Now THAT'S what you call big!!

[Squash64]

These aubergines were being sold in a local greengrocers in Sicily.  The shopkeeper didn't seem to think there was anything unusual about their size. 

[Squash64]

[chriscross1966]

thats not an aubergine..... he's painted a pumpkin purple!...... I hope you got one to harvest some seed :D

chrisc

[saddad]

I have some large ones... but they are about half that  :)

[Squash64]

thats not an aubergine..... he's painted a pumpkin purple!...... I hope you got one to harvest some seed :D

chrisc

LOL, they do look a bit like purple pumpkins don't they!
Neither of us are very keen on eating aubergines so I didn't buy any - I didn't think of getting one for the seed.  Maybe next time.

[Squash64]

I have some large ones... but they are about half that  :)

Even half that size must be massive!

[rosebud]

 Hi Squash, where did you go in Italy.  Rosebud. ;D

[GRACELAND]

 :)

[shirlton]

I love aubergine but although the plants look healthy they never come to anything. I reckon you would have to pay excess baggage to bring one of them home(Thats of course if you fly)

[Squash64]

Hi Squash, where did you go in Italy.  Rosebud. ;D

We go to Sicily, near Agrigento.  That's where my husband comes from.

[Squash64]

I love aubergine but although the plants look healthy they never come to anything. I reckon you would have to pay excess baggage to bring one of them home(Thats of course if you fly)

Yes, we do fly Shirl.  Takes too long by road or train.
In the past I have filled my suitcase with peppers from there because they are so delicious, but I don't think I'd bother with the aubergines because we don't like them much. 

I had one plant this year, which produced one aubergine!  I gave it to my son.

[Squash64]

This is the best one I've grown, from a packet of mixed T & M seeds in 2005.

[shirlton]

It beats mine Betty ;D

[1066]

I think that photo needs a speech bubble with some dry/witty comment  ;D

Just can't think of anything funny right now to suggest   ::)

[Squash64]

I think that photo needs a speech bubble with some dry/witty comment  ;D

Just can't think of anything funny right now to suggest   ::)

You're right, but I can't think of anything that wouldn't get me moderated!

[1066]

I think that photo needs a speech bubble with some dry/witty comment  ;D

Just can't think of anything funny right now to suggest   ::)

You're right, but I can't think of anything that wouldn't get me moderated!

;D  ;D  ;D

We'll just have to wait and see .........

[thifasmom]

I think that photo needs a speech bubble with some dry/witty comment  ;D

Just can't think of anything funny right now to suggest   ::)

You're right, but I can't think of anything that wouldn't get me moderated!

;D  ;D  ;D

We'll just have to wait and see .........

i can think of some choice words but they aren't funny >:(. i want to successfully grow aubergines too :'(.

[flowerlady]

i can think of some choice words but they aren't funny >:(. i want to successfully grow aubergines too :'(.

That's exactly what I was thinking!  I have a dozen of the healthiest plants ... but the fruit are the size of ping-pong balls!  :-

Just what is the best wat to grow them ???  What size pot,  what heat,  what food wtc ???  :-X

[antipodes]

I had excellent aubergines this year! A long variety, bought the seeds from Lidl!
I planted them out quite late, in May, and I dug manure into the hole before planting. I kept them well weeded and mulched them with sawdust. They were quite well watered but not more than once or twice a week. They do like a sunny patch though, I see that the fruit grows quickly in the sun.  The fruit is smaller than in the shops (mine were about 20cm long) but a nice mild flavour.
I will tell you how I cook them: in the pressure cooker, I chop some onion and garlic, and brown it in a bit of oil (not too much) then I add the aubergine in small pieces and brown it too. If they are small, I don't salt them first but some people do that. Then I add some chopped tomato, plenty of salt and pepper, fresh coriander and some cumin. Lid on teh pressure cooker and cook for 10 mins after it has whistled. The aubergines melt in your mouth.

[1066]

oooo that sounds delicious, my mouth is watering now!
My presure cooker gave up the will to live a while ago, so I presume I can do them in a large pan with a lid on but it will just take longer  :-\

[Old bird]

Tim is always very successful with aubergine.

I have had a few this year - an improvement on last year - but still not as much as I would have liked!

O B