Theeggplantshrub ( Solanum melongena ) flourish as a perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness geographical zone 4 through 10 , but it ’s typically lift as an annual veggie . This plant does best in well - drained grease in full sunshine and is prized for its smooth , drear , glossy fruit . Pruning and trimming your mad apple increase the works ’s overall health and also ensures the biggest , risque fruit .
Disinfecting the Pruning Tools
mad apple stem are thick , hard and spiny . To trim the plant , you ’ll require a precipitous duet of pruning shears or a acute knife . Before pruning , disinfect the shaft . This minimizes the risks of spreading various plant diseases .
just soak your garden tools forfive minutesin a homemade disinfectant result made from one of the follow recipe :
After soaking the tongue or pruning shears , rinse off the tools under running water and allow them to breeze teetotal before cutting the eggplant shrub .
Warning
When you deal any household cleaning product , wear protective gloves and keep the product out of the range of pets and kid .
Pruning the Eggplant’s Branches and Foliage
Regular pruning keep the aubergine looking tidy while also improving plant health , vigor and electrical resistance to disease .
Things Needed
Step 1
rend on a duad of garden gloves . This protects you while handle sharp garden tools and also harbor your deal when handling the spinous aubergine stem .
Step 2
Cut offsucker branchesas shortly as they appear on the plant . patsy are any stanch that sprout from around the bottom main infrastructure of the eggplant shrub . If they ’re not slay , the suckers will contend with the master stems for the plant ’s energy , resulting in an overall weaker plant .
Step 3
Inspect the eggplant ’s main stalk . You ’ll notice that the master stalk divides intotwo main stemswith lateral side arm growing from above and below the main prow class .
Step 4
Cut off any lateral , side subdivision other than thetwo main stemsand one side branchbelowwhere the main stem divides into two . This keep the eggplant shrub substantial and summary . keep to respect the mad apple and withdraw new side stem that may start to grow .
Step 5
Trim thebottom leavesoff of the eggplant as they slowly wilt , twist icteric and become brickly . This raise aviation circulation and understate the risk of plant disease .
Tip
Always leave ashort stubbehind when you trim or cut the mad apple ’s gull or side branches . This give the plant room to form a scar . A white cut aright up to the principal bow can wound the plant .
Thinning out the Eggplant Fruit
When it comes to the yield on your eggplant shrub , more is not needs better . For larger , more chubby eggplant fruit , slim the fruit out after the plant life peak and juvenile fruit seem . Using a tongue or pruning shear , snip off most of the yield and only leaveone fruit per arm . This allows the plant to commit all of its energy into a select few fruit , resulting in a bigger , more flavorful harvest .
