Struggling with aubergine pollination

**bario1** · 18-07-2018, 10:30 PM

I’ve heard that they like a misting with a spray bottle every day when they’re setting fruit. Not that it ever worked for me!

**Snoop Puss** · 18-07-2018, 10:35 PM

What time of day do you try and hand pollinate?

And what happens if you hold a piece of paper or similar underneath the flower and tap the flower? Does any pollen appear on the paper?

**self-contained** · 19-07-2018, 01:35 AM

Originally posted by Snoop Puss View Post

What time of day do you try and hand pollinate?

And what happens if you hold a piece of paper or similar underneath the flower and tap the flower? Does any pollen appear on the paper?

In the evening on weekdays and probably lunchtime to early afternoon at the weekend, though I could do earlier on those days if it would make a difference. I'll try tapping over some paper tomorrow, but nothing I've done so far seems to have shifted any pollen.

**Ani** · 19-07-2018, 01:56 AM

Last year I had two aubergines, a huge amount of flowers and no aubergines. I also tried all I could (cotton swab, brush, tapping etc.), no success and no visible pollen.
This year I have five aubergines (three varieties) in nonstop open plastic blowaway. They have been flowering for almost two months now and I have two aubergines (one normal, one thai), I guess they have been pollinated by bees. So I lost my patience and bought a sonic toothbrush. It vibrates almost like a bee. And with light touch of the flowers it produces a visible cloud of pollen.
Still, they are slow to set but there are now some flowers which look like they could become fruit (flower drying but the flower stalk staying green).

**Snoop Puss** · 19-07-2018, 06:15 AM

Strictly speaking, aubergines are self-pollinating. That said, if you can manage it, you will probably have more luck hand pollinating in the morning when the flowers have only recently opened. By late afternoon, especially in this heat, you may find the pollen is finished.

Lots of people use small paintbrushes for hand pollinating, as they're quite gentle.

Edited to add this, which is a good explanation: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edi...ts-by-hand.htm

**nickdub** · 19-07-2018, 08:09 AM

Could you leave them outside for a while ? - should be plenty warm enough.

**self-contained** · 22-07-2018, 12:54 PM

I went and gave them a bash around this morning (well, late morning, post groceries and lolly) and there wasn't much pollen coming away at all. Only one flower released a few specks (immediately swished into the appropriate place, so maybe I will get one fruit!)

I've moved them outside as per nick's advice and there has already been some insect interest. Hopefully, I can get a few fruit to take and then I can move them back inside.

**4Shoes** · 22-07-2018, 01:10 PM

Thought mine were not going to fruit either. Been flowering for 2 or 3 weeks, but last night noticed a few fruits forming. Fingers crossed.

**roitelet** · 22-07-2018, 01:46 PM

I’ve not grown them this year but last year I grew them in a tunnel and never had a problem with the fruit setting. I just tickled the stamens with my finger every time I passed.

**Sim2500** · 23-07-2018, 06:15 PM

I'm also growing aubergines in grow bags. I have 6 plants. One has a open flower and I'm trying to pollinate it by tapping it and using a paint brush. It's been open for about 5 days now and it looks like it's going to finish its bloom soon. I don't know if I've been successful. I've been misting and today switched to a high potassium fertiliser to increase the flowering as all the other plants have created flower buds and then they just fell off, didn't even have a chance to pollinate.

This year is a good attempt to grow Aubergines as its been incredible hot in the UK, so now or never

**Snoop Puss** · 24-07-2018, 10:18 AM

Actually, actually... in my part of the world, it's believed that aubergines and sweet peppers don't like it very hot. No idea how they manage in those greenhouses down south. Lots of misting perhaps. Anyway, if anyone has aubergines and peppers in pots in greenhouses in this very hot weather in the UK, you might do well to move them outside for wind and insect pollination.

**Ani** · 24-07-2018, 02:23 PM

SP: I guess what is called hot in the UK would be called cold in Spain?
I think they like something like Thai climate, approx. 28� and wet.
Anyway, I had them outside last year and no fruit. This year is better and it looks like the sonic toothbrush is working (better than any other method). But I have problems with pollination with other plants too, there is lot of bees and insect but they are picky.

**carly** · 24-07-2018, 02:26 PM

Originally posted by Snoop Puss View Post

Actually, actually... in my part of the world, it's believed that aubergines and sweet peppers don't like it very hot. No idea how they manage in those greenhouses down south. Lots of misting perhaps. Anyway, if anyone has aubergines and peppers in pots in greenhouses in this very hot weather in the UK, you might do well to move them outside for wind and insect pollination.

This is my first full year in greenhouse. I have 6 sweet pepper plants, 6 chilli plants, 2 jalape�o and 4 aubergines. All in troughs in greenhouse. All in shading. These plants are huge ....my aubergine plants are at least 3 feet tall and only just started setting the veg about a week ago. I did do a thread on this as they too were flowering and dying off. I hand pollinated the ones in the front and although they were the slowest to set they are now setting. The ones in the back were pollinated by bees (keep door and windows open all the time) and I believe I have some ready to pick now. My peppers are also 3 feet tall and I have picked 3 huge peppers per plant so far.