When to pick!

[lyndap]

My aubergines are growing well,but I don't know when to pick them They are called'mohican' and are supposed to be white( mine are a very,very pale green with minute purply strips on them!!!!) I know to pick whilst still shiney, but not sure of size these ones grow Do you have to soak and salt these ones or not.

[smallblueplanet]

We pick ours when we need one, so as long as they aren't too small (couple of inches) we'll eat them. Don't let them get soft as then they're over-ripe and might be bitter - the only time you might need to salt them.

We must have eaten hundreds of aubergines (including tens of our own grown) and have never salted an aubergine yet...

[blossom]

I salt aubergine, but only because I like salt.
Mine are just getting flowers, it's all so exciting.

[lyndap]

I think I'll harvest one this weekend and give it a go without salting then.I've got two at about 4/5inches long,still shiney and firm,and quite a few small ones.

[smallblueplanet]

...they sound ready to go! and by picking them you'll encourage the others to grow.

[smallblueplanet]

What were they like?

[lyndap]

Yummy! My daughter cooked them for us in olive oil,with black pepper, and paprika.Desperate for next batch to be ready now.Definatley will grow these again next year,as wonderful taste,and seem more reliable to crop(the plants I gave to family are also all growing well-some in greenhouses,some outdoors)

[blossom]

Mine only have flowers so far.

[smallblueplanet]

Where are yours growing blossom, what type are they?

[blossom]

It looks like off the main stem. I have the mohican ones and some black beauty ones, but I'm not totaly sure which ones are which. What is the best way to pollinate them? I have been using a cotton bud, it that ok?

Thanks

[smallblueplanet]

I'm growing BB too, but it was a cheat from the GC (I thought the other plants were a bit slow - but they've caught up).

Ours are growing in the greenhouse (in the bed and a few in pots/buckets), they have all been pollinated by insects (to help just tap them a bit? they're not m&f flowers like squash are). They like it very hot (and humid too I think?).

The BB has already had 4 fruit (5-6 inches) off it. Oddly although 'pictures' show BB as roundish/fat type all but one have been long/thin type (or maybe its when we've picked them?). The purple fruit has a purple stalk/calex (?the bit at the top).

We've also had one off the Ichiban (longish thin purple fruit) which is meant to be an early/fast fruiter and there's some growing on the applegreen (small/round/green fruit) and the thai long green too.

I would post some piccies but the OH has the camera. We love aubergines!!!

[lyndap]

Spoke to soon about 'mohican' being reliable!When checking my plants today found to my horror newer just forming fruits are turning brown and dropping of and I don't know why.Havent changed anything with watering or feeding,although noticed something having a munch on the leaves again!Ate another one yesterday...still yummy,so hope they don't give up the ghost on me!

[smallblueplanet]

lyndap, not really sure but I think that sort of thing happens when they are too cold and wet (normally seen it at the end of the season)? Apparently aubs like min temp of (around) 21 centigrade to grow!

[lyndap]

Must be the change in the weather then.It has been a lot colder this week than previously.Perhaps they will recover if it gets warmer again.Fingers crossed.

[blossom]

One of my flowers has dropped off. I have opened up the front of my little plastic greenhouse today so hopefully the bugs will get in there and do a bit of polinating for me.