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Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: caroline7758 on August 18, 2007, 13:55:35

Title: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: caroline7758 on August 18, 2007, 13:55:35: My aubergines have produced flowers, but no fruit yet. I've potted some up into black buckets but have run out of compost. Do you think they still have time to produce decent fruit, or would I be wasting my money buying more compost?
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: silverbirch on August 18, 2007, 18:00:02: I've just had the first flower set - out of three plants - so I hope so!! Thye've still got about six weeks, then we MIGHT get an Indian summer. :'(
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: cleo on August 18, 2007, 20:08:45: Maybe I`m just an old Scrooge but I wouldn`t buy compost for them now. Use garden soil and swear at them ;D
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: caroline7758 on August 19, 2007, 11:15:07: Good idea, Stephan- especially the swearing! ;D
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: saddad on August 19, 2007, 11:48:41: If it is flowering there is time for fruit to develop... have you tried hand pollinating.. some are tricky because the summer hasn't been hot enough...
???
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: caroline7758 on August 19, 2007, 19:45:22: Can someone remind me how to do that? I remember something about tapping the flowers? Have tried to search without success.
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: saddad on August 19, 2007, 22:05:59: Brush the pollen around inside the flower as the female bits are in the middle I think...
:-\
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: MrsKP on August 21, 2007, 06:49:19: I'm actually considering consigning the 6 plants without fruit to the bin.

I can't see me getting any sort of heat to produce anything worthwhile from here on in.

:'(
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: shirlton on August 21, 2007, 07:53:29: Tickle them with a little brush like I was told to do and hey presto I have fruit
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: tim on August 21, 2007, 08:50:58: Indoors, KP? One of mine (indoors) is only just getting its flowers & I shall expect fruit from it.
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: MrsKP on August 21, 2007, 22:21:32: indoors Tim, well indoors with the doors open ;D

I have saved 4 and decapitated 4. The nights are drawing in already and I've more blooms falling off than even look like setting (despite frequent tickling and nudging).

The Calliopes just didn't want to know so I now have about 35ltrs of sieved soil ready to go in one of the raised beds at the lottie. Naturally, I haven't actually made the raised beds yet, one of the little things I still have to do.

::)
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: Apple Dumpling on August 23, 2007, 10:24:15: I've got some small fruit on my Moneymaker, but none yet on my Red Egg. This is the first year I've tried Red Egg. Has anyone else tried it?

Moneymaker is doing poorly compared to other years. I'm wondering whether it's worth trying Red Egg another year.
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: tim on August 23, 2007, 10:57:07: We've had so much flower drop that I'm having to parcook & freeze batches until I have enough for Pickle.
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: Biscombe on August 23, 2007, 11:55:12: Sorry for butting in ;)Tim, do your defrosted aubergines stay firm? or go mushy? (bought a deep freeze yesterday!! ;D) PS stil not got round to making your pickle but will!!!
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: tim on August 23, 2007, 12:56:17: Oh, mushy!! Just right for the pickle. Mamta's Pickle.

But the thin ones are always firmer than the 'blousy' ones.
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: cleo on August 23, 2007, 18:33:51: This is the worst season I have had for aubergines. I pulled up the outdoor ones today and inside it`s little better. The Thai Green and Bonica came to nothing.

The Rossa Bianca are my last hope

(http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w217/Dr-Steph/Toms027.jpg)
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: caroline7758 on August 23, 2007, 18:50:27: Good looking peppers behind there, too, Cleo?
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: cleo on August 23, 2007, 18:54:32: Well spotted!!-Boldog Hungarian spice-dry them and taste paprika at it`s freshest :)
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: tim on August 24, 2007, 06:40:47: What IS the matter with Thai Green this year, Stephan? Never fails...!!

We're just now getting a couple of flowers.
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: cleo on August 24, 2007, 20:21:41: What IS the matter with Thai Green this year, Stephan? Never fails...!!

Just one of those things?-The light levels around here were nothing special for a long time. I used to think I grew great basil as well but have only sold 2 plants this season-the rest were rubbish
Title: Re: Aubergines- too late now?
Post by: tim on September 03, 2007, 11:12:47: Foolowing my last photo, 'Farmers' Long' are not performing as well as the old Macchiaw, but they have time to grow?

Still difficult to get a batch for pickling. Let alone eating!