Aubergine 'Madonna'

• Mist leaves twice a day to discourage red spider mites and improve fruiting.
• Removing new flowers after 6-8 fruits have begun to form will produce larger aubergines.

Growing aubergines

• Aubergines are tender plants and won’t survive frosts, so don’t plant them outside until the risk of frost is passed.
• Plant in a greenhouse, and if planting outdoors choose a sheltered spot in full sun.
• Warm the soil outdoors by covering with polythene or cloches for two weeks before panting.
• Plant 60cm (2ft) apart and cover with fleece or cloches for 2-3 weeks until they establish.
• The plants will need staking as they grow and become heavy with fruit.
• Water regularly and feed with a high potassium fertiliser every two weeks once the fruit begins to form.

Harvest

• Remove ripe fruit from July onwards by cutting with a knife or secateurs when they are evenly coloured and glossy. If they start to become dull they will taste bitter.

Please allow us 3-5 working days to dispatch your order. Pre-ordered items will be sent as soon as possible after the date quoted and we'll generally ship your entire order with your pre-ordered items. When your order is dispatched, we'll send you another email with details of how to track it.

Most orders are sent on a fully-tracked courier service with Yodel. To avoid perishable items being stuck at depots and deteriorating, no signature is required, and our courier is asked to leave your order in a safe place on your property.

We'll send a tracking link when we dispatch your order, so you know when its due to arrive. Please note, once delivered we cannot be held responsible for loss or theft from your property. If you have any specific delivery instructions, please let us know - there's an option to enter a short message for the courier at the checkout.

Smaller, lighter, single-item orders may be sent through the post with Royal Mail - in which case no tracking is available.

Our experienced nursery team will always send your plants nursery fresh in the perfect condition to thrive when you plant them, so although most plants are very tough and will not be affected by all but the most extreme frosts or heatwaves, we avoid dispatching the most perishable plants if extreme weather is forecast, or over Bank Holiday weekends.

Please note, we cannot guarantee delivery on a certain day or time. Delivery to outlying postcode areas may take 1-2 days longer, dependent on your location.