Growing aubergines in 2017 and ossible Aubergine circle

[Elfeda]

My local nursery grows lot of aubs from couple of plants which I can buy the lot, as no one seems much interested as I found kilos of over ripe fruit on each of them in november.

Still I like to grow my own so that get various colors and shapes of aubs. entire family love any dish made of aubergines. and for us its the king of vegetables seems there are good bunch of grapes growing these babies.

Lets have a thread what you are sowing and if interested in a aubergine seed circle or swap for 2017.

I have already sown 3 varieties:


1. Purple small finger like slim aubergines
2. Green stripy round aubergine
3. Aubergine Carina


Not yet decided to sow pinstripe or not. will post pics from original packs in another post.

[veggiechicken]

Here's Real seeds advice on saving seeds from Aubergines. How To Save Your Own Seed at Home

AUBERGINES

Aubergine flowers are mainly self pollinated, but can be crossed by insects. So if you are planning to save seed, you should only grow one variety. Aim for 6 to 8 plants each year to maintain a variety long term. For 100% isolation you need 50 feet between your seed plants and any other aubergines. If you are growing them in a greenhouse/polytunnel you should be able to get away with a somewhat smaller distance.

To get ripe seeds let the fruits mature well past eating stage. Purple/black cvs turn a muddy purple-brown colour, green/white cvs turn yellowish. Mark 1 or 2 early good fruits on each plant to leave for seed, and then pick and eat later fruits.

To remove the seed, cut into quarters lengthwise, avoiding the core, and pull apart. The hard brown seeds should be obvious. Put the quarters into a bowl of tepid water, and rub the seeds out with your fingers. You may need to pull them apart to get all of the seeds. Add more water, stir thoroughly, & wait a few minutes. Good seeds will sink to the bottom, leaving debris and poor quality seeds on the surface. Pour the debris off gently through a sieve, then refill with water and repeat a couple more times.

Eventually you will be left with good seeds in plain water. Empty into a clean sieve, shake to remove as much water as possible, and then tip on to a plate and spread out well. Put to dry somewhere warm but not hot, and mix occasionally to make sure that they dry evenly and don't stick together. Aubergine seeds will keep up to 7 years if dried thoroughly & stored in a cool dark place.



Unripe, cross-pollinated seeds should not be swapped!

[Scarlet]

Aubergine flowers are mainly self pollinated, but can be crossed by insects.
So if you are planning to save seed, you should only grow one variety.
Aim for 6 to 8 plants each year to maintain a variety long term.
For 100% isolation you need 50 feet between your seed plants and any other aubergines.

To get ripe seeds let the fruit mature well past eating stage.

Unripe, cross-pollinated seeds should not be swapped!

Elfeda, please note the above comments!

With this I mind, as you are growing several varieties already, it isn't wise to try to save seed. Please have a rethink before trying to arrange a seed swap.

[Elfeda]

Scarlet,

I won't grow them side by side or same location . when I mentioned seed swap ..doesn't necessary to be fresh seed since it is hardwork to save them. my original packs can last for 7 years and I get lot of seed in them which I am happy to share. This year one aubergine had lots of seed that I am able to share lot of each with 25 others.


for a circle I can agree that it has to be fresh seed. I definately save one of my 2 varieties every year. so it is not a problem.


Thanks VC for the detailed seed saving info, last year I left my aubergine on greenhouse rack where most of the viable seeds fallen off , so this year I picked them riped fruit and not the dried one.

[Guest]

Elf, have you grown from your own saved seed? I didn't have any joy with your aub seeds or your FCB. I know they can fail for all sorts of reasons but the beans were a shocker as they didn't sprout nor did they rot off Don't panic I am not after anything but just wonder if you are trying to do to much and things are suffering as a consequence.

[Scarlet]

Elf, have you grown from your own saved seed? I didn't have any joy with your aub seeds or your FCB.

Mine didn't either! I did mention in another thread that the aubergine seeds can't be saved from a ripe fruit but a fruit that has ripened beyond the edible.

It's extremely disappointing swapping seed to find that not one germinate, never mind worrying about crosses.

