Aubergine plant problems

[Forage420]

Hi all,
This is my first time growing aubergines, and my first few months with a greenhouse.
I planted these aubergines back in March and managed to keep them alive until the greenhouse was up and running.
They are budding but I don't think they are going to manage to produce any fruit. I'm just curious to know whether this may be a bug or whether it's just the natural turn in the weather causing them to die off? I recorded 3 degrees in the greenhouse (overnight temperature) over the last 7 days, although the daytime temperature and nighttime average is in excess of 5 degrees for the most part.
Any help appreciated here.
Thanks for reading.

[Trouvere]

In 2017 I had success with the baby fruit variety Ophelia: 7 plants in a polytunnel gave me in excess of 50 fruits weighing just over 2.5 kg. Since then I have pretty much failed every year, with Ophelia, Black Beauty and Almagro. This year, I have lots of flowers, but no fruits developing.

[chillithyme]

Its natural for them to start dying off now, if you have spider mite or aphids, this also takes away from the plants.

You won't get any fruit now with the weather turning and decreasing light levels. I did almost overwinter an aubergine in a porch, but the aphids and spider mite loved it so I composted it.

I have an aubergine with flowers in bloom outside. I'm leaving it for now as the flowers and leaves still look luscious. I'm not expecting any flowers, just a trip to the composter soon

[veggiechicken]

Looks like Botrytis https://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/Profile?PID=165
Some of my tomatoes are going down with it now that the weather is cold and damp.

[ameno]

The mottling on the leaves is definitely caused by spider mite.
As for the leaves with brown patches, I suspect veggiechicken is on the money with botyris.

[Jungle Jane]

Where did you have the plants March-May? Were they outside in the cold for a few nights? Maybe the early spring weather affected their slow growth so they couldn’t come to much?

[SarrissUK]

Aubergines have evaded me for so many years, and I didn't have any luck at any point. This year, really lush plants, lots of flowers, but not a single fruit. I'm not even keen on them to eat, and I think my plants know that and laugh at me lol

[Forage420]

Thank you for commenting everyone.
Veggiechicken, thank you for the analysis of botrytis and ameno for mentioning the spider mites.

Jungle_Jane they were stored on shelf in a makeshift shed which suffered from the extremes of heat and offered little protection from frost. I also neglected them for many weeks and they became extremely root-bound before I took sympathy and potted them up, by which time it was probably too late ...

I think had I planted them into open ground when they were stroll growing in pots they may have had a better chance but I really managed to screw these up unfortunately. The greenhouse wasn't finished in time.

First thing I'll do tomorrow is pull these and compost them because I've read a little about botryris and it is reported as affecting strawberry plants and I can't have that. I'm growing over 100 in the greenhouse at the moment and can't afford to lose them, in fact some of the strawberry plants have what looks like the same molting of leaves. I will clear out and diseased leaves I can see and air out the greenhouse tomorrow. I desperately need proper fitting roof vents which I'm hoping to have fitted the week after next. Fortunately I haven't top down watered anything for quite some time.

Chillitime, thank you, yes I'll keep an eye out for spider mites and I may check the underside of leaves that aren't molting and see if any aphids are present as well.

Trouvere and SarrissUK, sorry to hear if your bad run, perhaps next year we will crack the code haha.it would be nice to have a good crop of aubergines next year because they are fantastic in bakes.

Thanks for the feedback. Very much appreciated.

[veggiechicken]

If its any consolation, I've never been able to grow aubergines either!!

Strawberries don't mind the cold so you could leave your GH door and windows open - if that's all you have growing in there.

[Bren In Pots]

I tried growing Aubergines for a few years only ever produced one fruit but they did have pretty flowers though. Wonder what the secret to growing them is?

[greenishfing]

I seem to be able to grow them so I can only assume that they thrive on a bit of neglect. Mine are dying off though now it is getting colder.

[chillithyme]

Aubergines can be a bit hit and miss, but there's always next year and from your location I say have another go, even better that you have a greenhouse
The only thing that I know about aubergines is that they like humidity, so a few sprays of the flowers here and there in the greenhouse should help. I don't have a greenhouse, just a very humid mini plastic greenhouse. It fell over so I had to put the aubergine outside, its feeling the cold nights and won't fruit now