Kitchen Garden Forum

I grew Moneymaker last year and still have seeds left. They grew copiously but the skins didn't seem particularly shiny (possibly due to weather ??). As I've just been given some Black Beauty seeds I'm wondering whether this is a more glossy skinned variety or is in any way better and worth growing instead.

Hi Primrose,

I just purchased Black Beauty seeds and this is what they look like:

http://www.cottagegardener.com/index.cf ... 148584.cfm

As you can see they do indeed look like a glossy-skinned variety. It is my first year growing aubergine (what I now refer to as eggplant since I moved to Canada), so unfortunately I cannot offer any growing tips, but good luck!

cheers,

Fraser

According to the T&M seed catalogue the Moneymaker aubergine produces 'long, slender,matt purple fruits' . You did well to get results last year Primrose, mine were a failure and I'm down in the Southwest UK. I think as bunuel says, black beauty is a more traditional glossy type, I'm going to try Black Enorma and am hoping for a good summer which is a must for aubergines, good luck.

I bought mine late, as plants in Homebase's sale. They had 2 lovely fruit - which were duly decimated by blight! Hopefully, it will be better this year.

I think I read somewhere that you should pick them when they are glossy, they go dull when they are over ripe.

I only got one good sized fruit from eight plants last year, but I keep trying. The flowers look very attractive even if you don't get fruit. I've just bought a packet from a fruit and veg market in Thailand, so will see what they do (sulk probably). We are due for a nice warm summer aren't we?

I've had little success with aubergines in the past. I have an unheated greenhouse and they never seemed to have enough time to ripen. But I bought an early maturing variety last year called 'Diamond' from Plants of Distinction and they were brilliant. Long and slender rather than the usual shape.
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Granny