I'm feeling in an adventurous mood, and maybe the heat has gone to my head. There is a little aubergine plant in the shop across the road for 85p. I have never grown aubergines, and do not have a greenhouse, so it would be going on the balcony with tomatoes, peppers and herbs.
Any tips? I'm sort of banking on a long, hot summer....
Move to the Dordogne... :-X
very sensible :P
go on give it a go, you know you want to ;),
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/thifasmom/smilies/789.gif)give in to the green side ;D.
We have grown them (the long varieties) outdoors, 600' up here - with shelter.
Where are you?
If given a little cloche protection at first I have grown them outside here on the Lincs/Cambs border.
85p??-you should have bought from me--70p ;),but I do confess only a limited choice this year `Bonica`or `Thai Green`
I paid £1.50 (sucker) in Wilkos today - slugs stripped all the ones I had grown from seed.
Thai Green, Stephan? Who needs anything else??
I hate to repeat myself, but there will be lots of aubergines for sale at considerably less than £1.50 at our Open Day....... ;)
Quote from: tim on June 04, 2009, 19:45:10
Thai Green, Stephan? Who needs anything else??
tim, what variety is the little one at the bottom? it looks exaclty like my ones.
is it prickly?
lbb
I have long thai green outside right now. Give it a go, I've grown quite a few aubergines outside before, though had little success the last two seasons.
Deb P you are making me even :(er. Have you thought about a postal service for people with poorly cars ;D ;D ;D.
Janet
I'm in Southampton! Hopefully should be warm enough? Am going to go for it and see what happens. I totally love aubergines, and would be awesome to grow them myself...will keep you updated...
Mine grew fine outside last year (S W London) despite the rotten weather and a good dose of aminopyralid. Go for it.
Which is basically what I said earlier, but not taken to the same extreme... being further south has some advantages... ;D
I'd say give it a go and a bit of fun! Grew some 2 years ago and had a small crop and am trying them again this year. I grow them in big pots and was wondering would they like some rotted manure in the bottom of the pot?
Thanks
1066
Edit - forgot to add I'm in 'sometimes sunny Hastings' :D
Real Seeds
De Barbentane
A great medium-sized cylindrical black aubergine from France, with firm white flesh. We have always found it quick to get going and the plants are very sturdy.
This variety was bred for outdoor growing (in France, mind you, so we in the UK are really better off growing it under a bit of cover) and it does not require the same high temperatures that glasshouse aubergines are used to.
Earliness, consistently high production and good flavour make this one of our favourites. If you only grow one, try this one!
Long black fruit, white flesh.
Order AuBN - 30 seed £1.64
Oh to be on the south coast!! But, as said, we were happy up here with 113 fruit from 8 plants. Variety Macchiaw - discontinued, but Farmer's Long is similar.
similar to cleo ... we put the plants under barn cloches until they are bursting to get out - usually end of June - and then they are on their own.
Crops vary from year to year depending on the conditions - 2008 was ok.
We are in Berks.
thankyou tim, thats the one, i only had one type survive but the lables are all
missing :(
lbb
113 fruits from 8 plants that is amazing Tim. I am pleased if I get two or three from one plant. Will try your suggested variety next year. Are you having an open day? I would like to see your aubergines.
113 fruits from 8 plants that is amazing Tim.
Never one to spare blushes I have had the pleasure of meeting Tim-he is pretty amazing.
His first impression of me was `who is this strange man outside my house doubled up in pain??
We did meet again though and no kidney stone problems in my part ;D
Here in Brittany I am growing them outdoors, my first go. My neighbours do it, no particular protection, planted in May and they got good fruit last year. I think water is maybe even more important than lots of sun, dare I say.
I must say that Tim's photos show some particularly rude shaped aubergines! or is it just my dirty mind?? :P :P :P
or is it just my dirty mind??
It`s your mind-Tim,like me, ;) is a perfect gentleman
Not growing them this year, Roo, so no show - the Lady doesn't appreciate them. So I end up using them mostly for pickle - that gets given away!
One reason I prefer the thin ones - better identity in pickle.
Sorry Tim. I am genuinely interested in growing Aubergine. I was not trying for any sort of inuendo. It is cooler in LR than here so if you can grow them I should be able to as well. I grew a few Red Egg a few years ago but apart from those have not had much success. Often pass just down the road from you.
I fell in love with grill aubergine in Egpyt a few years ago.
I am genuinely interested in growing Aubergine.
I`m not growing them this year but search for a variety called `Rosa Bianca`
Really meaty flesh with a good flavour-ideal for grilling
I love growing them too - typical day's pick from a few plants below - but........
Roo - why not drop in for a whatever? AM only!
= Tim
cleo
nickys or chiltern seeds will have rosa bianca
lbb
I have just paid £1.99 each for 2 plants, from Wyevale. They are fairly big though (unlike the chillis and peppers I started growing from seed months ago). Saddad its a shame your plant sale isnt nearer to Bristol!
Am planning on putting them in this DIY contraption, once I have figured how to attach the polythene. :-\
once I have figured how to attach the polythene.
It`s hard to tell from the photo how tall that is-but it looks like fixing polythene will not be easy.
To be honest I wouldn`t even try if it`s as tall as it looks-could you drop it a bit??
Hi Cleo
You are right, it was massive (about 6 foot) and the polythene sheet I got from B&Q didnt reach the ground. Have now dismantled it as when the poly was on it it was a complete eyesore, and blocked everyones view.
Am building a smaller lean-to version in a less conspicious place - hopefully it will be ready before the aubergines outgrow the mini greenhouse!