Eggplants

[Plot70]

I was given some seeds last season and got one weedy plant in the greenhouse that got run down by tomatos.
I planted the remainder of the seeds this year and they are doing better and have revealed that they have spines like wild brambles.
The out door ones have most spines.

[ameno]

Some aubergine varieties do indeed have very vicious thorns. I believe it's a natural trait of the species, but has been bred out of a good many of the cultivated varieties.

[Snoop Puss]

Gosh, Plot70, that's a really spiny one. Never seen one that thorny. What variety is it?

[Bren In Pots]

That does look thorny just nipped out to check mine and they only have a few on the stem and newer leaves.

[quanglewangle]

Ours have spiny bracts. Need gloves to harvest. One in pic has about a week to go
Variety Moneymaker.

[Plot70]

Gosh, Plot70, that's a really spiny one. Never seen one that thorny. What variety is it?

I will check and see if the packet has survived the slugs.

[Plot70]

I have looked and the packet did indeed survived the slugs that ate a squash seed packet.

[bikermike]

They are spiky! you could grow an aubergine hedge...

If it's kept it's spikes that would imply a less cultivated version? perhaps more robust? I'm interested as I have grown aubergine plants a few times, but never got them to fruit, so an easier version is good.

...or maybe they were bred by middle-eastern gardeners to make presents for people they didn't like...

[Plot70]

I only got poor germination last year in an unheated greenhouse but this year I did them indoors and moved them to the greenhouse and put some outside under clear fat bottles in the edge of a squash bed. The ones in the greenhouse are much smaller as are the tomatoes.
It is better outside now the clod weather has finally gone.
I am now waiting to see if I get any fruits.

[Snoop Puss]

I grow Long Purple, bought as plug plants. No idea if they're two or not. But mine are nowhere near as spiky as yours. When I pick them, I have to be careful of the spikes around the top of the fruit, but that's all. There are sometimes a few little spikes on the leaves, but in fact they're soft to the touch.

Looks like you might need gauntlets to pick those, Plot70.

[Bren In Pots]

I'm growing 3 Aubergines variety called Viserba 3 they're long fruits similar to yours Plot I've got 2 in the GH and one outdoors. Only the GH one has flower buds but all 3 have spines in the stem and on new leaves.
I gave up a few years ago with Aubergines because I only ever had flowers so this time I'm really hopping to get fruits.

[quanglewangle]

They need light. Lots of it.

We'll harvest our first one in a few days. The greenhouse only has space heating on nights when a frost is expected but there is under-pot heating keeping compost generally above 10 - 15°C

We do have LED PAR 38 reflector lights - one to a pot.
They are only 15W each and back off in full sun so don't break the bank.
[edit]
Here is a pic.There are four or five nearly ready aubergines on this plant (Mrs quanglewange complains if they are too small). You can also see the light - pretty close in. I don't think a plant that grows beside roads in the tropics is going to get distressed by too much light. The sand tray is kept moist/wet and is heated with a 120W and supports three pots. It's only on a few hours a day at present - you can just see the temperature sensor wire coming out of the pot: cuts out at 20°C. The sand tray will be a mass of roots at the end of the season; escaped through pot drainage holes.
Fed double dose tomorite once a week.