Aubergine Classic hybrid F1

Planting:

Grow the plants by transplanting the plug plants into trays or 8 to 13 cm (3 to 5in) pots filled with compost. Place them in a warm and sunny location. Water regularly.

Planting in the ground should be done around mid-May or June (from the end of April in mild climates), once the risk of frost has passed. Plant the aubergine in full sun, in a sheltered spot. It prefers well-drained and rich soils. As the aubergine is a hungry vegetable, it will be necessary to add well-rotted compost the previous 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 the root ball and cover with fine soil. Water thoroughly. At the beginning of the growing season, protect the plants with a mini-tunnel or a frame to gain a few degrees.

Aubergines can also be grown in pots, as long as they are 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, being careful not to wet the foliage to avoid the appearance of fungal diseases such as mildew. Drip irrigation is well suited.

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. This way, you can expect to harvest an average of 7 to 8 fruits per plant.

Diseases and pests:

The Aubergine is susceptible, like the tomato, to mildew. This is a fungal disease caused by the Phytophthora infestans fungus. Mildew develops in hot and humid weather. Small spots appear, white on the underside of the leaves and green-grey on the top. To limit the risk, space the plants adequately and avoid watering the foliage. In terms of crop rotation, wait 4 years before growing a plant from the Solanaceae family in the same location and do not grow 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 being repellent to 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.