Growing Aubergines

[Doris17]

I'm quite new to growing veg & having a go at aubergines in the greenhouse. They have grown really well, they just seem to be taking over with lots of fruits. I've read that i need to pick some of the fruits out & leave 3-5 on each plant is that right? Also will i need to cut the stems soon to stop them growing even more!

[rustylady]

Hi Doris, welcome to the Vine. Sorry, I've never grown aubergines so can't really help. What variety are you growing?

[Doris17]

Black beauty

[Capsid]

Yes 3-5 per plant is correct. This is the best year I've had at growing them too, plenty of fruit this time. I pinched the tops out when they were around 15cm high which helps them bush up but I'm not going to prune them any more. Did you pinch them out when they were smaller, if not then this may explain why you have a lot of growth.

[Doris17]

I've only just taken the tops off, they are about 3ft high. should i cut back some more and remove some more fruits to allow them to grow to a decent size? some have started to turn black.

Thanks for the advice

[Capsid]

Wow, that is quite tall. Mine are no more than about 18". It is advised to grow about 5-6 fruit per plant, but I'm not adhering to that and have more since they all seem to be doing well.

If you cut back then you may remove leaves that are feeding the fruits, so I'd leave them as they are; you could remove some fruit to concentrate the plant's energy into them. Why no reduce fruit on some and not onothers and see what happens? Actually, I might do that too.

[Kleftiwallah]

Your p[lants seem to be charging on and I presume you have quite a few so why not let one or two 'do their own thing' and see where it leads!

There are some cracking Greek recipes using smaller aubegines (Imam).



Cheers, Tony.

[binley100]

Mine are only just flowering this year......I've never pinched the tops out . I just let them do as they please .

[Samurailord]

I have one Black Beauty outside in a grow bag that has got about 18" tall.

There have been quite a few flower buds but none have managed to open properly before they have fallen off - I am guessing that the lack of warmth is to blame?

I have fed it once a month, and after reading this thread I think I need to pinch out the top to help it bush out a bit too.

Andy

[Bren In Pots]

I've only had one aubergine from my 3 plants but a least the flowers are pretty.

[leonmc0708]

Got two of them (not sure what type) in the greenhouse, one had a massive fruit which we enjoyed a couple of weeks ago. That one (since we picked the first fruit) has got two more of different sizes growing, and the 2nd plant has no fruits.

Didnt pick out either - and they have grown to around 3ft-4ft high. Instrestingly, when they where on the staging they got to 2and a half feet - then stopped, when I put htem on the deck they doubled in size almost.

[spanish_gardener]

I have a few Black Beauty seeds from Suttons. Last year they did not do well in outdoors containers. I had healthy plants and no fruit at all. I may try to grow two or three plants in the polytunnel using your tips.

[horticultural_hobbit]

I've only ever had moody Aubergines. All foliage and no fruit. I am deeply envious.

[mrbadexample]

I'm having a go at growing aubergines for the first time this year. I'm about to repot them, so can someone tell me if you pot them deep like tomatoes, or keep the same substrate level?

Cheers,
MBE

[horticultural_hobbit]

Aubergines are meant to be related to tomatoes and like chillies have issues with pot sizes. I have previous sown them in smaller 9" pots and also big tomato grow bags, with neither being successful. Couldn't get on with them. So gave the to be VSP