Why are the leaves on my aubergines curling up?

The aubergine is a vegetable that we love to plant in our vegetable garden. It is the main ingredient in moussaka, a Greek speciality, or in ratatouille. But it can also be made into fritters, tarts or caviar. But it needs to be grown in the right conditions to ensure a fruitful harvest.

Focus on aubergines.

Like the potato and tomato, the aubergine is a member of the Solanaceae family. It is a plant that needs heat, particularly at sowing time. So you can only plant it in the ground once you're sure there's no risk of frost. You'll find common varieties like the purple aubergine on the market, as well as more unusual varieties like the Dourga, the white aubergine or the Japanese aubergine, which is a beautiful white colour with purple stripes. With a sunny spot and frequent watering, you'll enjoy beautiful vegetables all summer long. But, this vegetable plant has its enemies!

Eggplant pests

Like many vegetables in the kitchen garden, pests can infest your garden. The well-known Colorado beetle, which attacks potato, tomato or aubergine plants. But it's not the only one. In fact, you may be unpleasantly surprised to find your aubergine leaves completely curled up. Who's the culprit? Well, it could be an aphid. Well, more like a colony of aphids.

The aphid is a frequent and damaging pest of vegetable crops. Aphids feed on plant sap. The consequence is slower growth or even the loss of the plant if the infestation is too heavy. You may see black mould appearing on your leaves. This disease, known as fumagine, is caused by the sugary honeydew deposited by aphids. It encourages the proliferation of fungi that will eventually suffocate your plantation.

What treatment is needed to prevent aphids?

There are several natural ways to combat aphid invasions. Let's give way to its natural predator: the ladybird. This magnificent insect, a gardener's friend, regulates the aphid population. If you don't have many ladybirds in your garden, you can buy ladybird eggs to boost the population. You can find them very easily in garden centres.

You can also treat your plants with a decoction of water and black soap. Simply mix 20 cl of black soap with 1 litre of water and you're ready to go! Spray your vegetables to drastically reduce the number of parasites. But you should only apply this treatment when the weather is cloudy or in the evening. Applying it on sunny days could burn the foliage. You can repeat the operation whenever necessary.

If you like lavender and rhubarb, you can plant them in your vegetable garden. They are both a natural aphid repellent. You can also prepare macerates of rhubarb, nettles or ferns to prevent this garden pest. Natural products, good for the planet and your wallet.