Delicious local fruits

Is it worth growing eggplants in Germany?

Aubergines are not originally from Germany, but rather from warm, humid regions. Therefore, the plants do not have it particularly easy with our cool climatic conditions. Eggplants are actually perennial. However, they do not survive the German winters. Even temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius can cause irreparable damage to the plant. Therefore, they are usually destroyed outdoors after the harvest and sown again in the spring. This is cheaper than overwintering them. Basically he plays eggplant cultivation in Germany only one secondary role.

Where do aubergines originally come from if not from Germany?

Aubergines originally come from the subtropical climate regions of Asia, to be more precise

India. They were cultivated in China more than two thousand years ago. They did not reach Europe until the 13th century. Century, probably about Arabia. First they were cultivated in Spain, later Italy and then all of Europe. The first eggplant varieties formed yellow or white fruits. Following its shape, it was then often known as "eggplant". As a Mediterranean vegetable, it has become indispensable in European cuisine.

When and how did the aubergine reach Germany?

Aubergines were first introduced in Germany in the 1970s years by guest workers known from the Mediterranean region. They brought the relatively tasteless fruit from their home countries. Especially in Mediterranean dishes Italian and Spanish restaurants made the aubergine palatable to the Germans. However, due to the difficulty of cultivation in our country, they are rarely grown by farms. Plants that are more cold-tolerant could be grown through breeding. They also tolerate cooler temperatures outdoors.

How do you grow eggplants in Germany?

Since aubergines do not tolerate frost, you can only after the ice saints (mid-May) outdoors planted become. Hobby gardeners and self-sufficient people like to use one Glasshouse for cultivation, since better yields can be achieved there due to the warmer microclimate. Often the eggplant plants are also in pots or tubs drawn in order to be able to move them around and bring them into the warm when the outside temperatures are too cold. Hobby gardeners experiment with different breeds with dark purple, white, yellow or green fruits.