[tosca100]

We have one for hardening plants off. OH took no chances and secured it to the wall with big screw fixings.

[Benandbill]

Nice one Yorkie 

[Chrysalis]

Just got our plastic greenhouse today and have cleared (well, nearly!) the patch to put it on. Yes, we are making sure it's anchored and slightly sheltered, but with lots of light and not in the way of anything else etc.etc. 
But we have also got our aubergine seeds to start off indoors.  So glad to hear it'll be possible to grow them here in the Midlands....

Getting itchy fingers to start things off now.  Seed compost tomorrow, hurrah!!

[Sid]

Last year we bought 2 aubergine plants from garden centre,put them into two organic grow bags standing up and placed them in a pergular on a south facing wall.
We had 4 fruit from 1 plant and 2 from another,they need loads of water,but that was it really they had no pest problems and produced more fruit but the cold nights got them.

Have bought seed this year (black beauty) and have started them off in propergator ,and will bo the same again as last year.

[Benandbill]

It's a month on now and I'm pleased to say I've got 12 pretty healthy lookin seedlings with leaves that look quite leggy and I think I'm going to have to re pot them.  Gaawd knows how I'm going to find room for them all in my spare room for 3 more mths though, and also, I've bought a small palcky greenhouse wth no shelving for the back garden that I'm somehow going to grow them in.

I realise I'll probably have to give some away, as 12 healthy plants competing for space with tomatoes will be tricky to say the least.  My question is, should I transplant them further into grow bags when the time comes or, just leave them or grow them in bigger pots?  I assume from what I've read so far that they grow upright?

Excited!! 

[operabunny]

I use the black flower buckets from the local florist (£1 for 10) as they are the perfect size for aubs, toms & cukes because they allow more root depth and are completely stable. Fill with compost mixed with some chicken pellets and water gel and they need very little attention 

[Benandbill]

Thanks operabunny.  Are these black flower buckets bottomless then?  I bought something different for my toms that you stick into the grow bag with a seperate ring for watering that feeds the lower roots and an inner ring for the plant food.  These were 11 for 3 in my local garden centre.  I did spend some time umming and arring over whether to buy them as it seemed expensive but I thought as long as they last a lifetime, which they will, then it's fair do's.

[operabunny]

No, they have bottoms - they usually hold water!
I just make a few drainage holes and use them as stand alone plant pots.

[missmenace]

I'm intrigued by the flower buckets idea. May have to go and have a chat with our local florist if they are selling decent buckets that cheap. :o

[mumofstig]

IMO You are more likely to get them from big supermarkets that sell flowers

[missmenace]

Thats a brilliant idea, thank you! I shall be a little bit charming and a little bit cheeky next time we go to the supermarket and see where that gets me.

[shedgirl]

I always start my seeds at the beginning of march, and keep them in the conservatory. They grow like mad and have never had any problems, our neighbouring allotment put theirs outside last year and they did really well. Think I will stick to conservatory though, but they need loads of water spraying when it gets hot. We are in the Midlands.