Grow Your Own Magazine

Are aubergines self-fertilising?

We have 2 plants and about 3weeks ago a flower formed on one of them, but there were no other flowers on either plant for cross pollination to occur so i thought nothing would happen. Then yesterday went out to check on them and a lovely baby aubergine is forming where the flower had been.

I have no idea what variety they are as we got them from a local garden centre as ready grown plants and the little info card just says 'aubergine'!

They are like tomatoes and chillis and peppers - they are able to fertilise themselves.

Each flower has all the bits needed to produce a fruit - all that needs to happen is that the pollen (from the male bits!) moves around a bit within the flower and comes into contact with the female bits. We often spray or shake the plant to help this, but it's usually foolproof. Insects may come along and help, but they are by no means necessary.

Thanks for the info!

So hopefully the other flowers that are forming will produce aubergines too

We thought that with the awful weather and lack for flowers at the same time that we wouldn't get anything off of them, am now really pleased!

Yes, it should be OK. It is still early days for the tropical fruits like tomato and aubergine.

You may want to restrict the number of fruits on the plants - this is often advised in areas with a short season. See how it goes - if the plants continue to thrive, leave them to their own devices.

Remember to start feeding with some tomato-type feed (higher in potash) to help the flowering and fruiting.