How to remove leaves and prune eggplant (How to prune side branches and retain fruit when growing eggplant)

How to prune eggplants? How to reserve side branches

Eggplant is a vegetable with strong branching. Pruning eggplant is beneficial to adjust the plant shape, promote ventilation and light transmission, prevent diseases, and improve the commercial value of eggplant. The general pruning methods of eggplant include double-stem pruning, improved double-stem pruning and triple-stem pruning.

1. Double-trunk pruning

If the mid- to late-maturing eggplant varieties are planted in the greenhouse, the plants will be taller, with larger leaves, more vigorous vegetative growth, and the peak fruiting period will come later. Double-trunk pruning is often used in production.

Specific approach

Start with the eggplants in pairs, leaving the main branch and one side branch, leaving one fruit on each branch, leaving two eggplants per layer . Alternately leave one eggplant on each main branch and one side branch, leaving two eggplants per layer.

When the plant grows to 5 layers of fruit, leave 2-3 leaves on the top of 2 branches in time, and remove all the top growth points, and remove the diseased leaves and old leaves on the other side branches and plants.

2. Improved double-trunk pruning

In production practice, vegetable farmers have summarized a new pruning method - the improved double-trunk pruning method - based on the current double-trunk pruning method.

This pruning method can make full use of the temperature and light resources in the greenhouse, allowing the plants to bear fruit earlier and more, thereby increasing the early yield of eggplant and increasing economic benefits.

Specific approach

When the plant is pruned by double stem, select the first side branch below the gate eggplant and let it bear one eggplant . After the fruit is set, leave two heart leaves on the top of the branch, remove the growth point and other side branches. Then prune according to the double stem pruning method.

3. Three-trunk pruning

The pruning of eggplant is related to the variety and planting density. Early-maturing varieties have shorter plants, longer and thinner leaves, and a higher planting density. The three-trunk pruning method is often used in production.

Specific approach

Starting from the eggplant pair, leave 3 branches alternately between the main trunk and the side trunk, that is, leave 2 side branches on this layer of the main trunk . Each branch produces 1 eggplant, and each layer produces 3 eggplants in total. Keep alternating in this way until 3 branches are left, and remove all the other side branches.

When the plant grows to 5 layers of fruit, leave 2-3 leaves on the top of 3 branches in time, remove all the top growth points, and remove all the other side branches. Do this every 2-3 days for 2-3 times.

At the same time, we need to remove the old and diseased leaves at the bottom of the plant and maintain a good ventilation and light environment in the greenhouse.