Pea Aubergine germination problem

[mrsironside]

Hi all - some advice please
I have sown some thai pea aubergine seeds (sparrow's brinjal) and they are being a real pain to get going.
They are in seed compost and in a heated propogator at about 28 degrees C.
They were sown on 8/3/10 and as yet only one has emerged but it was lost due to the seed leaves being trapped in the seed!
Any advice on this - it's just the pea aub as my thai egg and long purple aub have come on a treat.

many thanks
Ash

[sarraceniac]

Hi MrsI. These are notoriously slow at germinating. Can take up to 3 months. They want to be held at a constant temperature. 28°C should be OK, just a couple more would be better. Don't give up on them yet. But you do know that they usually won't fruit in our climate (even South Beds) in one year? The usual way of handling this is to take cuttings in autumn to give you a head start next year. Then they should romp away. Definitely not a beginners plant.

[mrsironside]

Thanks for the advice folks - I am holding out on them - put the heated prop up a notch or two (much to the fervent delight of some late sown scotch bonnets!) and will persevere with them.
Aware of climate issues but will def take your v helpful advice re. cuttings sarraceniac (guessing there's a CP interest there given the avatar!) and see what happens.

[poly]

This may or may not be helpful but hopefully its encouraging, I had several volunteer Pea aubergine germinate and thrive in a raised bed last year. Guess they must have been form seed the year before, the plants went on to flower much of the summer and well into the autumn before finally being cut down by frost. No fruit, surprise!

Now if I'd thought of taking cuttings or known to I may have had some growing for this year ah well I'll know for next time!

Any advice on the best method for cuttings?

[sarraceniac]

Any advice on the best method for cuttings?

I only tried them once but I just pretended they were dahlias. Took 2 or 3 inch side shoots below a leaf node, planted them up and overwintered them in my spare room. Don't know if that is the classic way, but it worked for me. I lost 2 out of 10 cuttings. Hardened off beginning May and planted out mid-May. Hope this helps but don't come gunning if it doesn't. As I said, not a beginners plant and a lot of faffing for one 2nd year crop then no more.