How to Grow a Rich Eggplant Harvest: Tips from Gardeners

Eggplants are tasty and healthy vegetables that many gardeners want to grow in their gardens.

However, it is not always possible to obtain a rich and high-quality harvest of this crop. Why does this happen and how to fix the situation?

Factors Affecting the Growth and Fruiting of Eggplants

There are several main factors that influence the growth and fruiting of eggplants, says Anastasia Kovrizhnykh .

Lighting

Eggplants love the sun and need sufficient light, especially during the flowering and fruit setting period.

If plants are shaded by other crops or by themselves, they will develop poorly and produce few ovaries.

To improve lighting, you can mulch the soil around the eggplants with white film or foil, which will reflect the sun's rays.

Temperature

Eggplants are heat-loving plants that do not tolerate cold and drafts. The optimal temperature for them is 25-30 degrees.

If the temperature drops below 18 degrees, the eggplants stop blooming and drop their ovaries. To protect them from the cold, you can grow eggplants in a greenhouse or cover them with agrofibre or film at night.

Soil

Eggplants require light, airy, deeply cultivated and fertile soil, rich in organic matter and mineral fertilizers. In dry, heavy or acidic soils, the plants will wither and bear little fruit.

To improve the soil, you can add compost, humus, peat, wood ash, calcium or lime.

Caring for eggplants

Eggplants require regular watering, fertilizing, weeding, pinching and shaping.

Lack or excess of moisture, insufficient or excessive fertilizers, weeds or diseases can negatively affect the harvest.

Stepson and form plants into 2-3 stems, removing the first flower and side shoots. This will allow the plants to develop better and produce large fruits.
Reduce the number of flowers on the plant, leaving 5-7 flowers. Remove the rest.

This promotes uniform fruit growth and prevents the plant from becoming overloaded.
Pollinate manually in the greenhouse before 10 a.m. You can use a soft brush or shake the plants. You can also plant several varieties of eggplant for better pollination.

Protect plants from pests and diseases using biological or chemical means of protection.

The most dangerous enemies of eggplants are the Colorado potato beetle, aphids, mole crickets, spider mites, late blight, verticillium wilt, alternaria and others.

This way you can get a rich and high-quality harvest of eggplants on your plot. The main thing is not to forget about love and care for this crop.

Earlier, the expert told what to sow in January.