| Native of India where it was considered poor mans food
originally spiny and bitter. Over the years this has been bred out.
First written record in China 500BC
European herbalists believed if you did not boil in vinegar first you would contract leprosy or your face would turn a “foul black and yellow colour”, you would develope piles and bad breath.
Name Aubergine is French, de4erived from Spanish berengena, which in turn is derived from Arabic al-badingan, from the even older Hindustani bungan.
Like good freed draining well fertilised soil. Not too much nitrogen. weekly or fortnightly liquid fertiliser.
Good heat for at least 2 months of the growing season.
They do well in greenhouses
Stake for support
Like reasonable humidity
Whitefly can be a problem
Avoid wetting foliage when watering
Pick fruit when well formed but before they are too mature
Perennial
Similar requirements as peppers for growing. Need sunshine and warth
10 days to germinate
grow well in pots.
Aubergines
Solanum melongena
May have been called eggplant as the first varieties were small white ovals. Also known as madde apple, melongene, brinjal
Chinese wrote about cultivation in 5th C AD
Originated in India. Arrived in Europe via Islamic world in the 8th century.
Treated with suspicion (much like the potato) as a member of the solanum family.
Can be purple/black but also available in golden, green, white, striped. Long or short.
No need to salt to remove bitterness if eaten young. Not hugely high in vitamins and minerals. Likes fertile, well drained soil. Full sun. Frost tender. Protect from wind. Avoid high nitrogenous fertilisers. Keep moist and weed free.
Eggplant
Solanaceae
Self pollinating
Isolation 50foot
10 plants
seed life 6 years
Seed is harvesting from overipe fruit
Solanum melangend
Matures 75-90 days from transpant
Small varieties “golden egg” suitable for containers.
20-25 C
7-14 days to germinate
60 cm apart. |
