I've got an aub plant given to me by a neighbour. Never grown one of these critters before. It is outside in a pot. Sunny sheltered spot.
It's about 14" and has 8 or 9 flower buds. But the first and biggest flower hasn't opened and seems to have sort of dried up. Is this common?
I have been giving it plenty of water. I didn't need to pinch out as it branched out on its own. Don't know the variety.
Was it a male flower? they dry up and drop, or female in which cae see if you have a small aubergine starting. It may not have been pollinated or have dry set like tomatoes...
Aubergines do throw a lot of flowers...
???
Well, what I mean is the petals haven't opened at all, so it can't have been pollinated. They're just dry and somewhat shrivelled. Like those awful florist's rosebuds that never open properly.
edit to add I've just found a label shoved right down the side ... it's Moneymaker.
Quote from: greyhound on July 23, 2006, 15:49:15
Well, what I mean is the petals haven't opened at all, so it can't have been pollinated. They're just dry and somewhat shrivelled. Like those awful florist's rosebuds that never open properly.
edit to add I've just found a label shoved right down the side ... it's Moneymaker.
The flowers can be deceiving they open then shrink back and look unopened, then dry and drop, either completely or leaving a fruit. It's just one flower, I wouldn't worry.
I spray each flower with water, it helps limit dropping.
That reminds me I have a deformed flower with about a dozen stigmata, must get a photo.
Thanks, I'll give it a spray then, didn't think of that as it's outside. Should I be feeding it, or wait till (hopeful) some fruits form?
Here's that weird flower, It has 27 stigmata in all
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v693/froglemouse/july24002B.jpg)
wrong picture amphibian ;D. Surely that's the tomato plant?
Tricia
Quote from: tricia on July 24, 2006, 15:06:34
wrong picture amphibian ;D. Surely that's the tomato plant?
Tricia
Edited, thank you.
QuoteWas it a male flower? they dry up and drop, or female in which cae see if you have a small aubergine starting
Nope, aubergine flowers carry both male & female organs, just like tomatoes & peppers, perhaps you are confusing them with squashes or cucumbers
Whatever ..
But should I feed them yet?
Good morning - the normal teaching is to feed when the fruits set.
Thanks all, I'm more hopeful now as two flowers are showing real signs of opening.
Examined the other one and it turns out not to have any petals at all! Just the purple sepals. Weird?
QuoteWhatever
??? ??? ??? ??? ::) :-X
Being completely ignorant on the subject of aubergines, I just meant I was getting a bit confused. No offence.
Anyway, pleased to say I have flowers now, so initial panic over! 8)
Quote from: tim on July 25, 2006, 05:28:12
Good morning - the normal teaching is to feed when the fruits set.
5.28
AM - hells teeth Tim, you get up early! Being an ex-student I thought there was only one five o'clock in the day! Unless of course it's the new five o'clock that you get on the way back from the kebab house!
Anyway, on the subject of aubergines which is the point of this thread!! Are mine ridiculously slow, cos I don't have any buds, flowers or anything other than leaves? They are Barbentane (kindly donatd by Tim- Thanks!) and they looked like this the other week....
(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i297/sally_cinnamon_photos/DSC00048.jpg)
Oh, dear - I'm in for a rocket. Sub-standard seed eh??
When did you sow them?
Erm, that's testing my memory!!! Probably a bit late, will check when I get home I'm pretty sure I kept a note (she hopes...!) ;D
Nope, didn't make a note, but DID have an envelope from another seed swap that was approx the same time of year and I'm guessing that I sowed them around late May... Was that too late? ???
... more usual to sow aubergines Feb/March e.g. http://www.realseeds.co.uk/aubergines.html (http://www.realseeds.co.uk/aubergines.html)
But given a long summer, and the weather we've been having, they might plump up in time to give fruit.
Sowed mine March 17th, and picked my first couple of aubergines 3 days ago. So that would be 4.5 months from seed to picking. They were planted up in a growbag 6 weeks ago, and have been on the patio ever since. The variety was 'applegreen' (not tried before), and the aubergines were tennis ball sized, pale green blobs... I was a bit dubious, but sliced them, dipped them in cayenne & tumeric, and fried them in a pan for a few mins on each side. Melt-in-the-mouth gorgeous.
Sorry, Sally - missed that for some reason. Can only agree with Gadfium.
Mine were planted Mid-May but are only just fruiting. Slim Jim, this one.
Note the male & female versions?
SORRY!
Gosh Tim, shouldn't they be in the Watershed? ;)
Quote from: sally_cinnamon on July 26, 2006, 16:14:36Anyway, on the subject of aubergines which is the point of this thread!! Are mine ridiculously slow, cos I don't have any buds, flowers or anything other than leaves?
I think they heard us talking about them cos I've spotted some tiny little buds on them! Tried to take pic but they were TOO small! Fingers crossed they get bigger. Also, I remembered that I'd given one of the plants to my friend and I asked her how hers was doing and it has flowers on it, so it's just mine that's being slow! >:( ;D ;D