Content
Eggplant flowers fall off in a greenhouse for various reasons. They are mainly associated with improper care, for example, irregular watering, poor lighting. Often foliage falls due to diseases and pests. If the plants are provided with normal conditions, this phenomenon is practically not observed.
Why do eggplant ovaries fall off in a greenhouse?
If eggplant flowers fall off in a greenhouse, this is a clear developmental disorder. If the conditions are quite suitable, this phenomenon occurs very rarely. In most cases, it is associated with violations of the rules of care. The main causes and solutions are described below.
Boarding deadlines missed
Flowers may fall off due to delays in planting. Eggplants are very demanding, heat-loving plants. They develop normally in the temperature range of 22-27 degrees Celsius. Even in the greenhouse they are planted last - no earlier than May 15th. In Siberia and the northern regions, the dates may shift until the end of the month and even until the first ten days of June.
If planted earlier, you may face the threat of return frosts. When night temperatures drop below 15 degrees, growth may stop. If this is repeated for several days in a row, the eggplant flowers will subsequently fall off. Therefore, there is no need to rush into a transplant. It is necessary to carefully monitor the weather forecast. If necessary, use additional film cover or heat the greenhouse at night.
Temperature changes
Temperature changes have an even worse effect than short-term frosts. If it gets sharply cold at night and, on the contrary, it gets hot during the day, the ovary on the eggplants will fall off. This inevitably leads to a decrease in yield. Therefore, in most regions it is recommended to grow the crop in a greenhouse and not rush into replanting.
Lack of light
If eggplants bloom and fall off, this may be due to lack of light. Plants are very demanding of light; they need it even at the stage of growing seedlings. To do this, it is recommended to use phytolamps or LED light sources. If the bushes are often left in the shade, flowers may appear, but then fall off. At the same time, the set fruits will be smaller in size - the yield will definitely decrease.
Flowers may fall off due to insufficient lighting
It is better not to grow seedlings on southern windows, and after transplanting, it is advisable to shade the seedlings at first. Otherwise, the flowers may fall off. You can notice the problem by the leaves that begin to dry out.
High humidity
In a greenhouse, eggplant flowers begin to fall off due to too high humidity.This is a very common reason, since the air in a closed small room is always more humid than outside. As a result, pollen begins to clump together, it cannot leave the flower, it becomes heavy and may fall off.
Therefore, after watering, it is recommended to regularly ventilate the greenhouse. If the temperature at night does not drop below 15-17 degrees, it is left open around the clock.
Lack or excess of fertilizers
If the eggplant flowers begin to fall off, the reason may be due to insufficient fertilization. Plants require regular feeding. After transplanting into the greenhouse, eggplants are given nitrogen compounds, and during the formation of buds and flowering, the emphasis is on potassium and superphosphate.
It is also very important to carry out foliar fertilizing with boron. If this element is lacking, the flowers will fall off and the ovaries will form poorly. Therefore, you need to do at least one spraying per season.
All fertilizers are applied strictly according to the instructions. If given in excessive quantities, this will lead to soil salinization, which will again affect flowering. In addition, many fertilizers affect pH. If you regularly violate the dosage, the acidity of the soil will change and the digestibility of nutrients will deteriorate.
You need to pay particular attention to nitrogen fertilizers. Flowers may fall off if there is an excess of them in the soil. Nitrogen compounds used in small quantities stimulate the growth of green mass.
Lack of pollination
Eggplant flowers will also fall off due to lack of pollination. This is due to high humidity. On the other hand, sometimes flowers produce too much pollen, which prevents it from reaching the pistils. Therefore, plants should be inspected periodically.If the ovaries fall off, pollination is carried out manually using a brush.
If pollen accumulates on the stamens, artificial pollination is necessary
Extra inflorescences
If growing conditions are good, eggplants will produce many flowers. At first they are all left, but after the first ovaries form, the excess inflorescences are removed. In a warm climate, they could also produce a harvest. But since summer is short in many Russian regions, it is necessary to pinch off excess buds.
Also, the bushes need shaping. 1-2 weeks after transplantation, 3-4 of the strongest shoots are selected. The rest pinch with their fingers. Then the flowers will not fall off, and the plants themselves will give a good harvest.
