Your comments and tips

15 May 16, Ian (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

If you live in Brisbane or similar subtropical you should be able to grow them year round. Mulch and slightly raised beds to keep soil temperature constant. Also try different varieties. Traditional big black grows best in spring. Try varegated purple or white varieties all year. Heavy fertilising or hot winds can cause dropped fruit. I've found full sun with western shade best position for long growth and moderate fruit. I think the gardenate planting times are a bit restrictive. If you get seedlings they are worth a try all year. They like free draining moderate heavy soil. Like 50%potting mix/ 50% mushroom or worm compost. Any brisbane black soil is good.

Reply or Post a new comment

14 May 16, siobhan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

when are Eggplants in season in Australia?

Reply or Post a new comment

05 Mar 16, Robert Dunbar (Australia - temperate climate)

Can aubergines be frozen for storage.

Reply or Post a new comment

12 Oct 15, Prometheus (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

A quick tip for those trying to grow eggplant in a cool climate with a short growing season - rather than waiting for the end of Spring frost (usually November here), you really should be getting eggplants in the ground by October at the latest. They need a long growing season to produce abundant fruit and the warm weather months in these climates are limited. They take a long time to raise from seed, so are best purchased at nurseries etc. at this time of year. To protect them from Spring frosts one trick is to cut off the top halves of plastic softdrink or mineral water bottles, remove the lid for ventilation, and securely place the top half in the circle of soil surrounding the young seedling. In the event of late frost, this will improve their chances of survival. If growing in containers, moving them to a sheltered, part-sun location (eg. under the dappled shade of a tree) may also help protect them from late frosts. The same can be done for other frost sensitive crops in the nightshade family eg. tomatoes, chillies, capsicum. Happy gardening, P.

Reply or Post a new comment

30 Oct 15, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)

Great advice! Thank you very much :-)

Reply or Post a new comment

03 Jun 15, Sally-Anne Pucek (Australia - temperate climate)

Eggplants are great chopped and added to a spicy curry,

Reply or Post a new comment

19 Jun 15, Roy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Sally-Anne you are so right about using egg plant in curries,the variety I use is the small one just about ready when they are about 10 centimetres long and still have a mauve colour.

Reply or Post a new comment

04 Apr 15, Dave (Australia - temperate climate)

Have had a good feed from my two plants which are still producing fruit. What is likely to happen as it gets colder?

Reply or Post a new comment

09 Mar 15, Robert Tompsett (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted egg plant seeds in my protected part of the garden, and they have grown fine with lots of flowers and I have harvested two fairly large fruits already. But the rest are fairly small and do not seem to be growing. I have fertilized, and i water every second day. will they grow into April month ?? I am in Canberra

Reply or Post a new comment

06 Apr 15, Paysin (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi It's probably ok till April but once it gets cooler it won't do very well. Try staking the plant as it supports it to help produce bigger fruit. Also if there are multiple fruits then they can be a bit smaller.

Reply or Post a new comment