Aubergine transplant shock

[nippon-neko]

Hello

I sow some aubergine seeds in a tray a few weeks ago and transplanted them onto the cell tray last weekend.
Last night I found that most of them had been flopped.
Last year I remembered that they don't like being transplanted and sow them in individual pots.
This year I have completely forgotten about it.
Should I sow the seeds again or will they recover?
I had bad crops for aubergine over the last 2 years due to the poor weather.
They were all bitter although I bought bitter-free varieties.
This year I bought Thai green aubergine as they are small and hence early to crop?
Anyway will see.

[nippon-neko]

[Garjan]

Hi nippon-neko

I never had a problem with transplanting aubergines. But I did take some precautions.
First of all, I fill the pots with soil and put them on my central heating. This way the soil was warm and they would not suffer from sudden cold feet.
If the soil is warm enough I pot them on and supply them with plenty luke warm water. Again to prevent a cold shock, but also the make sure that the soil will fit snugly around the roots.
Then I put the tray on a windowsill over a warm spot, to keep them warm.
If they are established, I slowly lower the temperature by moving them to another place until, in May, I can put them in the ground on the plot (no greenhouse).

Every year I have about four large fruit on eacht plant. They just need to  cuddled every now and then when they are small.

Hope this works with you.
Garjan

[caroline7758]

When you say "last weekend" do you mean the day before yesterday? If so, they may yet recover. I transplanted some brassica seeds on Friday,they flopped at the weekend but were fine by yesterday.

[1066]

Garjan do you use a polytunnel or cover the aubergines on the plot and what variety do you grow? I've never had much success with them and your post gives me a bit of hope!

[Eristic]

First of all, unless you are in the position to provide heat and light it is too early to be sowing aubergines. I will be sowing mine in about 3 weeks time along with the tomatoes, peppers, ocra etc.

Second, unless the conditions are extremely hot, the seedlings should not get any shock or wilt. Prior to transplanting, the pot should be well watered before the plants are gently prized apart from each other. I've said it before but I'll say it again. Never touch the stems of your seedlings. Always hold them by the seed leaf, dib a hole in the compost and pop the plant in it. Simple really.

[Garjan]

Hi 1066

I do not cover my aubergines and I don't have a polytunnel. Due to work and taxi-ing daughter to sport and other clubs I cannot visit the plot every day to water or air.

My aubergines have to fend for themselves.
But my plot is sheltered at one side (west) with a row of trees and shrubs.
Also I am in the middle of the Netherlands: we've got less wind and less strong wind. And the soil is sandy, so the drainage is very good.

My aubergines do well, but not excellent. The plant do not become very big. I saw pictures of plants that were 80 centimetres. My aubergines tend to be about 50 cm high.

The varieties I grow: Diamond (Real seed) and Long violette (dutch supplier). This year I will also try a smaller purple-green variety I bought in Thailand. I keep you posted about the results.

Good luck,
Garjan

[1066]

Thanks for the reply Garjan. life does get in the way of gardening doesn't it!
It sounds like I will be best keeping the aubergines in the garden as before and not on the plot as the soil here is better and it is more sheltered, although living on the coast it never really stops being windy or breezy! I'll take a look at real seeds again - love their stuff. and do let me know how you get on with the Thai varieties - usually they are delicious  :)
Eristic thanks for your reminder about transplanting - never my favourite job!
And nippon-neko - sorry for hijacking your thread  :-[
1066

[nippon-neko]

Thank you very much for great advice, especially Garjan.
I don't leave my central heating all day so put the seedlings back to the propagator last night.
This morning I saw them all up again!
Last weekend means 3 days ago, I meant.
Sorry for confusion.
They took one day to flop and recover over night.
Some seed packages says sow from Jan.
I read somewhere that Aubergines take longer than tomatoes to start fruiting.
I had no problem sowing them late Jan to early Feb so far.
I just need to remember to sow in individual pots as I seem to have a problem in transplanting Aubergines.
The only problem I"ve got now is that it takes up half of my propagator.