How to Sow and Grow Aubergines: A Complete Guide
Aubergines, or eggplants, demand warmth and a long season but reward careful growing with glossy, richly flavoured fruit. They perform best under cover in cool climates and in sheltered, well-watered positions where summers are reliably hot.
Choosing varieties
Traditional purple aubergines, slim Asian types, white cultivars and compact patio plants are grown similarly. Early and small-fruited varieties ripen most reliably in shorter seasons. Compact cultivars suit 15–20 litre containers and may crop better than large plants where heat is limited.
When and how to sow
Sow in late winter or early spring, eight to twelve weeks before final planting. Sow 5–10 mm deep in peat-free seed compost and keep at 22–27°C. Germination normally takes one to three weeks. Give seedlings intense light immediately and avoid cold windowsills at night.
Potting on and planting
Move seedlings into small individual pots when true leaves form, then pot on in stages. Plant out after frost and only when nights are warm. Space plants 45–60 cm apart in rich, free-draining soil. In cool climates use a greenhouse or polytunnel; in very hot regions provide airflow and some afternoon protection.
Containers and support
Use one plant in a container of at least 15–20 litres. Add a cane at planting because mature fruit becomes heavy. Peat-free multipurpose compost mixed with mature compost provides a good base. Avoid pots that overheat or dry within hours.
Watering and feeding
Maintain even moisture from flowering onward. Drought causes blossom drop and tough fruit; saturated compost damages roots. Start a high-potassium organic liquid feed when the first flowers open, following the label. Mulch beds once soil is warm.
Pollination and fruit numbers
Aubergines are self-fertile. Tap flowers gently or allow pollinators access under cover. In cool short seasons, limiting plants to four to six developing fruits helps them ripen; in warm climates plants can carry more. Remove only weak side shoots and yellowing lower leaves.
Common problems
Red spider mite: inspect leaves frequently in hot dry greenhouses and use biological controls early
Aphids and whitefly: wash off small colonies, use insect-proof screening and encourage beneficial insects
Blossom drop: stabilise watering and protect plants from temperature extremes
Dull or seedy fruit: harvest younger, while skins remain glossy and flesh springs back gently
Sunscald: avoid stripping protective foliage during intense sunny weather
Harvesting and storing
Cut fruit with secateurs while the skin is glossy and before seeds harden. Wear gloves because the calyx can be prickly. Regular harvesting encourages more flowers. Aubergines are best used fresh; cooked dishes can be frozen, but raw fruit stores only briefly in cool conditions.
A reliable approach
Treat aubergines as heat-loving container or protected crops unless summers are dependable. Warm roots, consistent moisture, pollination and timely picking matter more than elaborate pruning.
