Allotments 4 All

My aubs have had flower buds on them for the past 5 weeks but have still not flowered.  Not grown aubs before but read a book that said they're easy to grow ???  If they do get around to flowering one of these days will any fruit have time to ripen?  They're outside against a south facing wall.

Can't help, but you have prompted me to read a bit more. We've had a lot of fruitlets rotting this year.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Learning/publications/pubs/garden_98-00/pubs_journals_garden_0898_aubergine_d.asp

RHS confirm pinching out - which I never do - & explain the reason. And also speak of removing foliage.

That's really interesting, Tim.  Thanks.  I'm going to West Dean tomorrow for the Chilli Fiesta and will look for their aubergines.  Clearly Sarah Wain is the person to talk to :).  Perhaps it's just not a good year for aubergines.

Agreed - V. interesting. Has anyone here harvested aubergines in MAY??!!

No!    Not in June, July or August to date  :(  Have some pretty flowers and lovely foliage though.  Wardy expects!

I am in the same boat as you Wardy, although there are signs of growth . . .

My earliest have been 21/7.

Presumably they mean in heat?

Tim I am with you with the rotting fruitlets.............am presuming the weather is to blame. ( If I can't figure it out, I blame the weather!!)

Now to deal with the wretched spider mites, and they were all doing so well a month ago  :'(

I have my aubergine in the greenhouse and to date have had 3 fruit from it and still some ripening I bought 2 plants back in May 1 plant has been more forward than the other although there are fruit on t :ohe second.. Being a complete novice witrh regard to veg I think its beginners luck I water each night and feed once a week. I have also had some wonderful peppers to. :D

My allotment rep has grown aubergines for first time this year, and the fruits are just right to harvest now - which is great for me, because he doesn't want any himself. I made a lovely lottie ratatoille last night. He started them off in the greenhouse, transferred to a well manured site on the plot & covered with fleece until the plants were quite large, until some time in June if I remember right.

We had one aubergine in July. It was a mini one. That's it. They're flowering right now, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Never had much luck with these; they are certainly not easy to grow.

Saw the West Dean aubergines on Sunday - all in their glasshouse - good collection.  Few had more than 1 fruit and some were only just flowering.  I'm slightly more hopeful now :)

You will see my aubergine in the gallery which I have just posted today.  We have found this very easy to grow.  Have repotted the plant once and keep feeding it with some tom plant food, but it is just on the porch at the front door.  It is very sunny in there but does get draft when the door is open.  In the early stages I had to keep picking aphids off it, but apart from that have done nothing special with it and it is doing great.   :) busy_lizzie

This is my first year growing aubergines. I have 5 plants on allotment with glass around them and 7 plants at home in pots. The ones at home in pots started producing aubergines ready for picking about 13th July, I picked a couple to take on holiday. The ones on the allotment were a slightly behind. I am in the SE England, garden is south facing and becomes very hot when the sun is out. I have fed plants on a couple of occassions. There are between 20-30 aubergines at various stages of growth on all of the plants. I have picked them when they are about 5-6" long.

You could write a book about it??

Ours were sown on 28/3, into cold 'house 26/5 & certainly nothing to shout about yet.

You obviously don't agree with the teaching of leaving only 5 to a plant!!

Tip never trust a book only trust ones experience! Experiment and you may get better than the experts. The books donk take into account the area you live in the time or type of season? It is just black and white guidence.

The_Snail