Improper watering
Eggplants need regular and even watering. You cannot, for example, give them a lot of water at once and “forget” for a week. Normally, water is given every 2-3 days. In this case, you need to monitor the condition of the soil - it should be moderately moist. The surface layer may sometimes dry out. In hot weather, plants are watered more often. Moreover, you should use only settled water, not cold, so that the flowers do not begin to fall off.
Poor quality seeds
The reason why the flowers will fall off may also be due to low-quality seeds. When purchasing, you should choose only trusted suppliers with good reviews. It is advisable that the seeds are fresh, no more than two years after collection. Moreover, it is worth checking them first - immerse them in a salt solution (5 g per 1 l), wait a few minutes and discard those that float.
Pests
If all conditions are normal, flowers may begin to fall due to pests.The main dangers to eggplants are the following insects:
- Aphids reproduce well in greenhouse conditions, where it is constantly humid and warm. It feeds on the plant juices of the eggplant and depletes it, which can cause the flowers to fall off.
- Whitefly accumulates mainly on the underside of the leaf. It also feeds on plant juices.
- Spider mites are another dangerous pest that is invisible to the eye due to its microscopic size. However, its presence can be determined by the cobwebs, which are clearly visible. It entangles the shoots and leaves of eggplants, preventing them from growing normally, causing the flowers to fall off.
Cobwebs on a plant are a sign of spider mite infestation
Diseases
Certain diseases can also lead to the ovaries falling off.
The main reasons are:
- Blackleg is a fungal infection that leads to darkening and thinning of the root neck. It can also be identified by the gray coating of the affected shoots. The disease is especially dangerous for seedlings. If a seedling is infected, it should be removed from the rest as quickly as possible. The main preventive measures are regular ventilation and compliance with watering standards.
- Flowers may also fall off due to tobacco mosaic. It manifests itself by uneven coloring of the leaves. Dark green spots appear on them, resembling a mosaic. The foliage becomes deformed and dies.
- White rot is a fungal infection that first affects the root system and then the entire above-ground part. It manifests itself as a white coating, on which solid inclusions are noticeable. The flowers may fall off, but the fruits will still form. They become watery and tasteless.
What to do if eggplant flowers and ovaries fall off
In order for the flowers to stop falling, it is necessary to provide proper care:
- Regular watering with settled water. In a greenhouse, it is enough to do this twice a week. After transplanting, young seedlings are watered a little more often, in the “every other day” mode.
- To prevent the flowers from falling off, it is necessary to fertilize the eggplants regularly - at least three times a season. Before picking, give an infusion of mullein or chicken droppings. Instead, you can apply a complex fertilizer. After picking, a similar composition is used. During flowering, superphosphate (40 g per 10 l) and potassium sulfate (30 g per 10 l) are given, foliar treatment with boric acid (1 g per 10 l) is carried out.
- The soil is regularly loosened and weeds removed.
- Plants are periodically inspected and treated for diseases. Fungal infections are fought with the help of fungicides, for example, “Maxim”, “Bordeaux mixture”, “HOM”. Insects are treated with folk remedies and insecticides, for example, “Decis”, “Aktara”, “Fufanon”.
Prevention measures
To prevent flowers from falling off, experienced gardeners recommend taking certain preventive measures:
- Periodically change the top soil in the greenhouse. When laying new soil, use a mixture of turf soil, peat, sand and humus in a ratio of 2:1:1:1.
- If the soil is acidic, be sure to add lime in the amount of 200 g per 1 m2.
- Constantly monitor the temperature and humidity levels in the greenhouse (optimally up to 75%).
- To prevent the flowers from falling off, it is recommended to plant eggplants at a distance of at least 60 cm from each other.
- During the flowering period, plants should be irrigated in the late evening or early morning.
- Perform pinching so that all seedlings receive enough sunlight.
Regular fertilizing and watering will ensure a full harvest
Conclusion
Eggplant flowers fall off in a greenhouse often due to high humidity and dense plantings. There is not enough space in the greenhouse, so summer residents often plant seedlings close to each other. But you shouldn’t do this: the air will be too humid and the plants will not receive enough sunlight.
