Eggplant formation in a polycarbonate greenhouse

What is it for

The benefits of pinching eggplant, especially if done correctly, are invaluable. First, you prevent the plant from spontaneously growing by focusing its resources on fruiting. This is especially important for plants in a greenhouse, where conditions are more favorable than on open ground. Secondly, in this way you help the plant to develop, providing access to light to all parts. This, of course, reduces the likelihood of fungal diseases or the development of harmful insects. Thirdly, pinching simplifies crop care and makes growing them more enjoyable.

If the cultivation of this vegetable in the open field can do without pinching, due to the precocity of the plant, then in a greenhouse, especially from polycarbonate, there is no way without it. However, if you don’t want to mess with the shoots, then low-growing varieties, such as “Delicacy”, “Robin Hood”, “White Night”, “Diamond”, rush to the rescue, which grow well without pinching.

Formation schemes

There are several schemes for the formation of a bush: one shoot, two shoots and, more rarely, three shoots. The choice of scheme is carried out according to the general characteristics of the variety, sometimes it is better to concentrate on one stem, and sometimes, on the contrary, let the eggplant grow along two stems. From this, in fact, depends on the quantity and quality of the crop. It also complicates or, conversely, simplifies the care of the bush.

Stepping begins when the height of the bush is more than 30 cm. By pinching off the top, you stimulate the growth of lateral stems, as well as their own leaves and inflorescences. At this stage, it is important to remove all excess inflorescences and leaves. The main difficulty of pinching for inexperienced gardeners is to choose the right stem to remove and which to leave.

In order not to cause significant harm to the plant, pinching is best done either in dry weather or at high humidity in order to prevent the development of infection.

Having chosen a scheme and started pinching, make sure that the remaining shoots and their inflorescences are well lit. It makes no sense to isolate a shoot that will be shaded and will not be able to develop normally, bloom, bear fruit. After the end of flowering, when the fruits have already formed, cut off all new inflorescences so that the plant uses the resource for the ripening of the fruit, and not the formation of new ones.

Video “Eggplant Care”

This video talks about pinching eggplant.

How to form correctly

So, how to form eggplants in the open field or in a polycarbonate greenhouse? First of all, make sure that the plant does not get sick, as this can further weaken it. Give preference to wet weather, carry out the formation in the morning, when it is still cool enough. Pasynkovanie bush is best done before flowering, especially if the eggplant looks weak or begins to wither.

Caring for and growing vegetables (both in a greenhouse and outdoors) means that you will have to clear the lower part of the bush from leaves and shoots so that it develops more of the upper section, where inflorescences and fruits are concentrated.

1 stem

Such a scheme is used if eggplant cultivation takes place in cramped conditions, for example, there is not enough space in a greenhouse. Choose the strongest and strongest shoot, tie it vertically to stimulate its growth, but at the same time prevent it from breaking. Remove the rest of the shoots from the bush, and also clean the lower part of the stem from the leaves.

Subsequently, caring for such an eggplant will require the removal of the resulting shoots, their inflorescences and leaves.

In 2 stalks

In fact, the “formation in 2 stems in a greenhouse” scheme is not much different from the “in 1 stem” scheme. Only now you need to choose the two most developed shoots. When the bush grows to 30-35 cm, pinch its top, and wait until the side stems form. These are the ones you need to choose from. It is recommended to leave 2-3 of the most fleshy shoots, and cut off the rest. Slices should be covered with lime or wood ash so as not to infect the eggplant.

With this scheme, you need to remove all side shoots below 45-50 cm, leaving 1-2 leaves on them. As soon as the eggplant begins to bloom, leave about 20 buds on each bush, remove the rest. Such care will help to form a sufficient number of fruits, but at the same time not deplete the plant.

Video “How to shape eggplant”

How to properly form a vegetable is described in the video.