Aubergines

Sow at 18-21C (65-70F) in seed-sowing compost in pots or modules. If germinating seeds in the airing cupboard, check seeds daily and remove them as soon as they have germinated.

For greenhouse cultivation: sow in January in a heated greenhouse or February in an unheated greenhouse or use a propagator. If using a windowsill sow from late February. For outdoor cultivation, sow indoors in early March.

Plants are now widely offered for sale in garden centres, and are ideal where plant raising is difficult. Grafted plants have good vigour and well suited to cooler conditions and for soil cultivation.

Although aubergines can be grown outside, they rarely do well except in mild areas or during very good summers. As a result they are better grown in a greenhouse or growing frame.

Grow in 9cm pots initially, and when pot is filled with roots transfer plants to 23cm (9in) pots of compost in April in a heated greenhouse, early May if unheated or the end of May or early June if growing outdoors.

Aubergines can also be grown in the open ground, in warm parts of Britain, spacing 60cm (2ft) apart, and ideally covering with cloches or fleece. The keys to success are sunshine and warm growing conditions. Warm the soil with polythene or cloches two weeks before planting once there is no danger of frost and cover young plants in cloches or frames for a further two weeks until acclimatised. Grow them in a sheltered, sunny position, ideally against a warm, sheltered wall.

Stake and tie in plants as they grow. When plants are 30cm (12in) high, remove the tip from the main stem.

Water regularly and feed with a high potassium liquid fertiliser every two weeks once the first fruit has set. Mist the foliage regularly (at least twice daily) to with tepid water to discourage red spider mite and help fruit set.

Remove remaining flowers when five or six fruits have set. Cultivars producing small or round fruit can be allowed to produce many more.

Cut each fruit from August onwards when they've grown about 15cm (6in) long and the skin surface is still shiny.

Grafted plants are available and are ideal for outdoor growing and other less than perfect conditions.

‘Moneymaker’: A superb early variety with tasty fruits, it is tolerant of cooler temperatures and can be grown indoors or out.

'Bonica’ AGM: Ideal for an unheated glasshouse, early cropping, top quality, good sized, attractive, glossy black fruits.

‘Pintung Long’: The slender lavender-purple fruits, which are tender and full of flavour, grow to 30cm long.

‘Rossa Bianca’: A gourmet variety with white, rose-tinted fruit and a mild, creamy taste.

‘Thai Green Pea’: A tall plant, covered with masses of tiny green fruit with a strong aubergine flavour. Ideal for Thai recipies.

‘Violette di Firenze’: unusual dark mauve fruits make this an attractive plant for the potager. It needs warmth to ripen fully.

'Giotto': Moneymaker type with tolerance of verticillium root disease and good for outdoor cultivation.

Glasshouse red spider or two spotted mite: Leaves become mottled, pale and covered in webbing, on which the mites can be clearly seen; leaves also drop prematurely.

Remedy: They thrive in hot, dry conditions, so mist plants regularly. Use sprays based on soft soap, plant oils or extracts. Use the biological control Phytoseiulus persimilis in the greenhouse.

Read more information on red spider mite

Whitefly: Small white flies suck sap and excrete sticky ‘honeydew’ over the plant, encouraging the growth of sooty mould.

Remedy: Use biological control Encarsia formosa in the greenhouse, sticky traps or sprays based on plant oils or soft soap.

Read more information on whitefly

Aphids: Look for colonies of greenfly on the soft shoot tips of plants or on leaves. They suck sap and excrete sticky honeydew, encouraging the growth of black sooty moulds.

Remedy: Use your finger and thumb to squash aphid colonies, spray with pyrethrum, plant or fish oils or use the biological control aphidius or aphidoletes in the greenhouse.

Read more information on aphids