Methods to develop aubergines from seed –

Aubergines are a part of the identical household as tomatoes, peppers and chillies and want loads of heat to thrive. Finest grown in a brilliant greenhouse or conservatory, they may also be grown on a sunny patio within the warmest elements of the UK. Simply begin the seeds off early to provide them an extended rising season. Right here, skilled allotment grower Lee Senior shares high recommendations on the right way to develop aubergines from seed.

Wish to give them a go? Browse our full vary of aubergine seeds right here.

What are the most effective aubergine varieties to develop?

The number of aubergine you select will rely upon the rising circumstances you possibly can present. That is a very powerful consideration, as these shiny black fruits have pretty exacting wants. Aubergines are tender vegetation when grown within the UK. For those who’re rising them outdoor they want numerous solar and a heat, sheltered location. For those who’re rising the vegetation in a greenhouse or conservatory, then your alternative of sorts shall be far higher. For outside rising, early-maturing varieties are greatest. And as a basic rule of thumb, smaller-fruited varieties are a bit of higher suited to UK circumstances.

Most of us consider aubergines as being that acquainted, shiny deep purple color. Whereas that is in fact true, lately there are a lot of different colors too! For example, Aubergine ‘Inexperienced Knight’ F1 is totally completely different to every other I’ve ever grown. The weird slender jade-green colored fruits are sweet-tasting and ideal for stir-fries and curries. This selection additionally has the bonus of being one of many earliest to mature, so it’s a very good one for northern elements of the UK.

In the meantime a packet of Aubergine ‘Patio Combine’ seeds incorporates a whopping 4 completely different varieties offering a veritable vary of colors: ‘Jackpot’ (additionally obtainable as potted vegetation) has darkish purple fruits, ‘Amethyst’ has brilliant purple fruits, ‘Pinstripe’ has cream and purple striped fruits and ‘Ivory’ produces creamy white fruits. All of the varieties are F1 and appropriate for rising in pots in addition to conservatories, greenhouses or sheltered courtyards.

Maybe the preferred selection is Aubergine ‘Black Magnificence’. A dependable early cropper, it produces good-sized fruits on vegetation that attain a peak of as much as 1.2m (4ft) when they’re rising effectively.

‘Genie F1’ is one other wonderful white-fleshed selection that has the good thing about spineless stems. This makes it a good selection If youngsters are round otherwise you need a selection that’s straightforward to reap.

How and when to sow aubergine seeds

Stripy ‘Pinstripe’ is a dwarf selection that’s superb for pots, tubs and raised beds
Picture: Aubergine F1 ‘Pinstripe’ seeds from Suttons

Aubergines want an extended rising season within the UK to permit time for the fruits to ripen. So long as you possibly can present enough warmth and heat growing-on circumstances, they’re usually one of many first seeds of the yr to sow. I at all times begin my aubergine seeds between the tip of January and mid-February, utilizing a heated propagator.

To sow your aubergine seeds, sprinkle them on the floor of seed compost in a tray or small pot and canopy with a 6mm layer of compost or vermiculite. Aubergines require a minimal temperature of 18C to 21C for dependable germination, and it usually takes between 2-3 weeks. Putting the seed tray on a radiator at residence and masking the tray with a lid may also help germination if required. One of many most important causes that aubergine seeds fail is that the temperature isn’t persistently heat sufficient for germination to happen.

As soon as the seedlings emerge, develop your younger vegetation on in a lightweight and brilliant place with minimal daytime temperatures of 16C. At evening, shield them from extreme chilly and frost and, in case you’re rising them on a windowsill, please be aware that the temperature between glass and curtains can drop very considerably. For those who can’t present sufficient heat and light-weight after germination, your seedlings will wrestle to develop. (That is when it is smart to buy potted, grafted vegetable vegetation which have already handed the seedling stage after they arrive.)

As soon as the true leaves kind and the vegetation start to develop strongly, transfer them into small particular person pots of free-draining compost and maintain the vegetation moist.

Out of doors specimens needs to be hardened-off within the regular approach with a view to planting out on the finish of Might after the danger of frost has handed in your space. I typically present additional safety with a cloche or fleece if the climate is chilly. Offering safety from chilly winds is important.

