Allotments 4 All

I'm still struggling with my aubergines. The greenfly have now given way to whitefly, the leaves are going curly and crispy at the edges and they are looking generally very unpromising. I've fed them with tomato food and squishing and spraying with soapy water. I'm wondering whether putting them outside might help.
And my peppers aren't much better- think the greenfly has moved on to them!

I am finding that my Aubergines are attracting aphids as well which is something I have been rarely affected by. So I have decided this is my last year with Aubergines.

As I see it prevention is better than cure.

Chicken!

Last year I grew my aubergines on the lotti (Sarah Raven recommended "slim Jim" variety which are those small fat finger type which apparently are early to mature) I did surround the bed with the double glassed units that I have and treated them pretty much like tomatoes, planting french marigolds & basil in amongst the plants and feeding with comfry liquid feed - they were great will be doing the same this year but with different weather conditions who know!

I too found aphids are particularly troublesome this year. I put my aubergines outside during the day for several hours and by the time I bring them indoor they are covered with aphids. I squish and wash leaves under running water.

I've never had a good crop of aubergines apart from a variety that bears golf-ball sized fruits. They flower and mature early. Last year I grew other varieties and they started flowering just before first frost! :(

I was hoping that putting them outside would encourge ladybirds etc to feed on the aphids, but I guess not! :(

Same problem here

Here's a pic of my aubergine plants in a small polytunnel.... think they will produce any aubergines at all this year???
:o I know I've crammed them but I have no space left anywhere! :(

My aphids seem to be confined to my roses, but ever since the blue tits arrived, that's been much less of a problem.
Maybe you should try encouraging more blue tits to your lottie, since they will eat the aphids?

That's interesting. I didn't know blue tits eat aphids.
Do you know if house sparrows eat aphids? I've been seeing lots of sparrows visiting my garden being busy but can't tell what they are eating! :D

If we can get a good crop up here, Kent dwellers should be laughing?

But I have only grown the long ones outdoors.

VW - good chance!

My aubergines are in the greenhouse at home, but we do get quite a lot of bluetits in the garden, so maybe I'll try putting them outside during the day when we're not expecting torrential rain!

No tim, I've been struggling with aubergines in Kent!  :D
I'm going to try other varieties next year. I've just received a packet of mixed aubergine seeds from T&M. http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/401/1 The small, green one might do well (I hope!). I also received Prosperosa http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/uk/en/product/gww0167/1 but now I think it may be more suited to greenhouse (the fruit looks really big).
I'm thinking of buying some more to raise my chance of sucess with aubergines... ;D What varieties would you recommend for growing outdoor?

Caroline, check the leaves before you bring the plants indoors and wash the aphids off if you find any. :)

I know it's a repeat, but these (long ones) are the ones that I know do well.

Beautiful aubergines! I'm green with envy. :D Is the green one Thai Long Green? What's the very thin one on the left?

Macchiaw - no longer available from our supplier.

I'm was thinking of putting of my aubergines outside as well, but I'm put off as last year I tried some in growbags and they were decimated by slugs... :'(

This year I'm trying them in pots in my allotment greenhouse, but they are doing quite well and are now squashed against the glass! (it's only a little greenhouse....) I'm trying Mohican (white), Red Egg, and Listade De Gandia (purple stripey)....they have just started flowering, and a couple have little fruits on... ;D

Mohican's good -

The earliest variety that I know of is Apple Green, with a claimed 62-70 days from transplanting to fruiting. I see that it has started fruiting in my greenhouse in Glasgow. I also placed several surplus plants outside, and it will be interesting to see how they do.

Macchiaw - Shame you can't get it anymore. They look beautiful. I imagine they taste good too.  :)

Real food, I'm guessing that one of the aubergine mixed seeds from T&M is Apple Green. I asked T&M about it but haven't got a reply yet.
Is Apple Green a Thai variety? I'm sure I've seen the fruits at a Thai food shop.

Deb, your aubergines look good! I've kept my aubergines in a sunny place indoors so far and yesterday my dog nibbled the leaves. ::) The plants are in a bad way now. I hope they recover...

Your dog ate aubergine leaves?! That's a first! :o