Is anyone having their best crop ever or have I just found the variety (Bonica) that works for me??
Cropping well both in the tunnel and outside. Thai green are doing well also.
If anything the only difference made to my normal regime this year has been neglect :)
A lot better than last year - didn't get a single fruit! The year before wasn't brilliant, either. But the last two years have been quite cool; this year - even though it wasn't quite the "barbeque summer" they seem to have forecasting, it's actually been reasonably warm & sunny. (Well, down here in the sub-tropics of outer London!)
It has been a poor year here so far (Sunningdale in Berks) for growing them outdoors. Fruits have only just started to appear ... hoping for an Indian Summer
Cleo have a look at this thread!
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,54306.0.html
Yes-I said more or less the same on that thread-and still they keep coming
Cleo sorry I missed your comments there when I had a quick look earlier!
They do indeed as Joe, my plot neighbour, keeps pointing out to me!
please don't get me started again >:( :'(
Thifasmom sorry!
Quote from: Flighty on August 27, 2009, 15:13:24
Thifasmom sorry!
:-* you are to sweet, I'm ok really, just a bit green eyed ;).
One of my plants just totally keeled over... slugs had nibbled the stem and it got botryis... :'(
I was late getting them started. I usually try several varieties, mostly the smaller ones because they are all outside.
Trying Bonica and Diamond for the first time and I'm impressed. Bonica looks the most but they're both ahead of De Barbentane, which has been my best full size one so far (not that that's saying much :-\ )
Of the smaller varieties, Ophelia is top class and I do well with calliope (a stripy one).
This year's challenge is a red aubergine, Morro Rodondo (African eggplant) which is being give the luxury of the GH but really should have been in a much larger pot.
Went out to Clumber Park today... they had Aubergines outside in the garden but although they were big, healthy plants no sign of fruit.. the ones in the greenhouses were bearing though.. :)
:) the only aubergines I've ever managed to grow are Baby Bell and for the last two years Rosa Bianca which as the name says are pink and white and taste fantastic, no trouble to grow at all in a cold greenhouse / shades x
It appears that aubergines didn't come into their own in UK until 1960, maybe it wasn't such a good idea as I just found this, qahtan
30 Mar 2008 ... London, March 30 : Aubergine has replaced sprouts as the vegetable children hate the most, according to a new survey. ...
www.topnews.in/aubergine-named-kids-most-hated-veggie-228380 -
Qahtan I eat both but not that keen on either! That survey doesn't surprise me in the least!
Interesting. None of us liked sprouts much unless barely cooked at all but Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's recipes cured us. We all love aubergines, but hate them when they are totally filled with oil. Either frittered or part of e.g. moussaka or ratatouille they're great! One of my sons detests mushrooms which he describes as vegetable slugs. Most of his cousins also detest mushrooms so perhaps it's a genetic thing? I suffer occasionally from shroom withdrawal and eat a whole box of them either with salad dressing or lightly fried or just as they come.
I fell in love with aubergine on a holiday to Egypt they had them for breakfast. I zap them in the microwave and then fry them in butter gets rid of any bitterness,
Calliope and Violetta have performed well in the greenhouse this year, but I have found that the Calliope get seedy very quickly.
I have got two Rosa Bianca still to eat - they were very difficult to germinate, it took two goes!
Interesting comments.
I was concerned that it was getting late in the season & my greenhouse aubergines were so slow to produce fruit. Even the flower heads were 'molding' & dropping off. Attention to watering & good ventilation & at last, 3 fruits!
But, can one expect good fruits with the awful weather & temps we have now?
Having my best year ever... despite loosing a plant to botrys... :)