Methods to plant aubergines

‘Black Magnificence’ produces early-maturing, shiny fruits
Picture: Aubergine ‘Black Magnificence’ seeds from Suttons

Aubergines want numerous solar and heat and needs to be planted in non-exposed places. They may develop in pots, growbags or straight into good-quality soil in a greenhouse or polytunnel.

For those who’re planting in containers, the perfect pot dimension for aubergines is 30cm, though a bit of bigger is ok. Use good-quality proprietary compost, which could be combined with backyard compost and well-rotted natural matter if required.

For those who’re planting into good high quality borders within the greenhouse or polytunnel, house your vegetation about 60cms aside. Give them a very good water and be sure that temperatures aren’t too excessive whereas the vegetation are establishing of their new residence.

Methods to take care of aubergines

These scrumptious Asian aubergines are a shiny jade inexperienced color
Picture: Aubergine Inexperienced Knight F1 seeds

Aubergines are associated to peppers and tomatoes and want comparable rising circumstances. Rising them exterior is much less predictable however, having stated that, final summer time I efficiently grew aubergine vegetation outdoor from June till September in a yr when the climate solely spluttered into summer-mode relatively sporadically!

For essentially the most half I usually develop aubergines indoors, and I choose a greenhouse to a polytunnel. Taller varieties like ‘Black Magnificence’ want help canes as they will turn out to be high heavy, and this selection reaches over 1 metre in peak. In contrast, the dwarf varieties attain slightly below half that peak. To assist with pollination, strive misting the flowers and ensure there’s good air flow within the greenhouse to permit pollinating bugs in.

I wish to feed my vegetation fortnightly with a excessive potash tomato feed to encourage fruit formation. If the setting of flowers is excellent and the vegetation are carrying numerous immature fruits, it may be value growing this frequency to as soon as per week.

Water aubergines liberally in scorching dry circumstances, particularly vegetation which might be grown in growbags and pots. Attempt to keep away from letting the compost dry out. Aubergines require a moist soil and dryness on the roots could be one reason behind flowers dropping off.

When your vegetation attain a peak of about 45-50cm, pinch the highest of taller (non-dwarf) varieties. This encourages the vegetation to bush out and provides a very good yield of as much as 5 – 6 fruits. Dwarf varieties usually don’t want the highest pinching out, nevertheless it’s a good suggestion to verify the seed packet for every sort.

Crimson spider mite generally is a widespread pest for vegetation within the greenhouse. One approach to fight that is to mist the leaves with a high quality spray of water within the night. Alternatively, spraying the ground of the greenhouse (this additionally advantages cucumbers) helps to discourage this pest because it dislikes humidity. Whitefly and aphids may strike, however these are usually manageable on aubergines.

In my expertise, coldness, chilly winds and dryness on the roots are the primary points to attempt to keep away from.

Methods to harvest aubergines

‘Galine’ is good for greenhouses, pots or raised beds
Picture: Aubergine F1 ‘Galine’ seeds from Suttons

It’s not as straightforward to inform when aubergines are prepared to reap as it’s with tomatoes. A pleasant shiny sheen on the fruits, a constant color and being agency to the contact are all good indicators that they’re ripe.

Numerous varieties have spines on the stem, so it’s a good suggestion to put on gloves when harvesting. Over time I’ve used a pointy pair of secateurs to chop the fruits away from the primary rising stem. I’ve additionally experimented with twisting the fruits away when the secateurs haven’t been shut handy… Reducing is much better because it minimises the danger of harm to the primary stem. Help the fruit together with your spare hand as you narrow.

As soon as harvested, undamaged, good-quality fruits could be saved for every week or so in a cool place. Or they’ll handle a number of days within the fridge earlier than they begin to deteriorate. I choose storing in a cool room relatively than the fridge, however some allotment holders disagree! As aubergines have a comparatively brief storage life, your greatest guess is to eat them as rapidly as doable for max high quality and flavour.

We hope we’ve impressed you to strive rising your individual aubergines from seed. Discover extra of Lee’s sensible, hands-on, vegetable rising recommendation over at his month-to-month allotment pages. You can too observe Lee on his Instagram web page: @lee_senior_gardening.