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Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Gardening

Insects on my aubergine plant - what to use?

18 replies

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 31/07/2015 17:26

Not really sure what I can do to get rid of an insect infestation and still be safe to eat any aubergines that may (hopefully... not much sign yet) be on their way? There are quite a lot on it (not sure what... I think a couple of different sorts of tiny little critters) and I'm worried they might spread to the other plants nearby too if I don't do anything. Any advice please?

Also any tips for making some actual aubergines grow very welcome, DH has bet me a fiver I won't get any so I need to prove him wrong

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NanTheWiser · 31/07/2015 17:55

You could try a spray of washing up liquid and water (just a few drops), which will usually deal with aphids etc.

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Nydj · 31/07/2015 18:06

Aubergines are notoriously difficult to grow in the UK - you may some luck if are in in the south of the country and the plant is near a south facing wall and you are growing a small round variety and we have a really good summer! I don't know of anyone who mNaged to grow the massive ones you get in the supermarkets.

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Nydj · 31/07/2015 18:07

The flowers are quite pretty though

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shovetheholly · 31/07/2015 18:07

Are they aphids? If so, some Ecover washing up liquid in a spray bottle with loads of water will see the blighters off!

I am failing to produce actual aubergines too! Surprised how pretty the flowers are, though (it's my first time growing them).

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Takver · 31/07/2015 19:03

shovetheholly, try 'tripping' the flowers with your fingers to help them pollinate. I've got plenty of insects in my tunnel, but my aubergines still haven't been setting well this summer. Just tapping and stroking the flowers a bit has sorted them out.

Inigo - I feed mine weekly - alternating Maxicrop seaweed feed with home made comfrey feed, they definitely benefit from it.

If they're indoors, I'd also try collecting as many ladybirds as possible and putting them onto the plants. I actually bought ladybird larvae last year, and it was well worth it - I've had a huge population in the tunnel this season. Alternatively if you can figure out what your pests are - most likely aphids? - you could try a biological control like aphidoletes.

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MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 31/07/2015 20:21

Wow lots of replies thanks! Will try the washing-up liquid thing.

I don't have any flowers yet, that's the main problem! I should have said they are inside in our porch so should be warm enough - I have a purple tomato and pepper plant out there too, they are all growing loads and look pretty healthy but just not making (m)any flowers yet (the tomato has had one or two).

I have been feeding them all with tomato food approx once a week, I thought if the tomatoes like it the others probably would too...

Takver thinking about it I haven't seen many ladybirds this year! So that might not be possible. Buying them is probably overkill though as I've only got 3 plants out there and as they're in the porch it probably wouldn't be good for the ladybirds anyway I guess.

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Nydj · 31/07/2015 21:06

I think if you feed the plants before they have many flowers, they just continue to make lush green leaves. Hold off the weekly feed until you have flowers and with tomatoes, I think you are supposed to wait until the first flowers have set fruit.

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Takver · 31/07/2015 21:16

I'd agree with Nydj - if they're not flowering yet, hold back on the feeding (and maybe a little on the watering) - if they're a touch stressed, it may provoke them to flower.

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MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 31/07/2015 23:09

Treat 'em mean to keep 'em keen is it OK I will give that a go then! Thanks for the tips!

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lighteningirl · 01/08/2015 06:56

Oh very excited I have two very odd shaped aubergine growing in the greenhouse and I second the diluted washing up liquid. I also take all spiders and blackbirds I find into my greenhouse.

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LowlLowl · 01/08/2015 07:18

We had earwigs in our aubergines last year. The aubergines grew nice and big though, they just had some tunnels in them! This year - nothing. About 2 flowers and neither of them set

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DoreenLethal · 01/08/2015 07:40

Best aphid spray ever is:
Pour boiling water over a teaspoon of chilli powder and some mint from the garden. Leave to cool. Strain through a piece of kitchen roll into a spray bottle. Top up with water and add a tiny dash of washing up liquid.

Then spray the aphids - not the plants all over, just the aphids. Then again the next day. Should be clean in a few days.

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DoreenLethal · 01/08/2015 07:43

But just warning you - if you have no flowers now it is not likely that you will not get fruit. Dont feel them until they are flowering. Put them in the hottest place you have. Pollinate them using a paintbrush every day by brushing it gently over all the stamens.

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MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 01/08/2015 23:46

Right I have tried the washing-up liquid thing, although it came out a bit stronger than it was meant to so hope that won't do any harm! Also stopping the feeding and cutting back the water a bit to see if that helps. The tomato plant has just got a few more flowers coming, although still not many altogether so far, so hopefully the other two will get there soon.

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ouryve · 01/08/2015 23:52

second the washing up iquid solution. Horticulturalists aren't allowed to recommend it as it is not an approved pesticide, but Bob Flowerdew used to talk about how some people found that it did a wonderful job - and it really does, particularly with aphids, as it just drowns the buggers.

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ouryve · 01/08/2015 23:55

Tomatoes should be beginning to set fruit by now, particularly after the Spring we've had, even in the North (where plants have completely died off early for many of us, so survivors should be good ones)

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MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 02/08/2015 00:14

The tomato was rescued from the bargain bin at the garden centre in fairness, so I'm not necessarily expecting great things from it. I don't even like tomatoes (!) but I do like the smell of the plants, and it is meant to have purple ones so I thought it would amuse the DCs! So one or two will do me... and I noticed today there is at least one little one starting to grow. It does still look very healthy too and is growing over my head.

Definitely need to try for an aubergine or at least a pepper or two though so that DH won't win the bet!

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MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 03/09/2015 21:06

Just a little update to say my tomato plant is now HUGE and has about 12 tomatoes coming, which is not bad considering it got a bit neglected as we were away on holiday for over 2 weeks; the pepper plant has just started flowering (rather belatedly!) and I think the aubergine might be trying to as well. They all seem to have had a slow start but suddenly decided to start doing stuff. Just hope we get a bit more sun to keep them going! I think I owe our nice neighbour a favour (or ) for watering them while we were away!