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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: calamityjayneuk on March 19, 2008, 22:30:55

Title: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: calamityjayneuk on March 19, 2008, 22:30:55
Hi all

I haven't posted for a while, been really busy - now I'm getting excited about the lottie and getting ready to sow things.

A gap in my massive seed order this year is aubergines. Last year I grew calliope, the stripey purple and white one, but was a bit disappointed, didn't get many and didn't taste that good. So looking for recommendations of what kinds are tasty and easy to grow.

I live in co durham, weather is cool here, but I do have a greenhouse and hopefully soon a polytunnel. Any suggestions?

Jayne
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: Biscombe on March 19, 2008, 23:15:14
Rosa Bianca for sheer good looks!
Apple Green for taste and texture
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: Jeannine on March 19, 2008, 23:47:19
Rosa Bianca and Fairytale
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: djbrenton on March 19, 2008, 23:59:02
Sadly I have to say Moneymaker or Black Beauty for reliability.
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: tim on March 20, 2008, 06:18:46
Much depends upon what you use them for. If you want wrappers or moussaka, then you have to go for the fat ones. If you want ratatouille or pickle, the thin ones.

Have to say I have never found much taste in any.
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: cleo on March 20, 2008, 14:51:48
Rosa Bianca-I`ve been on about that for years and it`s now widely available.

And if you are into SE Asian cooking then Thai Green is good
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: tim on March 20, 2008, 18:35:29
As above!!

But can you really differentiate tastes?
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: Biscombe on March 20, 2008, 19:08:47
I could! only slight, there is a big difference in texture though, some are more meaty than others!
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: real food on March 21, 2008, 20:22:31
Apple Green is one of the earliest varieties, about a month earlier than Listada de Gandia in my cool greenhouse in Glasgow.
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: tim on March 22, 2008, 09:26:45
Meaty, Biscombe? Agree. That's why I always go for the long, thin ones.
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: Sparkly on March 22, 2008, 15:14:51
I am growing Bellezza Nera and Black Enorma this year, having never grown aubergines before. They are currently about1-2 inches tall in pots in the conservatory. Anyone grown these before? Any good? Any tips?
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: Deb P on March 22, 2008, 15:18:06
I'm a fan of 'Mohican', had a good crop last year, large milky white fruits...

(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l47/dlp133/24july2007010.jpg)
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: Biscombe on March 22, 2008, 15:21:34
They are good Deb, I'm thinking of growing some of the smaller varieties in pots by the kitchen door! (a pain to harvest them in time from the garden last year!) Did you have to repot Deb?
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: Deb P on March 22, 2008, 15:26:13
I kept up with them last year and potted them on as soon as they needed it. I've tried them in growbags before and they were slug magnets and did not do so well. I think they ended up in 5l pots in my little greenhouse lottie, so were kept pretty hot, on capillary mats covered in gravel and not watered every day....it seemed to suit them! ;D
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: saddad on March 23, 2008, 10:45:06
Better than our Black Beauty Deb.. did either of us get any red egg?
???
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: ruud on March 23, 2008, 10:53:35
I am growing red egg and caspar this year will see you they are doing.
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: Deb P on March 23, 2008, 11:02:16
I got a couple of Red Egg aubergines, but they took ages to ripen, I think I ended up eating them in late October! Wouldn't bother again.... :-\
Title: Re: what variety of aubergine to grow.....
Post by: carolinej on March 23, 2008, 12:15:20
Here here on the rosa bianca. Lovely. I'm trying red egg and mohican for the first time this year. Should be a colourful display ;D

cj :)