Aubergines or eggplants are native to the Mediterranean region. They do not only need high temperatures to germinate. If there is no sheltered spot for the eggplants in the garden, then it is worth caring for them in the greenhouse.

Plant eggplants in a sheltered greenhouse

Growing eggplants in a greenhouse is a lot easier than outdoors. Under glass, the plants get the high temperatures they need to germinate and grow.

Growing in the greenhouse

The aubergines are sown in a heated greenhouse as early as January. For this, seed trays are filled with growing substrate. The seed is sown thinly and covered with a layer of soil.

The seed is kept well moist and will germinate within a few days. As soon as the plants are about eight centimeters high, they are pricked out or transplanted into pots.

Plant aubergines outdoors or in a greenhouse

From a height of 20 to 25 centimetres, the aubergines reach their final destination. If you want to plant the early eggplants in the garden, wait until the end of May.

The aubergines are planted out in the ground bed of the greenhouse at a distance of 50 by 50 centimetres. Nutritious garden soil mixed with compost provides the best basis.

Eggplant care in the greenhouse

  • Prefer in seed trays
  • Put in pots
  • Plant out in the final location from May
  • Cut the main shoot
  • Install scaffolding

As soon as the plant has formed six to eight leaves, the main shoot is cut off. The resulting side shoots are tied to supporting pillars.

Harvesting eggplants in the greenhouse

Due to the constant temperatures and constant humidity, the aubergines ripen faster than outdoors, depending on the variety.

While the plant stops growing outdoors at around 15 degrees, it flowers much longer in the heated greenhouse due to the high temperatures. As a result, significantly more fruit will ripen.

If the weather outside is cold and too humid, the harvest will be poor. In the greenhouse, the plant is well protected from the cold and wet.

tips and tricks

If you want to harvest eggplants in the greenhouse, regularly shake out the shoots with the flowers. Since there is no wind in the greenhouse, the gardener must support pollination.

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