Eggplant also commonly known as brinjal, is grown during warm weather. Eggplant requires direct access to sunlight during most parts of the day, in order to grow in a healthy way. Eggplant is a member species of the nightshade family. Similar to tomatoes and pepper, the eggplant is also tropical or subtropical in nature and therefore the plant grows best in high temperatures.
The growth of these plants slows down by a greater margin during cooler weather. Eggplant is a self pollinating plant as it has both male and female organs in it. However, most gardeners get frustrated when the flowers fall off. Eggplant flowers falling off is a common problem faced by many gardeners. let us discuss the causes of eggplant flowers falling off, and also have a look at the solution for the same.
Why Are My Eggplant Flowers Falling Off?
Eggplants are tropical plants and grow in areas of high temperature. They need well-drained soil for their growth. The falling of eggplant flowers could be a result of combination of various factors, but the two main reasons behind eggplant flowers falling off are
- Shortage of water
- Absence of pollination
Let us try to understand the impact of shortage of water and absence of pollination on eggplant in detail.
Also Read: How to Pollinate Eggplants?
Shortage of Water
Eggplant is a heavy feeding plant and requires consistent watering to stay healthy. Lack of water creates stress on the plant as the plant needs to survive the extremely hot temperatures.
As a result of this stress created by lack of water eggplant sheds off its flowers thinking that it cannot meet up the requirements of the new fruit. So, if you notice the flowers from your plant falling off, check if you are watering your plants regularly.
Eggplant requires at least 18 inches of water in the soil so that its roots did you mean hydrated and thereby the whole plant remains hydrated.
Moreover creating a mulch of around 3 inches around the eggplant will help in retaining the moisture in the soil, which is essential for a healthy harvest.
Also Read: Chilli Flowers Dropping Off
Absence of pollination
Eggplants are self pollinating as they have the male and female organs in them. They do not depend on insects or bees for their pollination, but it is often noticed, that eggplants face difficulties in self pollination.
Usually, pollination happens in eggplants by wind, but there could be a problem in pollination If the weather is extremely humid or wet. In case of very hot weather the pollen turns inactive as it thinks that it will not be able to support the stress caused by an additional fruit in the extremely hot weather.
Alternatively, it can also be said that the eggplant, aborts its fruit so that it does not stress itself any further. In case of humid weather conditions, due to the presence of excess moisture in the air, the pollen becomes very sticky and therefore it cannot reach the pistil for the pollination of the flower.
In case the flowers of your eggplant are falling off due to a lack of pollination, you will need to act like a pollinator and try hand pollination.
Apart from the two above mentioned points, there could be other factors associated but the falling off your eggplant flowers. Let us have a look at them too.
Weather Conditions
A possible reason for the falling of your eggplant flowers could be unsuitable weather conditions. Eggplant thrives in hot temperatures and is known to grow at a slow pace in lower temperatures.
If your eggplant does not receive at least six hours of sunlight during the day, the flowers are likely to fall off or not develop at all. It is therefore important for you to grow your eggplants at a place, which receives an abundance of sunlight during the day.
Inadequate Fertilization
The absence of proper fertilization could also lead to falling off the eggplant flower. Poor fertilization means a scarcity of required nutrients for the growth of eggplant. This scarcity causes stress on the eggplant and thereby leads to the falling of flowers without producing fruit.
It is essential that you add horse or cow manure regularly to the soil as it adds nitrogen back into the soil.
Nitrogen is crucial for the production of protein by the plant. Adding organic fertilizers is also essential as it adds phosphorous to the soil which stimulates the generation of healthy flowers and fruits.
Extremely High Temperature
Eggplants are tropical plants and grow better in high temperatures but when the temperature rises above 32 degrees Celsius, the eggplant must be covered by a shading cloth to protect it from possible damage is caused by the extremely high temperature.
Constantly observe the temperature around your eggplant and cover your eggplant with the shading cloth if the need be.
In case you have grown your eggplant in containers the task of managing temperature would be easier for you as you can shift the eggplant to a place which does not get direct sunlight on the days of extremely high temperatures.
Also Read: What Not to Plant With Cucumbers?
Lack of Nutrients in Soil
For a healthy harvest it is essential that you check the availability of nutrients in the soil before planting brinjals or eggplants.
If the soil has more nitrogen content as compared to phosphorus or more phosphorus content as compared to nitrogen, in both these conditions your eggplant might look healthy from the outside but it will not be able to produce fruits.
Thus, it is advisable that you check the nutrient content in soil, before planting eggplants.
The reason behind falling of eggplant flowers could be any of the above mentioned points odd a combination of any two or three of the points mentioned above.
Whatever is the reason when the flowers fall off without producing fruit it is likely to frustrate the gardener.
