Aubergines require warmer conditions than tomatoes. If you want to grow them outdoors you will need a sheltered position and protection to get them to fruit. Aubergines need higher temperatures and protection from wind. You will also need to limit the number of fruits on an aubergine by pinching out side shoots

I use John Innes.  No. 2 compost and sow into 3in pots -giving the pots a good soaking before sowing. I don’t water again until the seedlings are well through and only pot on before transfering to my plot when absolutely necessary.

I can get three largish, sometimes four fruits on one plant grown outside in central London and six smallish fruits..

This is basically how I grow my Aubergines

Jan/Feb

Sow seeds indoors into 3in pots in warmth (65 °F) I grow mine on my windowsill, placing the pot into a plastic bag [these in effect are mini greenhouses]

May

If plants get too large before the weather warms up I pot them on into 5 inch pots

June

I plant out onto plot staking and covering with Enviromesh making a frame with some piping – the mesh is usually put in place 2 weeks before to warm up the soil. On open ground like a allotment they need to be sheltered and this tightly woven mesh is ideal. I then start feeding using a high potash feed [comfrey] once first fruit has set

Aubergines can suffer from blossom end rot so I try to keep watering constant as I would my tomatoes. Though I’ve never had that problem so far..

I continue to tie in and pinch out the top when they get around 18in high and the side shoots when I have 4/6 fruits to encourage bushiness and feed approx every 2 weeks with a comfrey feed until the first fruits are ready – My first year this happened in late August (did well that year) or September, depending on our summers. Lol