Question
Hi Tom, I've grown Aubergine/ Eggplants from seed and they're now huge and full of flowers but then the flowers die and fall off. Some of the fruit appears to begin to set and grow to about 5mm but then just shrivel up and die?? I live in a nice climate as I understand they need warmth, there is pollination happening as I have tons of tomatoes...but just in case I was using a paint brush to try and pollinate myself!? Any tips??? Thank you, Kim

Answer
Hi Kim,
Thanx for your question.  One of my dreams is to visit Australia and New Zealand some day.

Eggplants grow best in a very warm environment with warm evenings.  They will shut down if it gets too cool.  They also need water, once a week, about 2.5 cm if it isn't raining regularly.  Eggplants like tomatoes and peppers are generally self-pollinating but bees and other pollinators do help them.  Generally, it doesn't sound like a pollination problem as the flowers will pollinate themselves simpy by being shaken by the wind.  There may be a nutrient issue.  Are you fertilizing them with well-composted manure or a fertilizer, preferably like tomato fertilizers?  What kind of temperatures and rainfall are you experiencing.  I've had my eggplants this past year set fruit all season even when it was blisteringly hot here (between 90癋/32癈 - 100癋/38癈).  Now once the nights cool down below 65癋/18癈, production goes way down and under 55癋/13癈, it will stop.  Also,what variety are you trying to grow?  Let me know.
Thanx,

Tom