baby bell aubergines

[angle shades]

is anyone else growing these wonderful plants? i've got lots of fruits, but have no idea when to pick them,how big do the babies have to get before you eat them? :) I've never been able to grow them before, so don't want to pick to soon and them not be ready ::) regards /shades x

[angle shades]

[tim]

Pick small - when shiny?

[saddad]

May give those a try... have grown long thin finger ones (Brinjal Hybrids) in assorted colours... the pale ones gave them the nickname Egg Plants.
;D

[tricia]

I bought a plant this year and would like to grow them in pots again next year. Could someone tell me how to save seeds from Baby Belle Aubergines please?

Tricia

[saddad]

Never tried it myself but by analogy leave one or two fruit on a plant until really ripe... cut open and firkle out seed.. if they come out clean fine if with fleshy pulp you might need to ferment it off like Toms.#

Could look it up at Grow Organic Website if nobody comes up with a real answer...
???

[Tora]

I think Baby Bell is F1 hybrid. Plants from saved seeds will not come true.
Seeds from open pollinated varieties can be saved of course, but flowers have to be isolated because they do cross pollinate.

I planted only open pollinated varieties this year and they have been very slow to grow. Are F1 hybrid vigorous and earlier? I'm getting a bit desparate with aubergines... might try a F1 variety next year to see if they are more reliable... :-\

[angle shades]

this variety is very vigorous but compact if you know what I mean, no red spider mite at all ,  the flowers are covered with bees and any greenfly has been eaten by hoverfly larvae and they are being grown in a greenhouse.They are F1 plants and seem very easy to grow re germination,potting on etc /shades x

BTW Tim is that a Medwyns picture? ;D x