Historically the plan for 2023 was to get the area for the Superdome dug over and weed free, that did not happen instead I got an offer of a potting shed and thus the area for the Superdome became the location for the potting shed.
I did manage to find a useful UK based YouTube video about growing Aubergine's in the UK, see below.
In 2023 I managed to get one Aubergine, they are my nemesis, but I will try again in 2026 and perhaps some in the greenhouse, if I can reclaim it and get enough mobility back to get in and out of it.
The plan for 2023 was to get the area for the Superdome dug over and weed free, that did not happen instead I got an offer of a potting shed and thus the area for the Superdome became the location for the potting shed.
I did manage to find a useful UK based YouTube video about growing Aubergine's in the UK, see below.
In 2023 I managed to get one Aubergine, they are my nemesis, but I will try again this year and perhaps some in the greenhouse.
This champion trio of Aubergine 'Green Knight', 'Violet Knight' and 'White Knight' not only looks fantastic in the greenhouse, but also looks great on the plate and offers a rewarding variety of flavours and textures for all your recipes.
The ‘Knight’ collection bear slender, smooth-skinned fruits in green, white and deep purple which are suitable for both typical Mediterranean dishes as well as Asian cuisine. Early to mature and high-yielding, fruits are borne on compact, disease-resistant and well-branching plants which are perfect for container-growing in the greenhouse.
Aubergines are becoming increasingly popular with chefs who recognise their versatility in the kitchen – they can be sauteed, grilled, baked or fried and readily soak up flavours, providing a tasty and satisfying substitute for meat in vegetarian and vegan dishes. Height: 75cm (30”). Spread: 60cm (24”).
Aubergine 'Three Knight Recipe Collection' F1comprises 9 seeds, 3 of each of the following varieties:
Aubergine 'Green Knight' F1- slender, jade-green fruits which are especially useful as an ingredient in Asian stir fries and curries, with firm flesh and a mild-sweet flavour.
Aubergine 'Violet Knight' F1- long, banana-like fruits with a smooth, deep purple skin.
Aubergine 'White Knight' F1- Asian-type variety producing creamy-white fruits about 20cm long with thin skins and firm flesh.
The original plan for 2022 was to get the area for the Superdome dug over and weed free, that did not happen I did manage to get the two Square Foot Gardening beds half installed during late 2021.
Superdome Dimensions, the plan now is to get the area for the Superdome area dug and ready over the Winter months for the 2023 growing season.
I did manage to find a useful UK based YouTube video about growing Aubergine's in the UK, see below.
An exciting variety producing high yields of versatile small fruits, which are highly attractive, with striped skins. Fruits are great tasting, having a firm flesh.
Plants are compact and bushy – making them ideal for pots and containers. Can be grown in a sunny sheltered location outdoors.
Sow January - April Harvest August - October
As the time of posting, I have some aubergines that look like the photograph and I have not harvested them yet.
Melons sown on the 15th March 2020. I think those Amarilli Oro Melons on the right need potting on! The Sugar Baby on the left are catching up but the Rugoso di Consenza Giallo seeds from Suttons have not germinated at all, which is a little disappointing to be honest.
The Joe Mills Grow With Me 2022 - Ganovese Basil was sown on the 15th March and from the looks as if it can also do with potting on.
On the 25th March I sowed all 11 Seeds as that's what was in the packet - Aubergine Jewel Marble F1 - Mr Fothergill'sthat was supposed to contain 10 Seeds. I put a Black Beauty in the corner cell, but I'm still waiting for it to show its head. These were the first Aubergines to germinate and show from the three varieties I sowed that day.
Only one of the 12 Aubergine Long Purple - Kings Seeds that came with a copy of Kitchen Garden also sown on the 25th March is just breaking the surface of the cell.
With sub zero temperatures and frost last week and overnight lows of 1 - 3C forecast which could still drop lower, my babies above will be staying in the house and not going out to the unheated Space Saver Greenhouse just yet a while.
Now this does cause a little problem because I can only get away with having so much in doors before it will become a bone of contention with my good lady and daughter.
Beetroots can be sown outdoors under cloche in April, so on that basis I have started some off in modules that will go into the Unheated Space Saver Greenhouse. Today so far has been dry 13C but very windy I filled one of the 40 cell CHM Ltd or Containerwise HD Plastic modules with a mixture or Golden Eye and Rainbow beetroots, and then sowed another tray of wilko Cylindra Beetroot seeds. It was very windy and the wind took the potting tray whist I was taking the tray of beetroots to the greenhouse, so I now have beetroot seeds over the lawn!
Last year I did the Charles Dowding multi-sow approach thing, but think sowing with mates didn't really work out very well for me, so have gone back to one seed per module cell. I will be planting and direct sowing into one of my 105 hole planting membrane and trying to sow in succession a third of a bed at a time in order to not have to process all the beetroots in one go as it can get a bit daunting and time consuming to pickle that amount of beetroots in one hit.
