Aubergine and courgette Advice

JenniB83

Hi everybody, I decided to plant courgette and aubergines for the first time this year and they are growing fairly well (I think) and it looks as if they're starting to flower. From what I understand its too early for them to be planted out; do you have any advice on what I should do to keep them healthy whilst they are still in doors and when is the best time to start hardening off and planting outside.  I'm based in London.  Many thanks in advance.

Dovefromabove

When this cold windy snap is over you can start putting the courgettes outside in a sheltered spot during the day and bringing them in at night. Watch out for forecasts of strong winds/ heavy rain/hail and protect or keep them in on those days. 

I’ve only grown aubergines indoors so hopefully someone else can help with them. 

😊 

Dovefromabove

Very lucky @philippa smith2 ... our canna was too big to be moved back inside so it’s had to take its chances ... and several of its leaves have been ripped by the wind. 

strelitzia32

I grow aubergine outside. They are the last thing I put out, usually start or middle of June when the night temperatures are reliably warm. I grow them in large troughs in front of a greenhouse so they still get some protection. The challenge is growing them big enough before they go out, so that they have time to bush out and set fruit. Go too early and they die or get checked growth, go too late and fruit doesn't grow and ripen properly or the crop is poor because of the short growing season outdoors. I've actually thought about abandoning growing them, they'r not reliable and straight forward enough for me!

JenniB83

Thanks for the responses; I do not have a greenhouse so they'll be planted in a south west facing garden.  At the moment it's still a bit chilly at night so I'll hold off hardening the courgettes for a couple of weeks. @strelitzia32 thanks for the tip on the aubergines they do seem tricky I just hope it's worth it.