Why don’t eggplants set in a greenhouse and what to do about it

Growing juicy eggplant in a greenhouse is not an easy task. The vegetable is demanding and sensitive to environmental conditions: temperature, humidity, soil. Even abundant flowering of a plant does not guarantee the presence of fruits.

From the article you will learn why they do not bear fruit and get acquainted with the best ways to solve this problem.

Reasons why eggplants do not set in greenhouses and greenhouses

When growing eggplants in a greenhouse, gardeners are often faced with a complete absence of ovaries. There are a number of reasons for this.

Bad Seeds

When choosing planting material, pay attention to varieties, designed for your climate and region. Hybrids are very popular - they are more tolerant of temperature changes and can withstand acclimatization well.

The best greenhouse varieties and hybrids: Behemoth, Alekseevsky, Purple miracle, Filimon, Bibo hybrid.

Important! Before planting, the seeds are checked. To do this, they are immersed in a glass of lightly salted water for 30 minutes. Good seeds will sink to the bottom, while bad seeds will remain on the surface of the water.

Bad seeds can please you, at best, only with flowering. There will be no fruit. Select only high-quality planting material.

Soil composition

Eggplants need airy, nutritious soil with a neutral acidity level.. The presence of nitrogen in it is important. Its deficiency will lead to the absence of ovaries, but its excess can lead to the flowers falling off.The presence of phosphorus and potassium in the soil is mandatory.

Attention! Light and nutritious soils are suitable for eggplant. In clay, acidic, podzolic soil, fruit formation may not occur.

Violating Neighborhood Rules

For comfortable growth and development eggplant needs suitable neighbors:

• pepper;
• lettuce, spinach, basil;
• legumes – peas, beans;
• Chinese cabbage, onion, radish;
• parsley and dill (they will enrich the soil and repel pests).

Experienced gardeners advise planting each crop in a separate bed. In a greenhouse, it is contraindicated to combine eggplants with cucumbers and tomatoes.. The former will shade them, but tomatoes need coolness and shade.

Attempts to plant incompatible crops with eggplants can result in a complete lack of harvest.

Mistakes when watering

Proper watering is a prerequisite for the harmonious development of vegetables. Excess moisture will lead to rotting of the roots, and too little will lead to the falling off of flowers and small fruits. When watering, the soil should be moistened by 20 cm. The plant is watered at the root. Avoid getting it on the sheets - this can lead to the development of fungal diseases.

Important! Do not water the plant with cold water. The optimal temperature is 24-25°C.

Unfavorable temperature conditions

Eggplants produce generous fruit when given warmth and sunlight.. Pollination occurs at temperatures from 25 to 30°C. The temperature in the greenhouse must be maintained at 26-27°C and not allowed to drop or rise.

Nutritional deficiencies

Lack of fruit may be due to lack of nutrients in the soil. The vegetable is fed from the moment of planting the seeds, alternating mineral fertilizers with organic ones.

Why do eggplants bloom but not set?

Gardeners are familiar with the situation when eggplants grow and bloom well, but the fruits do not set. Weather conditions or violation of care rules may be to blame.

Why don't they bear fruit?:

1. Wrong landing site selected. The vegetable grows in the shade, it lacks light and warmth.
2. Sudden changes in temperature. The temperature in the greenhouse is too high or too low.
3. Poorly fertilized soil. Incorrect feeding or its complete absence.
4. Lack of moisture or overwatering of the plant.
5. High humidity in a greenhouse. Humid air prevents plants from pollinating. After watering, be sure to ventilate the greenhouse.
6. Drafts in the greenhouse. Gusts of cold air prevent the formation of ovaries. For ventilation it is enough to open one window.
7. Clogged soil does not allow fruits to develop. After watering, loosen the soil.
8. Regularly inspect the bushes for pests: Colorado potato beetle, aphids. If they are infested, you cannot use chemicals to control them - in greenhouse conditions the plant will absorb them.

What to do to correct the situation

Don’t be disappointed in advance; try to apply the advice of experienced gardeners.

Feeding

A common cause of barren flowers is a lack of essential nutrients in the soil.. During growth, the plant is fed at least four times with nitrogen and potassium-phosphorus fertilizers:

1. Two weeks after planting the seedlings in the greenhouse. At this time, the root system became stronger. Nitrogen fertilizers work well.
2. With the appearance of the first ovaries. Use complex drugs.
3. During fruit formation. Potassium-phosphorus fertilizers would be an ideal option.
4. During active fruiting of the crop. Fertilizers with potassium and phosphorus will come in handy.

During the flowering period, gardeners use boric acid as a fertilizer.. A few drops are dissolved in 10 liters of water.

Important! Use only root feeding. If the composition gets on the leaves, wash it off with clean water.

Correction of agrotechnical errors

Correct agrotechnical errors, if any. — violation of temperature, watering, lighting regimes:

1. Check to see if enough sunlight is entering the greenhouse.
2. Measure the temperature in the greenhouse.
3. Inspect soil moisture. In cloudy weather, it is better to reduce watering; once every 6-7 days is enough. On hot days, water the plant once every 3-5 days. The water should be warm. Don't let it dry out.
4. After watering, ventilate the greenhouse and loosen the soil. Avoid drafts and high humidity.

Secrets of increasing ovary formations

Secrets, the use of which will help in the formation of fruit ovaries:

1. Eggplants are self-pollinating, but sometimes they need help. In a greenhouse, due to high humidity, it is difficult for pollen to be transferred to other flowers. It accumulates and sticks together. The pollination process is disrupted. To prevent this, control the humidity and periodically gently shake the branches with flowers to prevent the pollen from drying out.
2. Form the bush correctly. Remove bad ovaries and damaged, yellowed leaves. When forming the fruit, remove the remaining corolla of the flower. It rots, which means the fruit itself can rot.
3. Use soil mulching. Thanks to mulch (straw, grass, sawdust), uniform moisture is maintained for a long time.

How to prevent the problem from occurring

It is better to prevent the problem of lack of ovaries in advance:

1. Take care of the soil for the plant. It must be nutritious.Fertilize with phosphorus-potassium solutions in the fall. Do not plant eggplants in cold soil - this will slow down their development. The soil must contain sufficient nitrogen. Its deficiency will lead to the absence of ovaries, and its excess will only give growth to the bush. Wood ash will help reduce nitrogen levels.
2. Think in advance about where to plant the crop. It should be well lit by sunlight.
3. Use high-quality zoned varieties.
4. Plant with seedling material. Plant the seeds in separate pots; when replanting, do not pick up the roots; plant them together with the soil.
5. Keep an eye on pollination. If the flowers are not pollinated, carry out this process yourself. Use a brush to transfer pollen from one flower to the pistils of others.
6. Maintain crop rotation. Eggplants should not be planted in the place where vegetables from the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers) previously grew.

Tips and tricks

In growing eggplants advice from summer residents will be useful. They recommend:

1. Do not plant seedlings in the ground too deep.
2. Provide space for plants. To do this, dig holes at a distance of 50 cm.
3. After planting, water the plants with potassium permanganate and sprinkle with wood ash.
4. Maintain the permissible humidity in the greenhouse (65-70%).
5. Promptly replace greenhouse soil with fresh soil from open beds.
6. Observe the microclimatic conditions in the greenhouse.
7. Remove weeds and plant debris in a timely manner.
8. Tie up tall plants and trim off excess shoots.

Conclusion

Getting a rich harvest of eggplants is within the capabilities of every gardener. Choose quality seeds, prepare fertilized soil, water and care for the plants properly.The efforts will be justified, and the results will not take long to arrive!