The cells were filled with un-sieved Clover compost and a sieved fine layer of Clover was put over the seeds in the cells. They were watered with water that had been standing for a few days and was not cold and then placed in the Space Saver greenhouse with a propagator lid placed over them. I will look in a few days to see how they are doing.
The Cauliflowers got hit when we had the spring heat wave a few weeks ago and only one Andromeda remains so I decided as it survived to sow a new tray with all the 11 seeds that were left in the pack.
Again during the hot spell a few weeks ago many of the Brussels Sprouts turned their toes up so I have sown a tray of 12 Brodie F1. I need to keep an eye on the greenhouse temperatures and remove the Brassicas as the heat increases in there during the day, as at 9am on a sunny day this time of year the temperature will already be between 20C - 22C.
Andromeda F1 Cauliflower & Brodie F1 Brussels Sprouts
Broccoli didn't get hit as bad as the sprouts and Cauliflower
The Cabbage also didn't get it as bad, once I have potted on the Cabbage & Broccoli into vending machine cups I will sow some more of each.
I've purchased some more of these spring clips as they are so useful for fixing the debris netting to the blue water pipe hoops. With more fox activity I will be netting up more vegetables this year than normal, as I have the additional beds on plot 1 now to play with. Plus the two Square Foot Gardening bed not using weed membrane need to be netted to keep Basil and his mates at bay.
Sown 11 Seeds as that's what was in the packet - Aubergine Jewel Marble F1 - 10 Seeds - Was £2.49 Now £1 - Mr Fothergilll's .
An exciting variety producing high yields of versatile small fruits, which are highly attractive, with striped skins. Fruits are great tasting, having a firm flesh.
Plants are compact and bushy – making them ideal for pots and containers. Can be grown in a sunny sheltered location outdoors.
In July 2021 I posted this on the Mind Your Peas and Cues Facebook Group
I’ve never grown Aubergines before but I want to grow them next year for a friend who makes Chutney and sells it for charity. I’m in the South East of England and I’m looking for varieties that I can grow outside in a 2.4m x 1.2m bed and NOT in a greenhouse.
I’m looking for variety recommendations that will work well outside in the open.
There are many varieties out there being sold by UK seed companies and so far from my limited research on prices we are looking at prices ranges like 8 seeds for £4.99 to 300 seeds for 99p.
The other thing I have not seen on any web site yet is what spacing and row spacing you would put these in when planting in the ground or a bed and not in a greenhouse or polytunnel.
I did manage to find a useful UK based YouTube video about them, below.
Based on information I got from that posting and other Facebook Groups and from the video above plus the RHS Advice Page for Aubergine and some desk study, I decided to go for Black Beauty and to grow them in a Superdome Tunnel on Plot 1 and also trial some out in the open, perhaps in the square foot gardening beds that I have planned for 2021.
That was the plan the reality was that I only managed to get the Square Foot Gardening beds half installed during 2021 and I didn't manage to get the area for the Superdome dug over and weed free. I did sow three varieties of Aubergine, but I learnt that it was way too late and that I need to get them going much earlier in 2022.
An exciting variety producing high yields of versatile small fruits, which are highly attractive, with striped skins. Fruits are great tasting, having a firm flesh.
Plants are compact and bushy – making them ideal for pots and containers. Can be grown in a sunny sheltered location outdoors.
I've never grown Aubergine before but assume they will need heat for as long as possible. I'm still a long way off from having the Solar Tunnel bed ready for Aubergines but lets get the plants sown.
15 x Long Purple from Kings Seeds (from a Magazine)
Currently sitting on top of the fridge freeze in the Kitchen in the warmth of the house awaiting germination. Then by time they are ready to be potted up we will be beyond the last frost date for the greenhouse.
In July I posted this on the Mind Your Peas and Cues Facebook Group
I’ve never
grown Aubergines before but I want to grow them next year for a friend who
makes Chutney and sells it for charity. I’m in the South East of England and
I’m looking for varieties that I can grow outside in a 2.4m x 1.2m bed and NOT
in a greenhouse.
I’m looking
for variety recommendations that will work well outside in the open.
There are
many varieties out there being sold by UK seed companies and so far from my
limited research on prices we are looking at prices ranges like 8 seeds for
£4.99 to 300 seeds for 99p.
The other
thing I have not seen on any web site yet is what spacing and row spacing you
would put these in when planting in the ground or a bed and not in a greenhouse
or polytunnel.
Click Here to read the replies and information I got from the post above
I did manage to find a useful UK based YouTube video about them, below.
Based on information I got from that posting and other Facebook Groups and from the video above plus the RHS Advice Page for Aubergine and some desk study, I decided to go for Black Beauty and to grow them in a Superdome Tunnel on Plot 1 and also trial some out in the open, perhaps in the square foot gardening beds that I have planned for 2021.
I would have ordered Clara and I can see now why the Americans call them egg plants
I had to order the New! varietyAubergine Green Knight F1 - from Mr Fothergill's as it slender, smooth and is a "jade green" variety that just looked so interesting and I'm hoping will surprise my friend Arif who is going to show me how to cook with them.
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