how to grow aubergines

How do you grow aubergines at home?

Greenhouse, cold frame or patio aubergines may be grown in 23cm pots filled with soil-based John Innes no. 1 compost, which holds moisture well. Space the pots 50–60cm apart to give them plenty of room. Alternatively, plant the aubergines up into grow bags at two or three per bag.

How many aubergines does a plant produce?

For better quality fruits, only allow 4-5 per plant, removing any new side shoots. Pests and diseases: If growing in a greenhouse, check plants for aphids, whitefly and red spider mite.

How long does it take to grow an eggplant?

Harvest eggplant 65 to 80 days after transplanting, depending on the variety. When starting from seed, expect 100 to 120 days to maturity. July, August, and September (even into October) are all harvest months for eggplant, depending on where you live and the variety you planted. Don't wait too long to harvest!

What is the best way to plant eggplant?

Try growing eggplants in raised beds, which heat up quickly in spring. Plants given plenty of room are healthier and more productive, so space them 2½ to 3 feet apart in all directions. Water well, pour 1 to 2 cups of compost around each plant, and firm the soil gently.

How do I know when my aubergines are ready to pick?

Harvest fruits individually as soon as they are ripe, with a glossy skin – usually from August onwards.

Are aubergines good for you?

Aubergines are an excellent source of dietary fibre. They are also a good source of vitamins B1 and B6 and potassium. In addition it is high in the minerals copper, magnesium and manganese.

Do eggplants grow back every year?

Eggplant is a frost tender, heat loving, branching bushy plant with thick, woody stems. ... Mature plants range from 1 to 8 feet in height. Although eggplant is a perennial, it is more commonly grown as an annual.

How do you get seeds from aubergine?

An overripe eggplant is typically hard and shriveled. Slice open the eggplant and separate the flesh from the seeds. Put the seeds in a bowl of water and wash the pulp away. Strain the seeds, pat them dry and spread them out on a tray to dry not more than two seeds thick.

Do eggplants like full sun?

As a basic rule of thumb, vegetables grown for their fruit or roots—such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash, potatoes, or carrots—require full sun, which is defined as a garden location that receives at least six hours of direct sun each day.

Do eggplants like coffee grounds?

Unused grounds are very acidic. Only use fresh grounds on acid loving plants and even then, do so sparingly. ... Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, magnesium, and potassium, and work as a great fertilizer.

Do you soak eggplant seeds before planting?

Eggplant is best started indoors (or on a patio if it's warm enough) 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting into the garden. Do not set eggplants out until daytime temperatures are in the 70° F range. I recommend soaking your seeds in water for up to 24 hours. ... Most eggplant seeds germinate in 6-12 days.

How often do eggplants need to be watered?

When it's time to set the plants out in the garden, I put the eggplants in fertile, well-dug beds, with good drainage. In hot climates, young plants will need to be watered twice a week, to a depth of 12 inches. Eggplants do not like standing water, so mature plants should be watered deeply and infrequently.

What is the best fertilizer for eggplant?

Start by working lots of compost into the soil, plus 2 to 3 pounds of a complete fertilizer like 15-5-10 per 100 sq. ft. If you prefer, use an organic fertilizer like blood meal, well-rotted manure, cottonseed meal, or bat guano. Burpee's Big Boy Tomato Food is also super for growing eggplants.

How do you make eggplant grow faster?

Start seeds late

Thanks to their broad leaves, eggplant seedlings grow quickly, gaining size faster than tomatoes or peppers. If you have a long, warm growing season and use a split season planting plan, you can start seeds in midsummer for a fall crop. Set out the seedlings out during a spell of cloudy weather.

How do you increase eggplant yield?

Eggplants prefer warm soil. You can speed up their growth, by laying black plastic over your garden soil a few weeks before planting or mulching the plants with dark compost. 8. The first few flowers may drop off of each plant and fail to produce, but the remaining flowers will each yield a single fruit.

Will eggplant ripen after picking?

Eggplant doesn't respond well to cool temperatures. This makes it hard to ripen the fruit after harvesting or to place them in a refrigerator for storage. Fruit that must be stored for one to two days after harvest can be wrapped in plastic and placed in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.

Do you pinch out aubergines?

Pinch out the growing tips of the main stems of your aubergine plants when 30cm high to encourage side shoots to develop. Once plants have started to flower, feed weekly with a high-potash fertiliser or tomato feed, and mist with water to encourage the fruits to set.

Why is eggplant yellow?

Light-colored eggplants are prone to yellowing when they're approaching an over-ripe state. ... Another common cause of yellowing of eggplants is sunburn, which happens when leaves are damaged or removed, exposing the skin of tender, young fruits to excessive ultraviolet radiation.

Why is aubergine bad for you?

Eggplants are part of the nightshade family. Nightshades contain alkaloids, including solanine, which can be toxic. Solanine protects these plants while they are still developing. Eating the leaves or tubers of these plants can lead to symptoms such as burning in the throat, nausea and vomiting, and heart arrhythmias.

Can aubergines be poisonous?

As a member of the nightshade family, aubergine is related to tomatoes and potatoes, and like them its leaves are poisonous.

Do you eat the skin of aubergine?

If the skin is in good shape, it is edible, though some varieties have skin that is too tough to eat. Peel the skin with a vegetable peeler if you think it's wise – younger aubergine skin is fine to eat, but older, more ripened aubergine skin has a bitter taste. Cut off the stem and base, too.