Aubergine seedlings...

[leah]

mine are about 6/7 cm high, some with 4 leaves a couple with a few more. I haven't grown them before and I'm not sure what to do next could or should I do the same as toms and peppers, burying their stalks up to their first true leaves? They are already in 8cm pots and seem healthy...

When can they go in the greenhouse? When should I start to feed them?

Sorry for all the questions I did search first but could see any answers. I can't wait to see the childrens faces when they see the aubergines on the plants

[Bigmallly]

Mine are potted upto their leaves but are only in loo rolls at the moment. I will feed them when I see the first flower. This may be incorrect but I want to concentrate on root growth.

[Capsid]

Based on my previous mistakes I advise the following:

don't overwater them
place them in a sunny position, preferably on the top shelf of greenhouse staging
don't pot them in big containers, 7-8" pots are fine; they need to be stressed to encourage fruiting.

They are probably OK in the greenhouse from end of March when the worst of the frosts have ended and the greenhouse will keep any frost at bay.

My plants are still at the 2 leaf stage

[elsie-scot]

if you've got a max/min thermometer check overnight temp in greenhouse just incase it is still pretty cold

[smallblueplanet]

Woah, I think its way too cold for aubs in a greenhouse overnight - its only really warm enough during the day, think of the conditions they normally grow in.

[selfraising]

I agree, mine are not going in the gh yet either, too cold.

[leah]

thank you for all of your replies


I'll repot them a bit deeper next time, didn't want to risk it before

I don't mind them sitting on the window cill a bit longer yet, they seem quite happy there. I have to water them at least every other day as they keep drying out and going south if I don't

I hope I can stick my toms out sooner, I've got far too many germinating to keep them all on cills

[Capsid]

Woah, I think its way too cold for aubs in a greenhouse overnight - its only really warm enough during the day, think of the conditions they normally grow in.

Who said they should go out now? I said end of March.

[Alison]

I won't be putting my aubergines anywhere near an unheated greenhouse / polytunnel until about mid May. Find they just sulk if I do.

[mrscorpio]

Hi
I just popped to the local nursery and picked up an aubergine to add to my large collection of greenhouse plants.
A work colleague said I may need 2 plants for pollination -- is this true.

Also looking on the internet, I hit a BBC site which said to cut out the top at 15" --- is this true.
The BBC site said it was part of the Chilli and Pepper family and they also should be limited to 15" in height ---- is this true

Please help

[binley100]

Forgive me if I'm wrong but I thought you pinched the tops out after they had set about five fruit.

[Alison]

I've never pinched the top out of an aubergine but then again don't do very well with them and never get them to set 5 fruit - was pleased when I got one to produce 3 last year