How to shape eggplants

Eggplants are considered delicious vegetables. Usually they always ripen in the south of Russia, however, growing in the middle lane is a little difficult. This culture is very thermophilic, so it is better to plant it in well-lit areas, protected from wind and drafts. Eggplants are recommended to be planted near agricultural buildings, fences and other rewards. Thus, they will be protected from wind and temperature changes. This vegetable crop grows very slowly, so not all gardeners want to grow it. However, observing the rules of care and the requirements of agricultural technology, you can get a bountiful harvest and please yourself and your loved ones with ripe and tasty fruits. Some gardeners are engaged in the formation of eggplant bushes. However, for many, they grow very much, but the fruits are practically not tied. Today we will talk about how to form eggplants, how best to prune this crop, why you need to do this, and what rules you need to follow.

How to care for eggplants

Above, we have already touched on some points of agricultural technology. To understand how to form eggplants, you need to know that eggplants belong to the nightshade family, they love heat and moisture very much. At the same time, they are quite susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases, so they must always be handled correctly. As you know, eggplants are grown in seedlings. This is necessary in order for the long growing season of plants to fit into the climatic seasonal conditions of a particular region. Eggplants are planted for seedlings at the end of winter, the soil is prepared either independently or bought in a specialized store. If you decide to prepare the soil yourself, then you should mix in equal parts sand, earth and humus. However, there are other ways to prepare soil. After that, you will need to select the seed material.

Examine the seeds carefully for damage and defects, and remove any empty or damaged seeds. You can germinate the seeds in advance by placing them in a humid environment for several days. After that, sowing can be carried out. In order for the seedlings to develop normally, they need to provide good lighting. Eggplants grow well when the air temperature is 22-25 degrees above zero. Therefore, be guided by these numbers. With a strong cold snap, the growth of this culture stops altogether.

Do not forget about timely feeding, watering should also be mentioned. Eggplants are very fond of water, however, waterlogging of the soil should not be allowed. Eggplant also does not tolerate drought well. It is best to water the eggplants either in the morning or in the evening, so that no earthen crust forms. It is best to use heated water for this. Remember to remove weeds in a timely manner. Seedlings are planted in open ground in late spring, when the soil warms up well. Indeed, as we noted above, eggplants are very sensitive to temperature changes, during the season - this culture is fed 3-4 times, for this they use both mineral and organic fertilizers.

You can feed eggplants for the first time 2 weeks after planting. This procedure is then repeated about once a month. Particular attention should be paid to feeding during flowering and fruiting of plants, the fact is that at this time eggplants are the least unprotected, but they need a lot of useful substances.It is best to apply fertilizers by the root method, so nutrients and trace elements will quickly reach the deep layers of the earth, and therefore the root system. Do not let the fertilizer get on the leaves and stems of plants, as you can harm them.

If you have taken good care of the plants, the flowering of this vegetable usually begins 30-45 days after planting. Many fruits are usually formed on one eggplant, however, not the whole plant is able to feed, so it is better to remove the extra ones.

How to form eggplants: why you need to form bushes

In the open field, plants usually develop normally and without the help of gardeners. However, in greenhouses, eggplants very often build up their green mass most intensively, which interferes with the formation of fruits. Therefore, in this case, human intervention is needed. Eggplants form powerful stems and leaves, which means that all the forces of the plant will be thrown into the formation of the green mass, but you may not wait for the buds. All nutrient resources are directed to growth, to the detriment of fruiting.

Therefore, you will need to be sure to remove excess shoots and leaves in order for the plants to form fruits. It should be said that excessively thick foliage leads to thickening of the beds, which means that a shadow will be created there, and the site will be poorly ventilated, and rot may collect on the fruits. In such conditions, fungi and bacteria multiply especially intensively. In addition, many diseases affect just such "thickened" plants.

How to form bushes

In addition to how to form eggplants, we will also tell you how to form bushes. This must also be done correctly, since unnecessary pruning can harm the plants, and you may simply not wait for the harvest. In addition, everything must be done in a timely manner, at certain stages of development, the formation of bushes must be carried out, taking into account the characteristics of the variety, the fact is that each type of plant has different methods of fruiting, therefore it is wrong to remove shoots chaotically. In order to form a bush and increase the volume of fruiting, you need to adhere to the following recommendations. This event should start 2 weeks after planting seedlings in open ground. Previously, you should not do this, so you will only harm your pets.

Consider the characteristics of the variety, so do not randomly cut off all the side and top shoots. If you have planted a low-growing variety, then you should only cut the side shoots when the plants reach 40 centimeters in height. If the top rushes higher, then it will need to be cut off. Over time, the appeared stepsons are also removed. If you form plants into one stem, then you will need to remove all excess shoots, even if they have ovaries or flowers. This must be done so that all the forces of the eggplant are concentrated in one central sprout, and competitors should be removed.

If you reduce the volume of green mass, then ventilation will be optimally provided throughout the entire area, and bacteria and fungi will not multiply. But you should not remove absolutely all the side leaves, they are needed in order to slightly cover the soil, which means, to retain moisture. If the sprouts are weak, then you should not cut them off, such a formation will not give a good result.

