How to properly form eggplants in a greenhouse

What is it for

The benefits of pinching eggplant, especially if done correctly, are invaluable. First, you prevent the plant from spontaneously growing by focusing its resources on fruiting. This is especially important for plants in the greenhouse, where conditions are more favorable than outdoors. Secondly, in this way you help the plant to develop, providing access to light to all parts. This, of course, reduces the likelihood of fungal diseases or the development of harmful insects. Thirdly, pinching makes it easier to care for the crop and makes it more enjoyable to grow.

If the cultivation of this vegetable in the open field can do without pinching, due to the early maturity of the plant, then in a greenhouse, especially from polycarbonate, there is nothing without it. However, if you do not want to bother with shoots, then undersized varieties such as “Delicates”, “Robin Hood”, “White Night”, “Almaz”, which grow well without pinching, are in a hurry to help.

Formation schemes

There are several schemes for the formation of a bush: one shoot, two shoots and, more rarely, three shoots. The choice of the scheme is carried out according to the general characteristics of the variety, sometimes it is better to concentrate on one stem, and sometimes, on the contrary, let the eggplant grow in two stems. The quantity and quality of the crop essentially depends on this. And also, it becomes more complicated or, conversely, simplifies the care of the bush.

Pickling begins when the height of the bush is more than 30 cm. By pinching off the top, you stimulate the growth of lateral stems, as well as their own leaves and inflorescences. At this stage, it is important to remove all excess inflorescences and leaves. The main difficulty of pinching for inexperienced gardeners is choosing the right stem to remove and which to leave.

In order not to cause significant damage to the plant, pinching is best done either in dry weather or in high humidity in order to prevent the development of infection.

Having chosen a scheme and proceeding to pinching, make sure that the remaining shoots and their inflorescences are well lit. It makes no sense to highlight a shoot that will be shaded and will not be able to develop normally, bloom, bear fruit. After the end of flowering, when the fruits have already formed, cut off all new inflorescences so that the plant uses the resource for the ripening of the fruit, and not the formation of new ones.

Eggplant Care Video

This video tells about pinching eggplants.

How to form correctly

So how to form eggplants outdoors or in a polycarbonate greenhouse? The first step is to make sure the plant is not sick, as this can further weaken it. Give preference to wet weather, shaping in the morning when it is still cool enough. It is better to carry out the grazing of the bush before flowering, especially if the eggplant looks weak or begins to wilt.

Caring for and growing vegetables (both in the greenhouse and outdoors) means that you will have to clear the lower part of the bush of leaves and shoots so that it develops more in the upper section, where the inflorescences and fruits are concentrated.

1 stem

Such a scheme is used if the cultivation of eggplant takes place in a cramped environment, for example, there is not enough space in the greenhouse. Choose the strongest and strongest shoot and tie it vertically to stimulate its growth without breaking it. Remove the rest of the shoots from the bush, and also clean the lower part of the stem from the leaves.

Subsequently, caring for such an eggplant will require the removal of the resulting shoots, their inflorescences and leaves.

2 stems

In fact, the “2-stem formation in a greenhouse” scheme is no different from the “1-stem” scheme. Only now you need to choose the two most advanced shoots. When the bush grows up to 30-35 cm, pinch its top, and wait for the side stems to form. It is from them that you need to choose. It is recommended to leave 2-3 of the fleshy shoots, and cut off the rest. Sections should be covered with lime or wood ash to avoid contaminating the eggplant.

With this scheme, you need to remove all lateral shoots below 45-50 cm, leaving 1-2 leaves on them. As soon as the eggplant begins to bloom, leave about 20 buds on each bush, remove the rest. Such care will help to form a sufficient number of fruits, but at the same time not deplete the plant.

Video "How to shape eggplants"

How to properly form a vegetable is described in the video.