YOU don’t see much written about aubergines, which is a shame, as they are an increasingly popular vegetable. They are also becoming easier to grow, with reliable, smaller-fruited varieties now available. These are tender plants (like tomatoes and cucumbers), and they need lots of summer warmth. In the UK, they are mainly grown as a greenhouse crop; outside growing is rarely successful, unless the summer is long and hot. It’s the cropping season for aubergines, and all over the country there are maturing fruits in purple, mauve, red, pink or even white (and which are round, long, thin or egg-shaped). Let’s take a closer look.
■ The smaller-fruited types