Allotments 4 All

Being a tropical /sub tropical plant, it is not surprising that Aubergines have not done well in the UK this year. For good growth, a day temperature of 25C -30C is required, with night temps of around 25C. They need condsiderably more heat/sunshine than Tomatoes or Pepper plants. They are greedy plants and when grown in containers or growbags, they need lot of feeding.  The flowers, esp the first ones, are not attractive to bees, so hand pollination is required for good fruit set. 
Saddad,  Aubergines do get Potato Blight but may not be susceptible to the strains in the UK. There is a disease called Aubergine Blight which is caused by Phytophthora capsici. The plants are very susceptible to Verticillium spp. and Fusaruim spp. This causes the plants to wilt and die off due to death of roots. They also do not like wet feet when soil temeratures are low.
    Seed variety is vitally important for growing in the UK. Probably the best is seed selections for European cropping, but even they would have struggled to fruit in a year like 2012.
  For those who like Aubergines, I would say,  keep trying a plant or two, one of these years you might stike lucky and get a few to eat !

Quote from: lisaparkin on September 26, 2012, 17:42:16
This is the 1st time I've ever grown aubergines.  I have 6 plants and was over the moon to find 1 aubergine growing 

Well done it's not been an easy year. I've not had many aubs set here  . The small patio types in pots have done best though 
Grafted plant total zilch even though it had a prime spot!

Here's mine, with another growing on the left

Photo1480 by lisamarieparkin, on Flickr

That's a beaut! well done.
I have one tiny one which appeared after I turfed them out to under the hedge ready to take round to the allotment. I was a tad surprised as the worst growing condition imaginable for an aubergine and it finally sets fruit!