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Black beauty aubergines, no fruit?

Outcycling1Outcycling1 Posts: 10
in Fruit & veg
hi, this year I went a little nuts on growing aubergine plants namely black beauty. I’ve got around 25 plants growing. Some in a green house, some on a south facing patio and some in my kitchen extension in front of glass bifolds. They have all grown well but kitchen ones look the best and are massive healthy looking plants. All grown in multi purpose compost, large pots and being fed. The flower set but then fall off and no fruits?? I try to self polinate them and open the kitchen bifolds as much as pos for the bees to get in but of all the plants it looks like I have one fruit forming!? (In the kitchen lot) What’s going on? Tried moneymaker before a few years back but under worse conditions and they formed fruits. I’m at a loss.
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  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731
    Flowers will fall off when they're not pollinated. When you say you self-pollinate them, what are you doing?
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933

    I have found aubergines more difficult to grow to fruit setting. I have grown Black Beauty which did fruit but not prolifically. Aubergine seem to enjoy really hot weather, plenty of water and regular feeding as we all do! They do best against a South facing fence or wall, it is also usual I think for the early flowers not to set, especially when grown indoors.

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    I tried them last year, same problem, but they did set fruit after a bumble bee found them (in the GH). I wonder if they are one of those plants that need a 'buzz' to aid pollen release, and remember hearing somewhere that an electric toothbrush could be helpful, though not sure of the details for use :D
  • Outcycling1Outcycling1 Posts: 10
    Thanks guys. Self polinate I’ve tried using a Cotten wool bud just rubbing around in there. Unlike peppers though there doesn’t seem to be much pollen?

  • Outcycling1Outcycling1 Posts: 10
    Seems a bit of a genetic design fault if they can’t pollinate very well! 
  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731
    Joyce is right, aubergines can sometimes be stubborn. You need to be careful when trying to assist pollination. It's easy to damage the flower's internal bits poking things around inside. Like tomatoes, a flick with the fingers should be enough.
  • Outcycling1Outcycling1 Posts: 10
    I’ve been doing the finger flick pollination method as well so by the sounds of it I’m not doing anything particularly wrong. They are just being Resistant to fruit. Hay ho. Thanks all.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    I tried some grafted aubergines last year and had a terrific crop, after trying for years with various seeds, most of which only produced between zero and two fruit, right at the end of the season and some of those often got botrytis.  Some grafted veg are of questionable use (eg tomato/potato plants) but for things which generally find the UK growing season too short (eg aubergines, melons, capsicum) they work well, if a little expensive.
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Outcycling1Outcycling1 Posts: 10
    Never heard of grafted veg!? I’ll look it up thks 

  • Outcycling1Outcycling1 Posts: 10
    Blimey, expensive plants to buy but like the idea of 5he challenge so will graft my own next year! :)
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