but at some point, each of the fruit turns a nasty yellow/olive green colour. They look like they have jaundice!
It is true that the eggplants have had a tough time this year. They were raised in Sydney and transported in pots on the back of a ute to the new patch and got a bad case of windburn in the process but they quickly settled into their bed and got growing and flowering. They have suffered thru a particularly hot and dry summer (as have most of us here in Australia) on the other hand eggplants are pretty tough and somewhat designed to cope with the heat with their furry leaves.
If anyone has any insight into this nasty discolouration of my eggplant, I'd be grateful.
I wish I could help but I have no idea. My sole surviving eggplant looks like its just about to get flowers so I envy your even jaundiced looking eggplants. I hope they still taste good.
ReplyDeleteHmm, they kind of stop developing, they are kind of hard. I don't think they are going to be any good but I don't know so cut them off and pop them in the compost bin. But maybe someone knows if I am being too precious and that they are just discoloured but perfectly fine fruit.
DeleteGee, you have eggplants (albeit sickly ones), my buds haven't even opened yet!
ReplyDeleteSome of mine looked like that, one year. I wasn't sure what the cause was but I suspected they had been 'cooked' as it had been very hot.
Someone else might know, for sure.
I guess I should count my blessings. Too hot could definitely be it! Are you ok there in Gippsland? Is it very smokey?
DeleteStrangely, it isn't smokey at all where I am because of the wind direction. Usually, at this time of year, we are choking! However, the fire at Heyfield is a worry. I have several good colleagues who live and work there. They are safe as far as I know but everyone will be on high alert.
DeleteI am sorry to hear that. Perhaps they didn't cope with the move as well as you thought? Are there a few more to come? Maybe the next few will come through well? Perhaps they are just too stressed and might not come through at all? Hope not I shall cross fingers and toes. Hopefully next year we have a sensible weather conditions and your garden will be in great abundence
ReplyDeleteThere are more fruit (thankfully) on and they are lovely and dark purple as they should be at the moment but they start out that way and then turn that horrible colour...It has been a tough year for them.
DeleteCheck out this site. Maybe it will help you diagnose the problem.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo/diagnostics/vegetable/eggplant/fruitspots.html
I know that one year, I had trouble with my eggplants and the solution was to add bonemeal to the soil. They were low in phosphorus, I think. ( I don't know if that is your problem. Your plants don't look like mine did when I had that trouble.)
Thanks Cristy - I will take a look!
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