[veggiechicken]

Seed saving looks easy! Pick or buy a fruit/veg and its filled with seeds - which MUST grow if sown.
Unfortunately, its not like that and it has to be done properly if one is going to swap them with someone else.
By all means experiment and try to grow these saved seeds - I do it often - but you can't pass them on to someone else as viable seeds of a named variety. Its really not fair.
This isn't aimed at you Elfeda, but to anyone who wants to save seeds. I know when I took on the VSP there were seeds in it labelled "Asda yellow pepper" and "Tesco chilli". Nobody wants to gamble the time, effort and compost on growing something so vague - that is probably from an F1 veg anyway.

For information - FAQ: How long do vegetable seeds last? How to store them and how long they keep.
Aubergine seeds - up to 5 years if stored somewhere, cool, dark and dry.

[Elfeda]

Norfolkgrey,

I have already mentioned that I got failed results last year. As said above last year I left the whole fruit in the greenhouse rack for drying so little of the seed part is left. and I fallowed someone here this year to collect seed, and collected seed from rie fruit ..I did soak some and found good.

I will send you aubergine seeds from original seed packet via other circle so that you can have your own if you interested


my last year circle chilli seeds came up fine and gave me same chilli's like original.so one of them is successful,hb beans I am not sure as I lost all my beans plants this season to slugs.

I prefer to save what I like , and many of UK's favourite tomato's would not come into that part as we have many peers in saving them or I do not want to stock up everything. I want to see a small seed stash asap

[Elfeda]

Mine didn't either! I did mention in another thread that the aubergine seeds can't be saved from a ripe fruit but a fruit that has ripened beyond the edible.

It's extremely disappointing swapping seed to find that not one germinate, never mind worrying about crosses.

I already mentioned that's the reason I tried again scarlet

[forgetmenot]

I've overwintered 2 of my largest aub. plants as an experiment. So far so good, still flowering and looking good. I only got 1 fruit from them even though I had loads of flowers. If you have any advice on how to get more fruit I'd be very happy to learn from you!

[Scarlet]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ail_92242.html

This is worth a read Forgetmenot

Seems that they set fruit best outside and not undercover.

[Scarlet]

I want to see a small seed stash asap

You may want to get a stock of seeds asap but seeds that you swap in any seed circle should be viable. Growing needs patience.

Saved seed from F1s, crosses and unknown varieties should not be swapped. They don't alway crop well, can be weak specimens, taste very different to the parent plant, or be completely inedible. Harvesting seed incorrectly and sharing it with others for them to grow on can be a total disappointment and a lot of wasted time and effort on their part.

It's also not acceptable in my opinion to swap seeds with others when they have ensured the seed is saved correctly and you haven't. With this in mind, I ask you to do your research before thinking of running any circle.

[jonny the plant pot]

Im growing turkish aubergine /egh plants this year and would appreciate any advice on success rates.

[Scarlet]

Look at the link in my post #11 Jonny. They say best grow on in pots and place outside during the summer.

[Elfeda]

You may want to get a stock of seeds asap but seeds that you swap in any seed circle should be viable. Growing needs patience.

Saved seed from F1s, crosses and unknown varieties should not be swapped. They don't alway crop well, can be weak specimens, taste very different to the parent plant, or be completely inedible. Harvesting seed incorrectly and sharing it with others for them to grow on can be a total disappointment and a lot of wasted time and effort on their part.

It's also not acceptable in my opinion to swap seeds with others when they have ensured the seed is saved correctly and you haven't. With this in mind, I ask you to do your research before thinking of running any circle.

Scarlet,

That's why whe add 2 varieties so that at least one should be alright. even if that fails ..it is a lesson but not a punishment. sorry I saw only first line of your comment.


and why you icking alot on seed saving..as there is another option of swap old seeds as there are not many on saving seeds. I am happy that VC put an info on aubergine seeds can be viable for around years. so now I do not have to bother to save seed. and if any one saves ..no problem.


Planetologist,

Please can you drop me off from the seed circle. I am happy to not recieve any swaps back..as there aren't many I would be worried.