Every gardener tries his or her best to take care of the plant he or she has grown with all the information he/she has.
Feeling dejected when the flowers fall off is completely obvious and understandable. To avoid this situation from occurring, let us have a look at the steps add precautions every gardener should follow to prevent the flowers from falling off.
How to Stop Flowers Falling Off From Eggplant?
The flowers falling off from eggplant is a sign of lack of something be it nutrients, fertilizers, or water. Therefore, in order to avoid the falling off of the flowers it is essential that you take good care of your eggplants and ensure that there is no scarcity of any kind.
Continue reading to find out all the steps you need to take for the prevention of flowers falling from your eggplant.
- As we have already discussed, eggplants are tropical or subtropical in nature and therefore they need warm temperatures and direct access to sunlight to be able to produce a healthy harvest.
- So first of all, you need to find a place for the plantation of your eggplants, which receives direct sunlight for at least six hours during the day. Even if you decide to grow your eggplants in containers choose a place in your house which did receives direct sunlight for most parts of the day.
- Secondly, you are required to add water to the soil regularly. Eggplants have roots which spread deeper into the soil and therefore you must add water till at least 18 inches beneath the soil.
- Since eggplants grow in higher temperatures, it is obvious that the water evaporates quickly because of the heat. Scarcity of water creates the stress on the plant and therefore the Flowers fall off before producing fruit.
- So if you wish to have a healthy harvest start watering your plant regularly. It is also advisable that you create a merge of at least three inches around the eggplant as this will help the plant and retaining moisture in the soil for a longer duration.
- In case the weather is extremely hot or extremely humid, the process of self-pollination does not take place in eggplants, which in turn leads to falling off flowers. Therefore they avoid such a situation from damaging your harvest; you should pollinate the flowers of your eggplant. It’s a very easy process and does not take much time and the results are totally worth the minimal effort. We will discuss how to hand pollinate eggplants at a later stage.
- Plants feed on the nutrients available in the soil to stay healthy. You should go for a soil check before planting eggplants in a particular variety of soil.
- The next important step that you must never skip is regularly fertilizing the soil. Add compost and call manual regularly into the soil as it adds back nitrogen to the soil which is essential for the formation of proteins by the plant.
- Also use organic fertilizers at regular intervals. Doing so will help your plant in meeting its daily food requirements and therefore your plant will be able to generate a healthy harvest.
- Sun protection is a crucial step that most gardeners do not take into account. While eggplants crave sunlight and are known to grow better in higher temperatures, it is also important to note that when the temperature rises beyond 32 degrees Celsius, the access to direct sunlight does more damage than good to your plant. In such times you should cover your eggplant with a shade cloth so that your plant does not receive direct sunlight.
- Indoor gardeners should shift the containers of eggplant to a place where the temperatures are not as high. This step must not be skipped, otherwise the flowers will dry out and fall off and the chances of your plant completely drying out also become high.
How to Hand Pollinate My Eggplants?
Eggplants are self pollinating but if you notice the Flowers of your eggplant falling off it could be because of lack of pollination. Self pollination usually occurs by the movements caused in the eggplant by wind or rain. In case of extremely hot or humid temperatures the process of self pollination tends to not happen. Therefore you must act as an agent and pollinate your eggplant so that it produces fruits.
Hand pollinating eggplants is easy and can be done within a short span of time. Let us have a look at the ways in which hand pollination can be done.
- Take a paint brush; make sure the paint brush is clean. Now with the help of this paintbrush help your eggplant in pollinating. Move this paint brush in the inside of the eggplant flower. . Repeat the same process with all of the flowers on your eggplant. You are done.
By doing this, you will help the pollen in reaching the pistils, which means you have acted as an agent in the process of pollinating your eggplant. - Another way of hand pollination could be simply by tapping the plant to create vibrations in the plant. The vibrations will help though eggplant in pollination and lead to generation of fruits. Although using a paintbrush for aiding your plant in pollination is a much more effective.
To generate a healthy harvest and to avoid your flowers from falling off prematurely, take all of the points mentioned above into account. Always be watchful of the changes happening in the weather conditions and the impact of them on your plant.
Also Read: How to Attract Pollinators To Vegetable Gardens?
Conclusion
Eggplants are a popular choice among gardeners because of its great taste. Growing and maintaining appliances also easy and it does not require much effort. All you need to be careful about is, regular watering and fertilization of the plant.
Eggplants are heavy feeders and therefore should always be provided with decent amount of nutrients and water to survive. The most important concern that most gardeners have with growing eggplants, is the falling off of flowers without producing fruit, but by taking care of the plants water and wither requirements, this problem can be easily eradicated.