A variety of aubergine, a tropical perennial grown as an annual, with grey-green, downy foliage. It reaches about 1.2m, has small, pale purple flowers, and produces good quality, large, glossy, deep purple fruit from late summer into autumn
1-1.5 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Can be grown outdoors in a sunny, sheltered position in mild areas, but is better grown in a greenhouse or tall growing-frame. Start from seed or buy as small plants and grow on in a heated greenhouse or on a warm windowsill. Move to an unheated greenhouse or outside once all risk of frost has passed. Water regularly and feed every 10-14 days with a balanced liquid fertiliser, switching to a high potassium liquid feed once the first fruits have set. See Aubergines (Grow your own)
Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice
Pinch out the growing tip when the plant has reached about 30cm high to encourage branching
May be susceptible to glasshouse whitefly, aphids and glasshouse red spider mite
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), tomato leaf mould and tomato viruses