tomato fertiliser.

Cropping
Fruits can be harvested with scissors or a sharp knife about August-September
Each aubergine or eggplant will produce up to 3 or 4 fruits, depending on variety and the weather.
Pick when skin is shiny and fruit is a good size.

Aubergines from Thompson Morgan

Aubergine and Varieties to Grow

• Egg-plants or Aubergines are related to potato, tomato and deadly-nightshade.
• Aubergines may survive outside in mild areas but they like warmth.
• Old varieties had bitter flesh that needed salting but modern varieties are now much more palatable.
• Outdoor fruits will be smaller.
• For the small fruited cultivars it might be six inside and three out of doors
• Aubergine Baby Rosanna F1 produces an abundance of golf ball sized, bitter free baby fruits throughout the summer on dwarf plants.
• Spineless plants of Aubergine Calliope produce a heavy crop of oval, baby fruits that mature to a cream streaked purple colour.
• Traditionally coloured black varieties include Florida High Bush and Moneymaker F1.

Seed varieties from Thompson Morgan

Cooking Aubergines
Aubergines are in season from August until October
Aubergine can be purple or white, or any shade in between. Traditional fat banana shape, as well as balls and even think stick-like aubergines all taste similar
There are cooking details on Vegbox the BBC and other cooking sites