Aubergine Seeds - Pinstripe F1

The Aubergine Pinstripe Plant is a compact and visually striking choice that's ideal for container or pot cultivation. With spine-free silvery grey foliage, its attractive purple flowers are followed by abundant 90g (3oz) creamy white striped purple fruits that grow throughout the season. Pinstripe Aubergine fruits can be picked small, making them well suited to UK growing conditions, or left to grow to full size for a delicious bitter free flavour.

• Pack size: 6 seeds
• Time to germination: 14-21 days
• When to sow inside: January - April
• When to sow outside: April - June
• Spacing: 60cm +
• Soil preference: Fertile, well-drained
• Light preference: Full sun
• When to harvest: July - October

How to grow Pinstripe Aubergine from seed

Aubergines, or eggplants, belong to the same family as peppers and tomatoes and should be grown in much the same manner. They are, however, slightly more cold-sensitive which will halt the plant's growth, reducing its vigour, resistance to pests and disease, as well as its yields. As such, for a successful experience, we recommend growing aubergines under glass only.

When sowing your Aubergine Pinstripe Seeds (shallowly), consider the temperature they will be exposed to. 21-24 degrees is ideal, however once germinated, aubergine seeds can tolerate somewhat lower temperatures. After germination, place on a sunny windowsill or, as we recommend, under LED lights to grow on and develop in 8cm thin-wall pots before planting out in late spring, pot and all.

What to feed your Pinstripe Aubergine Plants

Aubergine plants are heavy feeders and enjoy free draining moist soil, loaded with plenty of organic matter. Add a few handfuls of fish blood and bone meal along with some volcanic rock dust to give them a rich, balanced and diverse diet for strong growth and cropping over the season. This diet will also help the plants to form strong, well-developed immunity.

Keeping pests away

Pinstripe Aubergines are fairly pest and disease resistant, however, they should be rotated every couple of years and given plenty of space as they don’t like humidity. It's for this reason, we plant them with the tomatoes near the open greenhouse door, leaving the moisture-loving cucumbers to thrive in the humid back corners.

When ordering Pinstripe Aubergine Seeds from Grow Sow Greener, you will receive free nasturtium seeds. A beautiful plant that add interest and beauty in its own right and is a great companion for aubergines.  Growing nasturtiums a distance away from your veg will help lure aphids away, whilst giving you delicious red flowers and peppery young leaves for adding to salads.