Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Problems
Aphids and red spider mites . Dieback and bacterial canker are possible,
although less likely in a tunnel than outside. Remove any affected growth with
sterilised secateurs and paint the cuts with a protective compound.
Aubergine (eggplant)
Varieties: 'De Barbentane', 'Long Purple'
Aubergines are very difficult to grow outdoors in the UK, despite claims made by
some seed merchants. Although they are not susceptible to blight like their har-
dier relatives, tomatoes and potatoes, they cannot tolerate sudden fluctuations
in temperature and will fail completely in indifferent summers. They are ideal
contenders for some space in a polytunnel, either in containers or planted into
the beds.
Preparation
Aubergines like full sun and fertile, well-drained soil into which plenty of well-
rotted manure or compost has been dug. A handful of bonemeal will give stronger
plants.
Sowing
Aubergines like exactly the same conditions as peppers and tomatoes. To get a
good fruiting season out of them it's important to start them off early. Sow seeds
thinly, 0.5-1cm deep, in modules from mid-February to the end of March in a
heated propagator or on a warm windowsill indoors. They can't be planted out
in the tunnel until the weather is consistently warm (typically early May), so
keep them somewhere warm and bright until then. If this isn't possible, delay
sowing until late March at the earliest - or consider buying plants from a nursery,
remembering to quarantine them for two weeks (see Chapter 4, page 33).
Move the modules to 9cm pots as soon as they have four true leaves. If the plants
get too big for their pots before conditions are warm enough to plant them into
the soil beds, pot them on into something bigger.
Growing
Set the plants into their final positions 50-60cm apart, and nip off the growing tip
at around 35cm to encourage side-shoots. Keep the soil moist at all times.
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