Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
These are De Barbentane aubergines, grown in a polytunnel, and they’re cropping well — lovely long, slender fruits and not too leafy, which helps. I find this variety has a good balance of fruit and growth, and it’s one of the better ones I’ve grown.
I grow them with compost mulch, no feeding, and give them plenty of water — as much as tomatoes or cucumbers. I remove side shoots to keep a few main stems, usually three or four, and take off lower leaves so the plants don’t get too crowded.
They had aphids in May and early June, but I noticed more ladybirds and larvae turning up, and that dealt with them naturally. I just helped early on by squirting water on the leaves to knock some off.
It’s simple, really — regular observation, compost, and allowing the plants to thrive.
filmed 18th July by Carly Dutton-Edwards
#nodig #charlesdowding #growyourown #aubergines #polytunnel #compostmulch #ladybirds #summerharvest
These are De Barbentane aubergines, grown in a polytunnel, and they’re cropping well — lovely long, slender fruits and not too leafy, which helps. I find this variety has a good balance of fruit and growth, and it’s one of the better ones I’ve grown.
I grow them with compost mulch, no feeding, and give them plenty of water — as much as tomatoes or cucumbers. I remove side shoots to keep a few main stems, usually three or four, and take off lower leaves so the plants don’t get too crowded.
They had aphids in May and early June, but I noticed more ladybirds and larvae turning up, and that dealt with them naturally. I just helped early on by squirting water on the leaves to knock some off.
It’s simple, really — regular observation, compost, and allowing the plants to thrive.
filmed 18th July by Carly Dutton-Edwards
#nodig #charlesdowding #growyourown #aubergines #polytunnel #compostmulch #ladybirds #summerharvest
