What makes aubergines rot?

[caroline7758]

I have just harvested my first aubergine! However, only one of the remaining fruit looks like it's going to be any good. I've removed at least three which have set but only reached the size of a large marble before rotting, and quite a few of the flowers have just fallen off. What is the likely cause of this? My guess is overwatering/erratic watering, knowing how I've treated them, but wonder why some fruit have survived but not others.They are in a grow-bag, BTW.

[caroline7758]

[cleo]

It could be a number of things but I wonder about poor pollenation?

I get a better crop of aubergines outside than I do either in a greenhouse or polytunnel but I also took the liberty of checking your profile and it might not be so easy that far North.

You could try starting them off earlier than you did this year,the problem with that though is that they hate getting `checked` and I do know your part of the word-spring sometimes comes late.

[tim]

Caroline, you don't say whether in or outdoors?

Either way, I think you're a bit late with them &, as Eric says, they don't set so easily now - like courgettes. Ours (indoors) are long harvested.

[cleo]

Eric?--I must have missed that one ;D

[tim]

Oh, God - & before a Scotch!!

[caroline7758]

Thanks- I'll make a note to start earlier next year! They have been indoors, BTW.

[Melbourne12]

We harvested the last half-dozen of our outdorr ones at the weekend.  There are plenty of fruit still developing (and flowers!), but they are now beginning to rot before they develop.

End of season, I'm afraid.