aubergines in pots

[glow777]

I have a few too many aubs and not wanting to throw them I am considering placing them around the house in pots (adds contrast to the chillis that get dotted around the place). Has anyone tried this if so

what size pots could I get away with
are they self fertile or do I need to put them in pairs
could pollination work with the lack of insects etc

I am using money maker

[glow777]

[daisymay]

what a nice idea?! not a problem I have ever had. Only 3 of mine have germinated and only one is showing any real promise.

Could perhaps put them out in a sheltered sunny spot on hot days. They grow to about 2ft, so you would need a fairly decent suzed pot. I am (hopefully) putting 2 in a grow bag in the greenhouse.

[fbgrifter]

you will have to pollinate them glow, with a paintbrush or your finger.  i grew aubs ourdoors last year under cloches with considerable success.

[glow777]

fb can you pollinate individual plants ie with thier own pollen

[tim]

I have never tried hand pollination, either indoors or out. Still get a good crop, even in the Cotswolds.

"Pollination of tender glasshouse crops
Tomatoes, peppers and aubergines have ‘perfect’ flowers, containing both male and female parts. The flowers only require slight movement to dislodge pollen from the anthers to the stigma for pollination, so plants can be gently shaken to guarantee perfect pollination.

Alternatively, watering overhead with a fine rose has the added advantage of also raising humidity levels. A dry atmosphere during flowering and fertilisation can cause pollination failure or fruit malformation, as can very high or low temperatures. Open or close the glasshouse as required to keep the temperature regular."

If they're OK in growbags, they'll be fine in 9-10" pots.

[Doris_Pinks]

And watch out for Red spider mite!

Tim did yours ever go away with the predators last year?

[tim]

Never had them on aubs - it was the cus - as always!

Yes!!

[Jesse]

Three moneymaker aubergine plants that I had growing in our conservatory last year. The three were planted in one trough planter (at a guess about 20cm x 50cm) and I pollinated them with a soft paintbrush. You need to keep well watered because in a pot they dry out quickly, although our conservatory gets very hot so that added to the drying out quickly problem.

[carloso]

helloo

i have some black beauty Aub's is that right that they only grow to approx 2ft ? it could change which poly house i put them into ?

cheers carl

[sandersj89]

I grow BB most years and yes, they will get to between 2 and 3 feet tall.

Jerry

[carloso]

Excellent

Thks Jerry

[cleo]

10 inch pots work for me. I`ve never needed to pollenate-but I do use a brush with melons

[fbgrifter]

glow>> yes