Gourmet Gardener: Try growing aubergines
Our very own Gourmet Gardener, Tara Kate Linnane, looks at her growing aubergines in your garden or polytunnel...
Aubergines, also known as eggplants, produce beautiful glossy fruit. They are originally from India.
Any of us growing in temperate climates will undoubtedly find them just a bit of a struggle. With cool, northern summers, it should come as no surprise that these plants need as long a growing season as we can possibly muster.
It’s very much a case of early to rise and late to bed for these tropical beauties!
I have had some good successes over the last few years with cropping aubergines, so I have put together my method for you to hopefully try.
In most warmer climates, gardeners should be fine growing their eggplants outside following an early start under cover, and some even can opt for sowing directly outdoors.
Unfortunately for us, our low levels of sunshine and unpredictable summers simply won’t allow this. If you are going to grow aubergines you will need either a polytunnel or a greenhouse or protected hotbed.
My first tip is to sow your seeds early. Don’t wait until spring to make your sowings; start your aubergines off in late winter – now is perfect.
To avoid root disturbance and make life easier, I sow the seeds into modules of seed compost, though you could of course sow into pots of compost and prick out the seedlings into their own pots once they are big enough.
I find starting them in pots can be a waste of watering.
Cover them with a layer of vermiculite or compost and pop them in a heated propagator if you have one, or in my case, I use a sunny windowsill and cover with a cloche.
Keep the compost moist but certainly not wet.
Seedlings should make an appearance within 10 days to two weeks, at which point they can be left to grow on before potting on into 7cm pots of multipurpose compost/potting soil.
Keep them on the warm side with plenty of natural light and pot on again into 12cm containers as soon as the roots can be seen at the drainage holes.
The plants can go into their final positions once they fill those pots, though you will need to make sure you can sustain a cosy environment.
I will keep them indoors until I am confident the temperature at night in the polytunnel won’t dip. This however, does leave you with somewhat of an indoor jungle if you are doing this with a few tender crops!
I have found that transplanting the aubergines into the ground tends to lead to less flower and fruit production. I keep them in individual pots and they seem to flower and fruit well.
To keep aubergines bushy, remove the main growing point of your plants once they’ve reached 30cm tall. This will encourage further branches to develop lower down, thereby ensuring a bushier and shorter plant.
The plants will eventually need support with canes, particularly when they begin to set their fruits.
Aubergines can be fed with potash to encourage flowering – something like a tomato feed can work, or liquid seaweed.
To encourage pollination, tap the flowers to dislodge the pollen and fertilise the flowers: be careful, these flowers have sharp spines which can be prickly.
Always leave the doors open to allow pollinator insects in to help the process.
The flowers are like lilac tissue paper and are a welcome splash of colour.
Once the fruits begin to mature, they will become nice and rich in colour and develop a good shine to the skin.
The varieties I have grown are ‘Black Beauty’ and an attractive small fruiting variety called ‘Rosa Bianca’.
Aubergines are a delight when picked fresh from your garden. The glossy attractive colours look great in dishes and knowing that there are zero airmiles make them taste even better.
In my opinion, they are a must to try and grow this year if you have the right conditions available.
• Tara Kate Linnane is passionate about sustainability and growing all things edible.
Together with her husband Barry, she has embarked on a journey of designing edible spaces and getting others started on their gardening adventures. Follow their journey on Instagram @twopeas_inapolytunnel or visit thefoodscapedesignco.com to make contact for information.
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