Eggplant ?

JonRigby2005 Thu May 06, 2010 1:40 am

So, I planted black beauty eggplant for the first time. This is in ground and due to finances was unable to amend my soil to my liking. They are growing great/fast, and full of blossoms, but, and its a big but, before or right after polination the plant drops the blooms. I think it has to do with the sandy soil not holding water(needing to water to frequently), but thought I would ask for some insight. Everything else is doing great except my scallions, and nothing else is dropping blossoms.

Jon

ander217 Thu May 06, 2010 8:34 am

Are you raising tomatoes, too? If your tomatoes aren't having blossom drop, then it's probably not high temperatures or lack of water, two things which can stress eggplants into dropping blossoms. They don't like a lot of nitrogen, either, so it's probably not your soil.

Do you have high humidity? Sometimes when it is very humid, the pollen cakes up instead of dropping as it should, and the unpollinated flowers fall.

You might try hand-pollinating a few flowers and see if they stay on.

My eggplants always seem to go through periods where they will not produce, and then suddenly I may be inundated with fruit. I do remember one year in which I picked only five eggplants from three plants so I'm obviously no expert. I think they are just picky as to heat, moisture, and humidity, and when condition are finally to their liking they reward us.

Good luck.

JonRigby2005 Thu May 06, 2010 11:17 am

I'm in Tampa, FL so the humidity is high. I have a dozen tomatoes which are doing fantastic. The eggplants are covered in blossoms, show their pretty flowers for a couple days then drop em. I will try hand pollinating, thanks for the response.

chocolatepop Thu May 06, 2010 12:45 pm

ya know, I was wondering about pollination also. I had this problem a few years ago and was told to hand pollinate or "shake shake shake"

nancy Thu May 06, 2010 4:06 pm

A guy at work just brought me a baby eggplant (black beauty). (He also brought me a cherry tomato, a beefsteak tomato, a green pepper, and a banana pepper!) I hadn't really planned on eggplant and I don't really know what to do with it. How big will it get and how many squares does it need? My book is at home, so I will look it up tonite, but thought I would ask for personal experience, too. I'm quite excited about it!

ander217 Thu May 06, 2010 5:06 pm

Mine usually grow about the same size as pepper plants. I planted mine one to a square.

**camprn** Thu May 06, 2010 7:55 pm

My eggplants last year wanted water, a LOT of water. I watered them more than the tomato plants. I love aubergine. I can hardly wait for it fresh!!! Very Happy

Toastie Thu May 06, 2010 9:55 pm

I am having a different problem with my eggplants and squash they just are not growing.
My cherry tomatoes are growing nicely, but my big tomatoes are not holding their flowers.
Should I start watering every day. Right now I am using a Mardi Gras cup of water every other day. Should I change this

JonRigby2005 Thu May 06, 2010 10:35 pm

If your tomatoes are dropping their blooms, and it's not too hot (shouldn't be there yet), in my experience one problem can be too much nitrogen.

HawaiiAl Fri May 07, 2010 12:34 am

it depends on if your compost is high with nitrogen, your plants may need calcium you can make your own its better than store bought. look up aspirin water on the net, may help you.

Toastie Fri May 07, 2010 7:52 am

So if I side dress with some PNK fertilizer I should not add any with the nitrogen in it

HawaiiAl Fri May 07, 2010 1:04 pm

correct

al Sat May 15, 2010 2:25 pm

Toastie wrote:I am having a different problem with my eggplants and squash they just are not growing.
My cherry tomatoes are growing nicely, but my big tomatoes are not holding their flowers.
Should I start watering every day. Right now I am using a Mardi Gras cup of water every other day. Should I change this

I water every morning. Lots of water and try to keep it off the leaves. I do not think you can over water in raised beds. I also feed each plant 1t of feed each week, watering it in. So far so good all plants are doing great.

JonRigby2005 Sat May 15, 2010 5:42 pm

It's hard to overwater period when it's 90 degrees out there, I can't seem to water enough. That florida sun doesn't play around.

Toastie Tue May 18, 2010 10:09 pm

Well I upped my watering any my gardening exploded. The eggplant and squash are doing great except for the ones planted at teh end of the rows
Unfortunately I did not have Mel's mix and I am worried about my beans (the lower leaves are turning yellow with brown splotches)

**WardinWake** Tue May 18, 2010 10:33 pm

Jon:

If you edit your profile you can add your location. That way when you post folks will know where you are and that can help them to answer questions you have.

God Bless, Ward.

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