Eggplant flowers - Ask Extension
My two eggplants look great. Usually at this time of year they look a little shakey, but this year the plants are strong with lots of leaves and mini...
Knowledgebase
Eggplant flowers #343748
Asked July 17, 2016, 8:27 AM EDT
My two eggplants look great. Usually at this time of year they look a little shakey, but this year the plants are strong with lots of leaves and minimal flea beetle damage. The problem is hat the flowers are dying at the point where they attach to the main stalk. So when they should be setting fruit, they are withering instead. I don't see any sign of insects aside from the flea beetle damage from earlier this summer. I haven't been fertilizing regularly. Is that what is needed or is this heat related?
Baltimore City County Maryland
Expert Response
This sounds like a cultural problem, not an insect or disease. Blossoms drop off if eggplant plants are water stressed. Deep and infrequent watering is best. Bottom water.
Also, make sure your plants are getting enough sun. If they receive less than 6 hours of sunlight a day, they may not bloom. Also, windy conditions can interfere with fruit set, so if you can create windbreaks in the garden, do so.
Also, make sure your plants are getting enough sun. If they receive less than 6 hours of sunlight a day, they may not bloom. Also, windy conditions can interfere with fruit set, so if you can create windbreaks in the garden, do so.
Extremely high temperatures have also been reported to cause issues. These things generally have a way of working out. If the plants look vigorous and healthy, they should reward you for your effort eventually. Sometimes the late summer/early fall crop is the best.
ECN
