How to correctly form and pinch eggplants in the open field and in the greenhouse: a diagram

You are probably interested in the question of forming and pinching eggplants, right? Indeed, eggplants, like peppers, tomato and cucumbers, stepsons are formed. What to do with them?

Next, you will find out why and how to properly form eggplants in order to get an even bigger harvest.

Why shape eggplant

It would seem that in nature, plants themselves decide everything: which shoots and where to grow, when and how much to set fruits.

In fact, many summer residents (especially from the south) never form eggplants and other vegetable crops (cucumbers, tomatoes).

However, in regions with a shorter summer, in the same suburbs or the Leningrad region, without shaping (especially in the open field), you may receive less of the harvest, because eggplants simply do not have time to ripen or grow small.

Remember! The stepsons are removed so that they do not take food away from the plant and all forces are redirected to the harvest, and not wasted.

Rules and scheme for the formation and pinching of eggplants

The eggplant formation procedure includes the following procedures:

• pinching;
• removal of excess ovaries;
• removal of the lower yellow leaves;
• pinching the tops at the end of the season.

Note! The scheme for the formation and pinching of eggplants in the greenhouse and in the open field is the same, except that more fruits can be left in the greenhouse.

Stealing

Stepsons are lateral shoots that form in the leaf axils.

When to remove stepsons?

• Stepsons begin to remove around June, 2-4 weeks after planting seedlings in open ground or a greenhouse.

In this case, the stepsons to be removed must be at least 1.5 - 2 cm longso as not to stimulate the awakening of lateral buds and the regrowth of new stepsons.

What stepsons to remove?

• At the bottom of the bush, before the fork (there, as a rule, a "crown flower" appears), you need to remove all stepsons.

 

Further, it is not necessary to remove the shoots, you can only limit the number of fruits on them, so that they (eggplants) are larger.

Although, usually, 3-5 main shoots are left on one bush.

• You will also need to delete all stepchildren of the second order, which will form on the upper main shoots (after the fork), where the fruits have already set.

How to remove stepsons correctly?

• It is better not to break off and not tear off the stepsons, namely trim, leaving a stump of 0.5 cm... Although, everything is at your discretion.

Removal of ovaries (flowers)

As a rule, most gardeners recommend removing the first peduncle ("crown flower") that appears at the place of the future fork (to which stepchildren must be removed). It is believed that this first eggplant draws off all the nutrition. However, this is a rather controversial statement that many gardeners deny.

How many ovaries should you leave?

• It all depends on the climatic features of the region (in short - the warmer, the more and vice versa).

Differences in the formation of peppers for different regions:

• If this is the southern region, then you can leave 20-30 fruits, in other words, do not touch anything at all.
• If the summer is short (the middle lane or even more so the North-West), then it is better to grow 5-10 full-fledged large fruits (300 grams or more).

Important! At the end of the season (August), it is imperative to remove all the flowers and ovaries from a pea, since they still do not have time to form into fruits, and the plants will waste their energy on them.

Removing leaves

The yellowed lower leaves must be removed, and from all plants (cucumbers, tomatoes).

The fact is that the yellow lower leaves no longer work for photosynthesis, in other words, there is no benefit from them for the plant. Moreover, they can be a source of disease.

Pinching the tops

At the end of the season, it will be possible to pinch all the tops (growth points) so that the plant no longer spends energy on growth, but only on ripening and pouring fruits.

Moreover, it is worth limiting in growth both the tops of the main stems of the plant and the stepsons.

Important! You need to pinch over 2-3 leaves after the fruit.

However, if your plants are very elongated and become more than half a meter in height, while they have not formed lateral shoots and even buds, then you should definitely pinch the growing point in order to stimulate branching.

Video: how to shape eggplant

Answers to popular questions on the formation and pinching of eggplants

Are there any differences between the formation of eggplants in the greenhouse and in the open field?

Should the crown flower be removed?

• If the plant is strong, many flowers have formed on it, then it is not at all necessary to remove the crown flower.
• If the crown flower has blossomed alone, and even during the seedling period (before planting in the ground), then it is better to remove it.

Well, now you know how you can shape eggplants. Whether or not to delete stepchildren is up to you. In any case, you need to be convinced by your own experience.

Opposite opinion! And the author of this video does not recommend deleting stepsons in the Middle Lane (Moscow region), and even more so normalizing the number of ovaries.