Aubergines

[jacob]

On a more positive note, somewhat later than I'd hoped, aubergines are kicking off. Good result for a less than helpful summer.

[bario1]

Mine aren't! As usual, the flowers just go mouldy and fall off, and the plants go limp and yellow and die, despite looking really healthy a few weeks ago. Might be time to throw the towel in at last.

Oh, and well done Jacob! I've no idea how you've managed to get a decent fruit.

[Penellype]

Mine have flowers. Last year I managed one fruit the size of a small egg before the plant went mouldy and died. This year the plant is bigger, so I live in hope.

[meteor]

I have a good crop this year despite it being so cold, I had my first this season for lunch on Saturday. I sowed two varieties; Bonica and Black Beauty. Both planted at the same time but bonica fruits are more advanced than black beauty but this means I'll have a succession of fruits instead of a glut.

[Penellype]

Mine is black beauty so that could explain why it has no fruits yet.

[meteor]

Mine is black beauty so that could explain why it has no fruits yet.

Could be, same thing happened last year which was a great year for aubergines with me. I found both flowered at the same time but the bonica fruit developed quicker, also the I found the black beauty need a little cosseting for the fruit to set: tapping the flowers and then spray misting them , I also grow them as a cordon and widely spaced apart to discourage mould. Bonica on the other hand I just plant, odd feed of comfrey brew and they just romp away.

[jacob]

I didn't get black beauty to produce either. The one in the photo is something called a Galine and that's a pretty good sized aubergine. However, it's often displayed one at a time behaviour. Moneymaker have always given a reasonably crop of petite aubergines, and Bonica look to be doing OK this year. Also trying something called a Black Enorma.

I've had the odd leaf wilt and die for no adequate reason, but the plants seem to recover. I'd also encourage tapping the flowers, and also pulling the flower bit out as soon as it starts to wilt (carefully, so as not to damage the fruit) as it's the flower bit that seems to catch the mould.

[meteor]

Harvested another bonica this evening, I'll have five more over the next week. The black beauty are only a third of this size and take longer to mature. Moussaka for dinner tomorrow, yummy

[rhonsal]

Mine aren't! As usual, the flowers just go mouldy and fall off, and the plants go limp and yellow and die, despite looking really healthy a few weeks ago. Might be time to throw the towel in at last.

Oh, and well done Jacob! I've no idea how you've managed to get a decent fruit.

I've opted to grow varieties with smaller fruits as this was only way I could get anything - try baby Rosanna or pinstripe!

[roitelet]

Not going to show you mine, they are taller than me and loaded with fruit. Sorry.

[greenishfing]

Not going to show you mine, they are taller than me and loaded with fruit. Sorry.

Mine are the same. I can't remember the variety but they are from a pack of "Franchi" seeds sold off at the local Wyvale last August for 50p with 100's of seeds in. I've given loads of excess seeds and baby plants away and will probably do the same again next year. Even in "sunny" Yorkshire we've been eating them for at least a month. Thank goodness my husband has decided he likes them.