Aubergines, like tomatoes or potatoes, are nightshade plants. They do not originally come from Germany, but are also cultivated here under certain conditions. Discover everything you need to know about the cultivation of the heat-loving eggplants in Germany and their origin.
Are eggplants grown in Germany?
Aubergines originally come from subtropical regions in India. In Germany they can only surviveoutdoors in summer as they cannot tolerate frost. Hobby gardeners and self-sufficient people ideally use a greenhouse for cultivation in order to ensure the required temperatures.
Is it worth growing eggplants in Germany?
Aubergines do not originally come from Germany, but from warm, humid areas. Therefore, the plants don't have a particularly easy time with our cool climate 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 re-sown in spring. This is more cost-effective than overwintering them. Basically, eggplant cultivation in Germany only plays asecondary role
Where do eggplants originally come from, if not from Germany?
Aubergines originally come from subtropical climate regions of Asia, more preciselyIndia They were already cultivated in China over two thousand years ago. They only reached Europe in the 13th century, probably via Arabia. They were first cultivated in Spain, later Italy and then throughout Europe. The first eggplant varieties produced yellow or white fruits. Due to its shape, it often became known as the “egg fruit”. As a Mediterranean vegetable, it has become an integral part of European cuisine.
When and how did the eggplant come to Germany?
Aubergines only became known in Germany in the1970syearsthrough guest workers from the Mediterranean region. They brought the relatively tasteless fruits with them from their home countries. Eggplant was particularly popular with Germans in Mediterranean dishes in Italian and Spanish restaurants. However, due to the difficulty of cultivation in our country, they are rarely grown by farms. Through breeding, more cold-tolerant plants could be grown. These can also tolerate cooler temperatures outdoors.
How do you grow eggplants in Germany?
Since eggplants cannot tolerate frost, they can only be planted outdoorsafter the Ice Saints(mid-May). Hobby gardeners and self-sufficient people like to use agreenhousefor cultivation, as better yields can be achieved there due to the warmer microclimate. The eggplant plants are often grown in pots orcontainers in order to be able to move them around and bring them into the warmth when the outside temperatures are too cool. Hobby gardeners are experimenting with different varieties of dark purple, white, yellow or green fruits.
Tip
Germany loves eggplants
The Germans are the largest importers of eggplants in the world. They import the mostly dark purple egg fruits for over 60 million euros every year. The largest exporters worldwide are Spain, followed by the Netherlands and Mexico.
