Pot Aubergine Emerald Isle is a very compact, low growing, fast growing aubergine variety. It produces a prolific amount of delicious, non bitter, ovale-shaped, small light green fruits with dark green stripes. Very well suited for growing in large pots, square foot gardens and large flower pots. Needs a very sunny plot with some shelter against the wind. This variety has no spikes and that means that it's very easy to grow and harvest. Harvest the fruits when they're about 8 - 10 cm in size.
Aubergine is a very healthy and versatile vegetable. Aubergine contains a.o.: vitamin B1, B2, B6, B11 and C. And the minerals: sodium, potassium, selenium, calcium, phosphor, iron, magnesium and zinc. And a lot of fibres, a tiny amount of fat and carbohydrates and gluten. You can cook, bake, stew, steam, cook in the oven, grill, deep-fry, stir-fry, roast, barbecue and fill them with minced meat or rice. Make a delicious ratatouille, soup or mixed vegetable dish with aubergine. Aubergine is very delicious in combination with: Olive oil, cheese, onions, parsley, basil, potatoes, oregano, beef, lamb, chicken, minced beef, eggs, goat chees, red pepper, pork, coconut, Cayenne pepper, pasta and vegetables like: paprika, lettuce, courgette, tomatoes, peas and leek. Non hardy annual. Height: 55 cm.
Indoor sowing: end of February - beginning of April
Germination: 10 - 20 days
Germination temp: 21 - 25°C
Sowing depth: ½ cm
Transplanting when the seedlings are approx. 7½ - 10 cm
Transplanting outdoors: middle of May - beginning of June
Plant spacing: 50 - 75 cm
Planting position: sunny - (heated) Greenhouse
Harvestperiod: May - September
Sow indoors from the end of February in seperate pots filled with moist moist potting soil. Sow per pot 2 seeds about ½ cm deep and cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Put the pots away at 21 - 25 °C. Keep the seeds moist, warm and light. Keep the temperature as even as possible and don't let the temperature drop during the night. Put the seedlings, when they're approx. 7½ - 10 cm in size in larger separate pots. Harden the seedlings of by putting them for about 10 - 14 days outside during the day and putting them back indoors during the night, from the beginning of May. Aubergine heats cold, so put the pots outdoors in a (not) heated greenhouse or glasshouse. You can also grow them on a very sunny, warm, sheltered spot on the southside. Mostly you get lesser fruits on your plants. Keep moist, pest free and give the plants a good support.
To aid the developement of fruits, you should water them regurlarly and add some liquid tomato fertilizer togehter with the water. You can impregnate your aubergines by using an old electric toothbrush. Pick the fruits regurlarly to enhance the growing of new fruits. Harvest the fruits by cutting them with sciccors. You should harvest before the shine disappears on the skin. Keep aubergine outside the fridge on a cool, dark and dry spot. You can keep them fresh for a week this way. You shouldn't keep aubergines in a fridge because they rot from low temperatures. Don't let the temperature drop under 16 °C. You can freeze aubergines.
