Aubergine - Black Beauty - 15 seeds

Aubergine Black Beauty

Indoor sowing

• Sow seeds indoors from late February to April.
• Fill 7.5cm pots with moist seed compost.
• Sow one seed per pot, pushing it 1cm deep into the compost.
• Water well and cover with a propagator lid or cling film.
• Keep at a temperature of 18-21°C (65-70°F) until the seedlings emerge.
• Remove the cover and place the pots on a bright windowsill or under grow lights.
• Transplant the seedlings to individual 10cm pots when they have two true leaves.
• Water regularly and feed with a high-potassium fertiliser every two weeks.

Outdoor sowing

• Sow seeds outdoors from late April to early June.
• Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil.
• Sow the seeds thinly in rows 45cm apart.
• Push the seeds 1cm deep into the soil and cover with a thin layer of compost or fine soil.
• Water the soil well and keep moist until the seedlings emerge.
• Thin the seedlings to 45cm apart when they are large enough to handle.
• Water regularly and feed with a high-potassium fertiliser every two weeks.

Growing

• Keep the soil moist and weed-free throughout the growing season.
• Water the plants deeply once a week, or more often in hot, dry weather.
• Pinch out the growing tips of the plants when they reach 30cm tall to encourage branching.
• Support the plants with stakes or cages to keep them upright and prevent the heavy fruit from touching the ground.
• Harvest the aubergines when they are firm, glossy and fully ripe.