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When to plant
aubergine in the UK
Start very early — January isn't too soon. Limit to 5-6 fruits per plant if you want decent-sized aubergines rather than marbles.
Work out your own dates
Starts from the recommended sow date for your area. Sowed on a different day, or planted out late? Adjust below and the harvest moves with it.
Using the UK-average last frost · 15 April · add your postcode to tune it
Growing journey
22 weeks from planting out to harvest · Start indoors 13 weeks before planting out
Get aubergine seeds
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What aubergine need
Full sun. Warmth. Best under cover in most of the UK. Not for cold, exposed plots.
Spacing
60cm between plants
These are larger plants — give them plenty of space for air circulation.
Varieties worth growing
Black Beauty
commonThe classic glossy, dark-purple aubergine. Needs warmth and patience in the UK — a greenhouse or very sheltered spot — but when it works, you get that satisfying moment of picking something that looks like it belongs in a Mediterranean market.
Baba ganoush
Char the whole aubergine over a flame or under the grill until the skin blackens and the inside collapses. Scoop out the smoky flesh, mix with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. The char is everything.
Aubergine parmigiana
Slice, salt, fry until golden, layer with tomato sauce and mozzarella, bake until bubbling. The dish that proves aubergine was always meant to be cooked with serious heat and serious cheese.
Pinstripe
uncommonSmall, purple-and-white striped fruits that look like they were hand-painted. Compact plants that do well in pots, and the smaller size means they actually ripen in UK conditions. Form and function, beautifully balanced.
Grilled aubergine with pomegranate
Slice thickly, grill until charred and soft, drizzle with pomegranate molasses, scatter with pomegranate seeds and fresh mint. The stripes still show through the char. Almost too pretty.
Slim Jim
uncommonLong, slender, and quick to mature — all the things you want from an aubergine in the UK. The thin fruits don't need salting and cook fast in a hot pan. Less fuss, more aubergine.
Miso-glazed aubergine
Halve lengthways, score the flesh, brush with a paste of white miso, mirin, and sugar. Grill until caramelised and collapsing. The slim shape means more glaze-to-flesh ratio, which is exactly what you want.
Moneymaker
commonAn early-maturing variety bred for cooler climates — which is code for 'actually ripens in Britain.' Smaller fruits than Black Beauty, but you'll get more of them. The aubergine that doesn't make you beg for a heatwave.
Aubergine curry
Cube, fry until golden, then simmer in a sauce of tomatoes, onion, ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, and turmeric. The aubergine absorbs the spices like a sponge. Serve with rice and naan. Comfort food with depth.
Auberginedrink heavily through summer — a good soak at the roots beats a daily sprinkle. How I water, and the lance I use →
When to sow aubergine
Based on UK average frost date. Enter your postcode for exact dates, or find your city.
Where to buy aubergine seeds
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What you'll need for aubergine
The stuff beginners wish they'd bought sooner.
These crops need 24-30°C to germinate — a cold windowsill won't cut it. The difference between success and failure in the UK.
More in our equipment guide →High-potash liquid feed. Once the first fruits form, feed weekly — it makes a real difference to yield.
Aubergine fruit is heavy. Without support the whole plant leans over and stems crack.
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Get your exact dates
Enter your postcode for personalised planting dates for aubergine.