How to form eggplants in a greenhouse correctly: instructions for beginner gardeners

Beloved by many gardeners, eggplant is a heat-loving plant that needs calm weather, high ambient temperatures and competent care. Shrub formation is an important process to get a good harvest. We will tell you in detail how to properly form eggplants in a greenhouse and what it is for.

Why mold eggplants in a greenhouse

If you leave the eggplant to grow on its own, the fruit will be small and tasteless.... It is important not only to water and feed the plants, but also to form the bushes in time.

Stepsons, weak ovaries, leaves must be removed, as they will take away the nutrients necessary for growth and fruiting.

Excess green mass obscures the sun, and eggplant is a photophilous plant. Therefore, the bush is formed so that sunlight falls on each part of the plant.

When to do it

The time of the procedure depends on the weather conditions, the region of cultivation and the type of crop.

Indoor eggplants begin to form when bushes will reach a height of 30 cm.

Reference. If eggplants are grown in open beds, the procedure is carried out 10-15 days after planting the seedlings in a permanent place.

Docking is carried out in dry, calm weather early morning or late evening with breaks of 7 days.

Formation methods

Bushes formed in one of the ways described below.

One stem

This is the most radical way, which is chosen for the following reasons:

1. Unfavorable weather conditions, poor rooting and weakening of the bushes. In this case, one stem is left in order to direct all the nutrients for good growth and abundant fruit formation on it.
2. Dense plantings. Such cultivation is caused by a lack of space on the site. It is especially important to form bushes if tall varieties are planted.
3. Lack of light. Pruning helps the fruit ripen in a timely and harmonious manner.

To form one stem on a bush, pinching is carried out 14 days after disembarkation young eggplants to a permanent place. If the plants do not develop well, the process is postponed for another 7 days. Repeated pruning is carried out at intervals of 2-3 weeks, until the fruits reach technical ripeness.

It can be useful:

What to do to prevent eggplant leaves from drying

What to do if the leaves turn yellow in the eggplant greenhouse

Formation into one stem:

• remove all ovaries and lateral shoots from the root zone to the fifth true leaf;
• at a height of 6-8 leaves, pinch the stepsons and remove 50% of the ovaries;
• all shoots are removed at the height of the tenth leaf;
• then all stepchildren are left with fruit ovaries on two sheets, with no more than three leaves on the crown.

Two stems

The first pruning of the bush is done in the second week after planting the seedlings... If the bushes are weakened and do not take root well, the process is postponed for one week.

The top of the plant is pinched after the culture reaches a height of 30-35 cm... This will stimulate the growth of strong lateral shoots, from which the two strongest are selected. All leaves and stepsons are removed before the fork. If the summers are hot, you can leave the two lowest leaves to shade the root system.

Further formation is done at intervals of 2-3 weeks... All stepchildren and half of the formed ovaries are removed from the stems. In the future, the procedure is carried out with the same frequency as in one stem.

Important! In tall eggplant varieties, both stems must be tied, otherwise they will break off from the weight of the fruit.

Three or more stems

In the first stage, two stems are formed, as soon as two strongest shoots are formed at a height of 35 cm. Two weeks later, branches of the crown skeleton are formed - on each branch, one strong stepson is left. The crown turns out to be lush, and the formation of ovaries will be more active.

All shoots on which there are no ovaries are completely eliminated.

When less than a month is left before harvestpinch growth points on all stems. As soon as the growth of the bush stops, all nutrients will be directed to the growth and ripening of the fruit.

This the method is used with a small number of plantsplanted rarely. If the plantings are thickened, this method of forming a bush is contraindicated - the plants will oppress each other.

How to carry out the procedure

Improper formation of bushes can lead to rotting of the root part or, if over-pruned, kill the plant.

Eggplant pickling is done manually, no tools are needed for this process, they can damage the delicate stems. Before processing, wipe your hands with a disinfectant solution so as not to infect an infection.

If a pruner is used, it is also processed and ash or potassium permanganate is prepared for processing the sections.

Before you start removing the stepsons, the bushes are tied up... Otherwise, there is a possibility that the stems will break off under the weight of the crown, since pruning them greatly weakens.

If the bush is formed into two stems, the garter is made below the branch point.

Forming instruction:

• three weeks later, for the first time, all stepsons are removed (the time is counted from the day of disembarkation);
• further pruning is carried out every 14 days.

You should not delay the procedure, as it depends on not only the formation of the correct crown, but also the yield.

Distinctive features of the formation of eggplants in the open field

2 weeks after planting seedlings the upper growth point at a height of 35 cm is removed to the garden bed.

As soon as the lateral layers appear, the required number of strong shoots is selected, the rest are removed.

Important! If it's hot, sunny weather outside, sprinkle the cuts with wood ash to avoid scalding.

Twice a week, new shoots are removed on the bush, on which there are no ovaries.

If it is not possible to water the plants in a timely manner in the open field, the lower leaves must be left to protect the soil from drying out. But the leaves should not lie on the ground - in rainy weather, rot may appear on them, and the plant will get sick.

Do I need to pinch eggplants

When growing crops on an industrial scale, pinching is not carried out.

In the gardens, pinch all tall varieties so that the fruits are poured faster... However, this procedure is not necessary for low-growing plants.

Pruning leaves

As the bushes grow, the leaves are cut... This can be avoided if the plants are undersized - they do not form extra shoots and begin to bear fruit early.

Leaves are trimmed so that the root zone is ventilated... The first to remove are those that are closer to the ground. As soon as the first ovary is formed, you can cut off all the leaves, except for the one that grew under the fruit.

Read also:

Tips for caring for eggplants in the greenhouse

Secrets of feeding eggplant for a rich harvest

Instructions for growing eggplant from A to Z

Tips & Tricks

Experienced gardeners give such recommendations for obtaining a rich harvest:

• so that the plants do not become infected with infections, carry out pinching in warm weather;
• in hot weather, it is not necessary to cut the lower foliage, especially if the crop is grown in the open field;
• before the formation of a bush, hands and tools must be disinfected, otherwise you can infect an infection;
• stepchildren must be removed in a timely manner - overgrown layers will be more difficult to separate, and they will take nutrients from the plant;
• remove diseased plants and leaves immediately, otherwise they can ruin the entire crop;
• you should not use a lot of organic matter as fertilizer - this will lead to the growth of green mass, and the fruits will be small and tasteless.

Common mistakes to avoid

Among novice gardeners, common misconceptions that prevent them from getting a good harvest:

1. Eggplants do not need to be pinched or bush-shaped. As practice shows, this process can be eliminated only when growing undersized varieties.
2. Pinching plants is harmful, as it disrupts the course of natural growth. Removing the lower shoots, however, helps in fruit formation. In addition, plants tend to regenerate.
3. The lower part of the stem does not need to be shaped. This misconception can lead to the death of the bush. If the root zone is heavily shaded, putrefactive bacteria will begin to develop, and the lower part of the plant will take up all the nutrients.
4. All ovaries should be left at the bottom of the bush. In reality, the opposite is true - the closer to the top, the more fruits.
5. It is necessary to form all the eggplants in one bed according to a single scheme. This is not true. For each bush, the type of crown will be individual, it all depends on the rooting of the plant, its quality condition and variety.

Conclusion

The formation of eggplants is an important condition for obtaining a bountiful harvest. If you follow the recommendations and cut off stepsons, shoots and leaves in time, you can get a large harvest of delicious fruits.