[kezlou]

Hi everyone sorry to bother you all with a silly question.

 I am currently attempting to grow aubergines. yay one is sprouting!!!!

 Just wondering can you grow them in a mini greenhouse. Its not very high maybe a two feet high or so (maybe a bit less). I bought it out of Lidl a couple of months ago and haven't used it yet.
So i was hoping to plant them out in the mini and hopefully they would spread and grow outwards so to speak.  :oops:

 Would this work and if so when would be the best time to put them out and if i need to feed them like tomatoes?

If not can i use the mini greenhouse for sweet peppers instead?

Thank you for any advice i really appreciate it.
 

[BigPaddy]

Hi kezlou, I am planning to do the same with aubergines, chilis and peppers, I bought two from Lidl.

Mine wont be out til next month. You will need to feed them.

I dont see why it wont work, but I guess we will find out.

[gobs]

Well, depends on variety, but most of either of those plants will easily grow to 2 feet hight and there is the problem, yes they can spread about, etc. but the thing is if the foliage touches the cover it's asking for either sun or frost burn depending on the weather.

So I'd think, not the best arrangement. They need a bit more head room, methinks.

[BigPaddy]

I think they do have more headroom in the middle than 2 feet, I thought it was more 3-4 foot. So its a case of planting the bigger stuff centrally.

[charley1980]

These can get quite high, but I think you'll be fine starting them off in this! By the time they get too big for it you shoul be able to move them outside anyway!!

Are you growing your aubergines under a propagator at the moment?

[kezlou]

I have two in the propagator and one just one the window sill which is about three inches high at the moment.

 I won't be putting them outside for a good while yet as in the north were still blighted by snow unfortunately grrrr

 Can Aubergines last outside if warm enough because i have just a fleece for them?
Don't have a big green house only a yard

[Martin]

I grew some outside successfully in 2006 when it was hot, but they failed miserably last year.

[Stripey_cat]

Your yard, if it gets the sun, will be a good bit warmer and less windy than open ground, so you'll stand a better chance.  Put them tucked up against the south-facing wall.  If you can fleece them overnight whenever it drops below about 15C (night minimum!), that'll help too.  Don't put them out, though, until all frost risk has passed.

[kezlou]

Thanks for the advice Stripey cat, hopefully the fleece will work fingers crossed.

Wow nice one Martin for growing them outside! Hope i can do that too.

Just checked the forecast the weathers going to be pretty bad till May, more likely to be June by the time they get planted out the way the weathers going.

[gobs]

Well, you don't plant frost tender plants out till June, anyway or any year.

Aubergine needs 25-28C to do well, generally not suited to outdoor growing in the UK. There are varieties now offered, that should do well on a sun trap of a patio.

But you have nothing to lose, just don't have high hopes.

I find they just stop growing when it sinks to around 20C, let alone fruit.

[Stripey_cat]

We managed them on the front step in Cornwall a few years back - day time average was well up in the 20s, and we covered them at night.  The stones and walls worked quite well as a heat sink, so I was thinking a yard might do the same.

[gobs]

Yes, that's the idea, needs to be a sunny warm place.