AUBERGINE - LISTADA DE GANDIA

 Organic Aubergine LISTADA DE GANDIA

        20 Seeds Pack   

Previous studies have shown that the aubergine was first domesticated somewhere in China and India. However it is only recently that taxonomists have resolved the status of the wild species that are related to the cultivated aubergine. Many of them are found in the savannahs of Africa. 

Spanish heirloom Listada De Gandia eggplants, botanically classified as Solanum melongena, is a name given to some different varieties of eggplants that are a part of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family along with tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. Also known as Pandora Striped Rose, Purple Rain, Graffiti, Shooting Stars, and the Fairytale eggplant. 

Listada De Gandia plants are small and teardrop in shape, ranging from 7-15 centimetres in length, depending on the variety. The outer skin is shiny and smooth and is striped with violet with ivory white. Ornamental in appearance, reliable in production and very thin skins. The inner flesh is cream to pale white and has small, edible seeds. 

PLANTING & GROWING

Soaking needs to be done at least a few hours before planting, and preferably overnight. To prevent damping off when starting seeds indoors, it’s essential that you disinfect all of your plastic grow trays, seed cells, and seedling tray covers before you reuse them.  

Aubergines or eggplants take up to six months from sowing to be ready to harvest, which is the main reason for starting them off early in the growing season. Can be grown outside in the UK, they rarely do well except in very mild areas or during very good summers, they are better grown in a greenhouse. The ideal temperatures should be between 21 and 30°C (70 and 85°F), and they grow slowly during colder weather, like fellow nightshades peppers and tomatoes. 

Sow seeds in late January through to early March in a heated propagator or on a windowsill. Once large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings and pot up in 75cm (3″) pots. Later pot on until planting them out into the border (once all risk of frost has passed), grow bags or 20–25 cm (8–10 inch) pots. 

If planting outside and having already been hardened off, the plants can be spaced 60–90cm apart to allow room to grow and good air circulation.

When they reach 30–40cm in height, pinch out the growing points to encourage bushier growth. Allow just four or five fruits to develop per plant – any more and they will be smaller and less likely to ripen.

Potatoes, spinach  peppers, both sweet and hot, make good companion plants, as they have the same growing needs and are susceptible to the same pests and diseases. Tomatoes are often used as eggplant companions. Again, be sure not to shade the eggplant.

To help reduce disease, do not plant eggplants or other tomato-family crops in the same location more than once every three or four years.