Organic Aubergine: Meronda

Description

Organic Aubergine: Meronda. Solanum melongena.

Meronda is a traditional variety with glossy, purple skin. The large, pear-shaped fruit crops early are about 16-18cm long with an average diameter of 10-12cm. This variety was cultivated under organic conditions from the start, making it optimally adapted to organic cultivation.

How to grow

Grow them indoors in a sunny position for a relatively early crop. Sow in an heated environment at between 18 to 20C in organic compost under a thin covering of vermiculite, never allow to dry out and not too wet either. Pot them up once they are large enough to handle into pots and keep in a warm place. At about 10cms tall plant out in a sunny position in your tunnel into well rich loamy soil or grow bags. Provide support as the vines grow. Feed the flowers and young fruit regularly through late spring into summer.

Problem solving

Not many problems, just keep them warm. Aphids may affect them although i’ve not had any trouble, but if you do, spray with a environmentally friendly solution, like garlic spray or ecover solution, or bring ladybirds into your tunnel or allow wrens to fly in. If it’s really bad, you could plant a catch crop – something the aphids like better, and throw into the compost/bird table.

Favourite ways to eat them

Particularly great for making Mediterranean and Asian cuisine, they taste great pureed, grilled, or stuffed. Or cooked up in a mediterranean tagine. or slow cooker will do it. To really soften aubergines before adding to dishes, i slice them, dress with olive oil and salt, drape over the back of an upside down dinner plate and bake in the oven for half an hour or until soft. Mix with onions, peppers, tomatoes, beans, any of your favourite veg and cook with garlic, ginger, corriander, lemon juice, ginger, turmeric, cumin, saffron, olive oil, salt and pepper. Serve with fresh couscous mixed with scallions and chopped parsley. The taste of holidays.

Cultural history

The crop wild relatives of aubergines originate from India. The small wild bitter berries have been bred for around 1,500 years, so today we get to eat delicious aubergines. Thanks to all those generations of plant breeders.

Contents: 15 seeds.