Aubergine; Solanum melongena var. escalentum
Often known as Egg Plants, aubergines are worth growing on a limited scale. Ideal for cultivating in the warm greenhouse, they can be grown outdoors, in sheltered districts, once risk of frosts has passed. Frames and cloches also provide good growing conditions.
The soil should be prepared early and enriched with old manure and plenty of compost. Sedge peat worked into the top couple of inches of soil will be helpful. Sow seed in early spring using pots or boxes of sandy soil in a temperature of 15°C. When big enough to handle, move the seedlings into 8cm pots or soil blocks, using fairly rich compost.
By the end of April they should be ready to pot on to 13cm size pots. This prevents possible checks from starvation. Spray with water daily to prevent red spider damage.
Once warmer conditions arrive, the plants can be put under frames or cloches which should be kept closed for a few days so the plants settle down quickly. When they are 16cm high, take out the growing points.
When the resultant laterals have grown 10 cm they should be stopped. Allow up to six fruits to develop on each plant removing all others which attempt to form. Frequent overhead spraying will ensure that red spider does not gain a hold. Later crops can be sown directly into prepared sites under frames.
The fruits are ready to gather throughout the summer. They bruise easily and need careful handling. Usually offered as long purple or long white, Noire de Pekin is a dark violet variety, Blanche longue de la Chine being a good fleshy, white sort.
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