By Slimdil
Northumberland,
United Kingdom 
Rotting aubergines! In the last few years I have planted 2 aubergines per growbag in the greenhouse, quite successfully. However this year I've planted them each in their own large pot - filled with multipurpose compost. However, after growing quite well and looking very healthy, the first flowers have set, the aubergines have started to swell and then rotted and fallen off. Does anyone know what could be causing this? Could I be giving them too much water? Too little water? Any other ideas? Thanks in advance for helpful advice!
10 Jul, 2011
Answers
Difficult to tell. Seems to be the stalk and top end of fruit (stalk end) at the same time. They are definitely not wilting between waterings. I've been giving them tomato food (as I always have done).
11 Jul, 2011
Hmmm. It may be verticillium wilt, since I understand that Auberginesare susceptible to that. I would expect that to show up on the leaves, first, and it only attacks plants that are growing in contaminated compost--such as compost containing soil from a contaminated garden, or old compost that may have had a contaminated transplant from the garden center. Other than that, I am flummoxed! : /
11 Jul, 2011
Previous question
« my runner beans have produced a fair amount of leafage - but no flowers, let alone...
Next question
Are they rotting from the end away from the stem first? If so, they may be getting blossom end rot. It's rarer on aubergines than on tomatoes, but the causes and symptoms are the same. Make sure that the plants don't wilt even a bit between watering, and add lime or gypsum to the compost as a source of calcium.
11 Jul, 2011