Aubergines are now becoming popular vegetables to grow at home - thanks mainly to new cultivars more suited to the British climate and the rapid increase in Mediterranean-style food and cooking.
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.
Sow at 18-21C (65-70F).
For greenhouse cultivation: sow in January (if you have a heated greenhouse) or February (unheated greenhouse).
For outdoor cultivation: sow in March.
Transfer plants to 23cm (9in) pots of good compost in April (heated greenhouse) or early May (unheated greenhouse) or the end of May/early June if growing outdoors. Aubergines can also be grown in the ground, spacing 60cm (2ft) apart. Warm outdoor soils with polythene or cloches two weeks before planting out and keep young plants covered with cloches or frames for a further two weeks.
Stake and tie in plants as they grow.
Remove the main tip/growing point when plants are 30cm (12in) high.
Water regularly and feed with a high potash liquid fertiliser once the first fruit has set.
Mist the foliage regularly with tepid water to discourage red spider mite and to help flower set.
When five or six fruits have set, remove any other flowers as plants are unlikely to be able to support any more fruit. However, cultivars producing very small &/or round will be able to produce reliable crops of further fruit.
Cut each fruit from August onwards when they've grown about 15cm (6in) long and the skin surface is still shiny.