If your eggplants grow in an open space, and not in a greenhouse, then it is better to prune the bushes in sunny weather, if it is raining outside the window, then pruning is not worth it, since such conditions contribute to the development of infectious diseases in the area. It is best to prune either early in the morning or late in the evening so that the plant has time to adapt.

Remember that early maturing varieties are not pruned. The formation of the bushes is done manually using a pruner. But it is advisable to remove the leaves with your own hands.Pruning should be carried out once every 2 weeks, maintaining the optimal pace of plant development. Make sure that no biomass remains below the branches, all leaves are removed. If you rarely water the plants, it is better to leave the lateral lower shoots to darken the soil.

How to form eggplants: different ways to form bushes

In order to choose one or another method, you need to take into account the varietal characteristics of the plants, as well as the quality of the seedlings. We will tell you about the basic pruning methods, namely one, two, three or more stems. Formation into one stem means that gardeners leave one strong and healthy stem on each plant. Everything else is deleted. After the pruning is completed, the plants are tied to trellises. This is necessary in order for that very strong and healthy stem to develop well further. However, it is not recommended to tie the eggplants with wire, as the iron is likely to damage the fragile stems.

If you have a low-growing variety, you will need to pinch the top, but this should only be done when the plant rises 30-40 cm in height. After such pinching, the lateral shoots will develop more intensively, and the green mass will grow faster. The formation of the bush is done about once a week. Ovaries should remain on the sprouts, and one on each, if there are no flowers and fruits on the sprouts, they should be removed. When the bushes are formed into two stems, 12 fruits should remain on each bush. This method is most suitable for tall varieties. As you already understood, when pruning, you will need to deliver 2 healthy and strong stems, and remove the rest. Both tops are recommended to be pinned to stimulate plant growth. The ovary forms more intensively, and the fruits ripen faster.

It is advisable to leave only the largest ovary on the bushes, and it is better to remove the newly blossoming buds. First, you will need to leave one main stem, and then select 2 equal from the grown stepchildren. Remember, you should not apply a lot of nitrogen fertilizers to the soil, as they contribute to the growth of green mass, and this is not necessary when forming bushes.

If you decide to leave 3 or more stems, then the last pruning method is suitable for you. This is possible only by growing especially healthy and strong plants. It is on these that all the fruits will be able to ripen, and the branches will not bend under their weight. However, pinching the top is also necessary. When pruning, you can leave several stepsons, and remove the excess. It is also recommended to prune the biomass below the bifurcations.

How to form eggplants: the rules for the formation of bushes

Constant pruning is considered to be a strong stress for plants, therefore, the formation of the crown in the bushes must be timely and correct. You need to take into account the varietal characteristics of the plants, the quality of the seedlings, as well as the place where the culture grows. If your eggplants grow in a greenhouse or in a greenhouse, then it should be taken into account that the formation of biomass in such conditions occurs most intensively, therefore, very often such plants reach a height of a meter, but the fruits form on them poorly.

Therefore, you will need to trim and pinch the sprouts regularly. In order to prevent the bushes from turning into a jungle, you should consider the following points. It is imperative to pinch and cut the seedlings after they grow up to 30 cm. In the future, pruning should be done every two weeks. It is recommended to pinch off the upper part of the central sprout. Choose some strong and sturdy stepchildren to form the bush. The number of sprouts depends on which method of forming the eggplant bushes you have chosen.

Anything that grows below the first branch should be ruthlessly removed, including flowers, ovaries and leaves.If too many fruits have formed on the bush, then the excess ones will also need to be removed, since there will not be enough nutritional resources for all the eggplants. Remember that there are pauses in the development of this vegetable crop, so the plants develop in stages. The last time to remove shoots is recommended 30 days before the first harvest. If you notice that growth has stopped, it means that all the forces of the plant were thrown into the ripening of the fruits. Do not forget to take care of the plants during the formation of the bushes. As we noted, pruning is stressful, so water regularly and feed your crop.

If you planted eggplants in an open space, then gardeners recommend removing only thickened shoots, but the lower side shoots should be left, as they protect the soil from overheating, as well as from excessive moisture evaporation. Pruning begins already 2 weeks after planting seedlings in open ground, it is very important to remove the top in time. Therefore, carefully monitor the height of the plants, usually the bushes should not rush up more than 30-40 cm. Leaving the required number of shoots, ruthlessly remove the excess growth. In order to prevent burns from appearing on the sections, it is recommended to treat the wounds with ash or lime. This is necessary so that the plant develops faster and does not hurt. Pruning should be repeated every two weeks in order to timely remove excess shoots, as well as flowers and ovaries. As we have already said, the lower side shoots are best placed so that in hot weather the soil does not overheat and moisture does not evaporate.

Remember that the leaves and fruits of eggplant should not touch the soil, since if excessive moisture is present, the plants can get sick, and the fruits can simply rot. It is undesirable to carry out pruning in damp and sultry weather, since under these conditions bacteria and microorganisms that harm plants multiply most intensively. Don't let the bushes overgrow, as pruning is best done with young shoots as the plants will more easily cope with this stress. But removing large branches can be harmful. You should also remove deformed foliage, it will not bring much benefit to the development of plants, but it will take nutrients.

Follow our guidelines on how to shape and grow your eggplant correctly.