This encourages your plant to put more energy into growing sturdy stalks and deep roots instead of producing new fruit right away. New blossoms will appear in a few weeks, and your plant will be better able to support large, healthy fruits.
Occasional pruning helps more air and light move through the canopy of the plants, encouraging growth.
Be sure to get the roots of the weeds in addition to the leaves. If you just get the top of the plant, it could regrow. If weeds are a big problem, you could consider using an herbicide. The exact product you will need depends on your variety of eggplant, as well as whether or not you plan on eating the fruits. Ask your local garden store or nursery for recommendations.
Pinch the blossom below the receptacle. It’s better to pinch a little bit more of the stem than to leave a part of the blossom behind.
Even a light frost will kill eggplant. Even though eggplants are perennials, they are typically grown as annuals. Leaving them in the garden over the winter may cause them to have a lower yield over the course of a few years. Keeping eggplants as perennials works best in temperate to warm climates since the plants require warm soil to grow. If you expect a hard freeze during winter, you will need to move your plant indoors or into a greenhouse.
Drive your stake into the soil about 1. 5 inches (3. 8 cm) away from the base of the plant. If your plant begins to wiggle or lean toward the stake, stop and reposition it. This could be a sign you’re hitting an important root. Once your stake is in the ground, use garden twine or rubber ties to tie back the plant. Always tie just below branches and leaf stems, and leave a little slack so that the stem isn’t damaged and so the plant doesn’t strain or break.
The- leaves in the center of the plant take a lot of the plant’s energy to grow. They are also more likely to get fungal infections like powdery mildew.
After disinfecting, use a clean rag to apply a coat of lubricating oil such as WD-40 or boiled linseed oil to the blades of your shears. This helps keep them rust-free and fully functional. If you notice your shears getting rusty, you may want to scrub it with a wire brush before disinfecting.
Tiny holes in plant leaves or blossoms Yellow stippling on leaves Yellow masses of insect eggs on the underside of leaves Mold or visible rot on plant fruits Most plants can handle slight damage from pests without losing crops. Keep the plants well-fed, well watered, and in the proper soil conditions and only chemical insecticides as a last resort.
You can pinch off blossoms using your fingers or a pair of gardening shears. Just remove the blossom below the stem. Limiting the number of fruits on each plant keeps it from getting too heavy and breaking or snapping. Smaller variety eggplants such as Indian eggplants and little fingers can maintain up to a dozen fruits per plant.
