When can you put aubergine plants outside?

Crops to be grown in the warmth of a greenhouse or polytunnel can be sown from mid-February through to March, while those left outdoors may be started off from mid-March to early April. Sow seeds into 7.5cm pots filled with seed compost then cover with a under cover very fine layer of compost or vermiculite.

Are aubergines easy to grow UK?

Aubergines can also be grilled, roasted and stuffed. In the same family as tomatoes, peppers and chillies, aubergines can be easy to grow if you give them the right conditions. They need a good, rich, moisture-retentive soil, plenty of sun and warm conditions. A sunny greenhouse or windowsill is perfect for them.

Can I overwinter aubergine plants UK?

They would either have to be houseplants in the warm living room or go in an unheated bedroom for the winter – frost free but only about 10 degrees. It would be nice not to have to wait until September to eat them!

Can I grow aubergines in pots?

Aubergines are among the few vegetables that don’t mind warm roots, so they grow well in roomy containers provided the plants are given plenty of water. This is a good time to install stakes to keep the plants from falling over as they load up with fruits.

How cold can eggplant tolerate?

Eggplant is generally more sensitive to cooler temperatures than its cousins, tomatoes and peppers. Flowers consistently set fruit down to 60 F nighttime temperatures. Eggplants begin to get chilling injury at temperatures below 50 F.

Do you pinch out aubergines?

When the aubergine plants are 12”/30cms tall pinch out the growing tip out to encourage the development of side branches. Immediately after pinching out support the plant using a short, strong cane because the weight of the aubergine fruits will pull the plant apart.

Do eggplants grow back next year?

With proper pruning and feeding, eggplant can be grown as a perennial, though gardeners should be prepared for harvests to decline eventually.

Should I pinch out aubergines?

Allow at least 2ft/60cms between plants. When the aubergine plants are 12”/30cms tall pinch out the growing tip out to encourage the development of side branches. Immediately after pinching out support the plant using a short, strong cane because the weight of the aubergine fruits will pull the plant apart.

Do eggplants like full sun?

As a basic rule of thumb, vegetables grown for their fruit or roots—such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, squash, potatoes, or carrots—require full sun, which is defined as a garden location that receives at least six hours of direct sun each day.

Can eggplant survive frost?

In general, a frost (31-33 degrees F.) will kill beans, cantaloupe, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, peas, pepper, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, and watermelon.

Can you grow aubergines outside?

If you want to grow this outdoors, then it will be a bit of a gamble. It is much easier to grow successfully in a greenhouse. In the South of the UK there is a much better chance of the aubergine growing than in the colder Northern areas.

Where do aubergines grow in the UK?

In the South of the UK there is a much better chance of the aubergine growing than in the colder Northern areas. These are prickly shrub plants, that do have very pretty flowers and the plant does bear the aubergine, which are sometimes round in shape, but are more likely to be an oval shape.

How do you plant a aubergine tree?

Aubergines can also be planted in the ground in warm areas of Britain: Choose your warmest, sunniest, most sheltered position, ideally against a sunny wall. Warm the soil with polythene or cloches two weeks before planting, once there is no danger of frost

How do I get my aubergines to grow bigger?

Remove old flower petals from developing aubergines as these are susceptible to contacting botrytis or mould which can then spread to other parts of the plant. The fruits will grow larger if a high-potash liquid feed is applied once the first one has set. Use any organic tomato feed or try liquid comfrey fertiliser.