Aubergine Bonica F1 GRAFTED plants - ORGANIC

Planting:

Grow the plants by transplanting the plug plants into trays or pots with a diameter of 8 to 13cm (3 to 5in), filled with compost. Attention: When transplanting grafted plants, do not bury the graft point! Place the plants in a warm and bright location. Water regularly.

Planting in the ground should be done around mid-May or in June, when the risk of frost has passed. Plant the aubergine in full sun, in a sheltered location. It thrives in well-drained and rich soils. As aubergine is a hungry vegetable, it will be necessary to add well-rotted compost the preceding autumn. In cooler regions, it is advisable to plant the aubergine in a greenhouse.

Soak the root ball in water for a few moments before planting. Space the plants 50cm (20in) apart in all directions. Dig a hole, place your plant with the graft point at ground level, then cover with fine soil. Water thoroughly.

At the beginning of cultivation, protect the plants with a mini-tunnel or a frame to gain a few degrees.

Aubergine can also be grown in a pot, as long as it is placed in the sun. In this case, you can install the plug plants directly into the pot.

Maintenance:

Regularly hoe and weed. Remove the suckers that develop at the base of the plant.

Water regularly, making sure not to wet the foliage to avoid the appearance of fungal diseases such as mildew. Drip irrigation is suitable.

Pruning will be necessary to promote fruit development. In July, cut the main stem above the 2nd flower. Repeat this operation on the new shoots that develop. You can expect to harvest an average of 7 to 8 fruits per plant.

Diseases and pests:

Aubergine is susceptible, just like tomatoes, to mildew. This is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Phytophthora infestans. Mildew develops in hot and humid weather. Small spots appear, white on the undersides of the leaves and green-grey on the top. To limit the risk, space the plants sufficiently and avoid watering the foliage. In terms of rotation, wait 4 years before growing a plant from the Solanaceae family in the same location and do not cultivate them in neighbouring rows. If necessary, spray with Bordeaux mixture or preparations such as horsetail decoction or garlic manure.

The harvest can also be disrupted by the Colorado potato beetle, an insect of the coleoptera order. You will recognise it by its yellow head and its yellow and black striped body. The best solution, although a bit time-consuming, is to remove them as they appear. As a preventive measure, sow blue flax seeds between your rows of aubergines. Sow from April to June in shallow furrows. In addition to its repellent effect against Colorado potato beetles, flax will brighten up your vegetable garden with its pretty little blue flowers.

Finally, you can protect young plants from slugs and snails by placing ashes or coffee grounds nearby, to be renewed in case of rain.