Aubergine has a perfect flower like tomato and is mostly self-pollinating, but its blooms are more open and attract more insect visits, so it crosses more readily than tomato does -- still low-risk, just not quite as foolproof.
New to terms like isolation distance or outcrossing? See the Seed-Saving Glossary.
Seed-Saving Difficulty
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Moderate Difficulty
Low to moderate crossing risk
How It's Pollinated
Mostly self-pollinating, with some insect-carried outcrossing
(Low to moderate crossing risk)
Scientific name: Solanum melongena
Domestic Crops It Can Cross With
- Other aubergine varieties, more so than tomato because flowers are more open and insect-visited
Wild Relatives & Feral Species
- No significant wild relatives in most home garden regions
Separation Distances Required
Minimum: 10-15m between varieties
Recommended: 50m for extra security
Strict: Bag flower clusters for guaranteed purity
Seed-Saving Strategies
- Allow fruit to ripen well past the eating stage -- skin turns dull and yellow-brown
- Cut open and scrape out seeds, or mash in water and let pulp float off
- Dry seeds fully on a plate before storing
- Store dry -- viable 4-5 years