How to Grow Aubergines: A Comprehensive Guide

Aubergines are a versatile and flavorful ingredient commonly used in Mediterranean cuisine, featuring in dishes like parmigiana, fritters, curries, and baba ganoush. They can also be prepared in various ways, such as grilling, roasting, or stuffing, making them a staple in many kitchens.

If you’re wondering how to grow aubergines, it’s important to know that they belong to the same family as tomatoes, peppers, and chillies, making them a rewarding plant to cultivate. Learning how to grow aubergine plants successfully involves providing them with the right conditions. Aubergines thrive in rich, moisture-retentive soil, plenty of sunlight, and warm environments. Whether you’re growing them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse, these plants need warmth and light to grow healthy and productive.

If you’re asking how long do aubergines take to grow from seed, typically, aubergines can take between 16-20 weeks to fully mature, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Understanding how to grow aubergines effectively can significantly impact their growth, helping you achieve great results.

For those curious about the aubergine how to grow process, it involves starting seeds indoors before transplanting them to your garden or greenhouse. Providing them with consistent care, such as regular watering and fertilizing, will ensure they grow to their full potential. Once they are ready for harvest, you’ll enjoy delicious and nutritious aubergines for various recipes.

For those new to growing aubergines, it’s helpful to know how long does it take to grow aubergines in total. Once you plant them, expect around 4-6 months for them to mature, but the wait will be worth it when you see those vibrant purple fruits ready to be harvested.

What You Need to Know About Aubergines

Aubergines belong to the Solanaceae family, making them relatives of tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes. Although commonly regarded as a vegetable, they are technically a fruit, as they grow from flowering plants and contain seeds. Originating in India and China, aubergines have been cultivated for centuries, eventually reaching Europe thanks to the Spanish Moors. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, including purple, white, green, and even striped varieties, making them an attractive addition to any garden.

Ideal Growing Conditions for Aubergines

Aubergines thrive in warm, sunny conditions, making them perfect for growing in greenhouses, on south-facing patios, or windowsills. These plants require a long, warm growing season to produce high-quality fruit, which makes early sowing essential.

How to Grow Aubergines from Seed

1. Start Indoors: Sow aubergine seeds indoors as early as January if using a heated propagator, or from March without one. Use moist, peat-free multi-purpose compost to give the seeds a good start. For the best results, place them in a propagator under a grow light to prevent the seedlings from becoming leggy.
2. Transplant Seedlings: When the first true leaves appear, prick out the seedlings and transplant them into individual pots. Opt for 7.5cm pots and continue to pot them on until the plants are large enough to be moved outdoors. If growing outside, wait until all risk of frost has passed before planting them in their final location.
3. Planting Outdoors: Choose a spot with full sun, ensuring the soil is well-drained. For container planting, use 30cm pots filled with peat-free compost.

Caring for Aubergine Plants

Aubergines thrive at temperatures around 20°C, so it’s essential to maintain warmth, especially in cooler climates. To ensure successful pollination, either gently tap the flowers or grow pollinator-friendly plants nearby. In a greenhouse, pollination may be more challenging, so additional care may be needed.

Pruning: Pinch out the growing tips of the main stems when they reach about 30cm to encourage side shoots. Once the plants begin to flower, provide them with weekly doses of high-potash fertilizer to support fruit development. For tips on how to prune tomatoes for maximum yield, check out our pruning guide.

Watering: Keep the plants well-watered, but avoid waterlogging. Mulching around the base of the plant can help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Staking: Taller varieties may require support as the fruits begin to ripen.

How to Harvest Aubergines

Aubergines are ready for harvest when their skin still has a glossy appearance. Overripe fruit will lose this sheen, so check the variety’s characteristics as some types naturally have less glossy skin. Cut the fruit from the plant with a sharp knife to avoid damaging the plant.

Storing Aubergines

Fresh aubergines should ideally be cooked immediately after harvesting. Some varieties may need to be sliced and salted before cooking to reduce any bitterness.

Common Problems When Growing Aubergines

Aubergines are susceptible to various pests and diseases, particularly when grown in greenhouses. Common issues include aphids, red spider mites, whitefly, and thrips. Blossom-end rot can also affect the fruit, causing it to spoil prematurely. Regularly inspect plants and maintain healthy growing conditions to reduce the likelihood of these issues.

How Long Do Aubergines Take to Grow from Seed?

Aubergines typically take around 6-8 weeks to grow from seed until they are ready for transplanting. The entire growing period from seed to harvest usually spans around 16 to 20 weeks, depending on the variety and climate conditions. Knowing how long aubergines take to grow is essential to planning your garden accordingly. For more tips on growing from seed, explore our guide on how to grow potatoes.

Five Aubergine Varieties to Try

• Solanum melongena ‘Moneymaker’: An early-maturing variety that produces long, dark fruits with excellent flavor.
• Solanum melongena ‘Fairy Tale’: A compact variety perfect for containers, with lavender-colored fruits that have white stripes.
• Solanum melongena ‘Little Fingers’: A compact plant that produces small, finger-sized fruits with a mild, sweet flavor.
• Solanum melongena ‘Melanzana Violetta di Firenze’: An Italian variety with large, ribbed, oval fruits known for their great taste.
• Solanum melongena ‘Asian Bride’: This rare variety features creamy white, finger-sized fruits that develop a pink-purple blush when ripe. Ideal for grilling and stir-frying.

Best and Worst Companion Plants for Aubergines

Good Companions: Aubergines grow well when planted alongside beans, peas, marigolds, and herbs like basil, which help deter pests and improve growth.

Bad Companions: Avoid planting aubergines near fennel, tomatoes, or potatoes. These plants belong to the same nightshade family and share similar blight problems, attracting pests that can damage all nearby crops. Fennel, in particular, inhibits the growth of many plants, including aubergines.

FAQs: How to Grow Aubergines

1. How do I grow aubergines from seed?

• Start aubergine seeds indoors in late winter (January to March) in peat-free compost. Keep them warm in a propagator under grow lights until they develop true leaves, then transplant them into individual pots. Wait until the last frost has passed before moving them outdoors.

2. How long does it take to grow aubergines from seed?

• It takes about 6-8 weeks for aubergines to grow from seed until they can be transplanted. The entire growing cycle, from seed to harvest, usually takes 16 to 20 weeks, depending on the variety and climate.

3. What are the ideal growing conditions for aubergines?

• Aubergines need warm, sunny conditions with temperatures around 20°C. They require a long, warm growing season, so ensure they have plenty of sunlight, well-drained soil, and a warm environment.

4. How do I care for aubergine plants?

• Keep aubergine plants warm (around 20°C), water them regularly (without overwatering), and mulch around the base to conserve moisture. Pinch out the growing tips to promote side shoots, and use a high-potash fertilizer during flowering. Taller varieties may need staking for support.

5. How do I know when my aubergines are ready to harvest?

Harvest aubergines when their skin is still glossy. Overripe fruit will lose its sheen. Use a sharp knife to carefully cut the fruit from the plant. Be sure to check the specific variety’s characteristics, as some may naturally have less glossy skin when ripe.

Now, you’re ready to grow your own beautiful aubergines—aubergine how to grow, and enjoy the many benefits they bring!

By following these tips and providing the right care, anyone can grow healthy, productive aubergine plants, adding a unique flavor and texture to their garden and kitchen alike.

Now, you’re ready to grow your own beautiful aubergines—aubergine how to grow, and enjoy the many benefits they bring!