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Fruit EdibleConservatory Greenhouse

Solanum melongena

aubergine

This is the wild species of aubergine from which our cultivated vegetable has been bred. In the wild it is perennial, but in the UK it is treated as an annual as it isn't hardy. It has green leaves and a slightly spiny stem. The flowers are purple and develop into small purple egg-shaped fruits. Many different varieties are available, varying in size, shape and colour

Other common names

badinjan
begoon
see morebringall
brinjal
brown John
brown jolly
egg plant
raging apple
mad apple

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

H1C

Botanical details

Family: Solanaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Solanum can be annuals, perennials, evergreen or deciduous shrubs or twining climbers, with simple or pinnnately lobed leaves and star- or bowl-shaped, 5-lobed flowers with prominent stamens, followed by fleshy fruits
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile moisture-retentive soil in good light. Can grow outside in summer. For more advice see aubergine cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Edible fruit
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse whitefly, glasshouse red spider mite and two-spotted mite

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)

Get involved

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