Solanum melongena 'Ophelia' (Aubergine 'Ophelia')

Botanical name

Solanum melongena 'Ophelia'

Other names

Aubergine 'Ophelia', Eggplant 'Ophelia'

Genus

Solanum Solanum

Variety or Cultivar

'Ophelia' _ 'Ophelia' is a compact, shrubby perennial, often grown as an annual vegetable crop, with large, downy, grey-green leaves and white flowers in summer followed by small, pear-shaped, purple-black fruit.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Irregular, Bushy

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Colour

Flower

White in Summer

Foliage

Green in Summer

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Aphids , Glasshouse whitefly , Red spider mite (box and other) , Slugs , Snails

General care

Pruning

Harvest when fruit is approx 25-30cm long.

Propagation methods

Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Solanum melongena 'Ophelia' (Aubergine 'Ophelia') will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.4m after 1-2 years.

Suggested uses

Add to salads, Beds and borders, Flavouring food and drinks, Greenhouse

Cultivation

Prepare the ground in winter, working it over & adding manure or compost. Best grown under glass or in a polytunnel. Sow indoors in late winter or early spring. Plant out after danger of frost has passed. Support plants and feed every two weeks.

Soil type

Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Tender in frost (H3)

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Solanum melongena 'Ophelia' (Aubergine 'Ophelia')

Common pest name

Cassava whitefly; Cotton whitefly; Sweet potato whitefly; Tobacco whitefly

Scientific pest name

Bemisia tabaci non-European populations

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Non-European populations of Bemisia tabaci pose an additional risk to European populations due to the potential for introducing non-European viruses.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Solanum melongena 'Ophelia' (Aubergine 'Ophelia')

Common pest name

; Black wood of grapevine; Female sterility of tobacco; Fruit woodiness of tomato; Maize Redness; Mal azul of tomato; Metabolbur; Metastolbur; Parastolbur; Purple top of potato; Stolbur of potato; Stolbur of tobacco; Stolbur of tomato

Scientific pest name

Candidatus Phytoplasma solani

Type

Phytoplasma

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Phytoplasma which potentially affects a wide host range; determined by the feeding behaviour of vectors. First UK outbreak in 2014; on strawberry; a host not specifically regulated in EU legislation. This legislation should be reviewed to take account of this and other developments.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Solanum melongena 'Ophelia' (Aubergine 'Ophelia')

Common pest name

Apple root knot nematode

Scientific pest name

Meloidogyne mali

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Unknown

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

UK (along with certain other European countries) received potentially infested trees in 1992; but these were destroyed at the end of the trial period and targeted surveillance has failed to find any trace of the nematode. Main impacts are on elm; apple and mulberry and industry should source such material carefully.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/