How to Control Brinjal Flower Drop Issue: 4 Basic Reasons
Brinjal flower drop issue is the most common issue faced by gardeners who grow brinjals.
The eggplants/brinjal are hardy perennial or annual plants mostly seen growing in temperate regions. They belong to the Solanaceae family and are closely related to tomatoes. The fruits are egg-shaped, round or long, purple-colored glossy outside, and edible. Fruits are one of the most loved vegetables and are nutritionally rich.
It is one of the common plants that people prefer to grow in a kitchen garden. But in most cases, the plants produce beautiful-looking purple flowers that fail to form fruits. It is one of the most commonly faced problems by gardeners and happens mostly when the plant is under any kind of stress. Some of the reasons why the flowers of Brinjal flower drop off without forming fruits are listed below:
- Lack of nutrients
- Watering issues
- Temperature
- Lack of pollination
Reasons for Brinjal Flower Drop
Lack of nutrients:
Brinjal plants can grow in almost any kind of soil. They grow best in well-drained silt loam or clay loam soils. The plants are hardy and can grow with minimal nutrient supply.
Sometimes, during profuse flowering, with the lack of enough nutrients, the plant drops off the flowers without forming fruits to save food for its survival.
This is seen mostly when the soil lacks nitrogen and phosphorus. The leaves turn yellow when there is a lack of nitrogen content in the soil. Nitrogen aids in the growth of the plant and it is an essential component in growth and fruit formation. Therefore, the lack of nitrogen can prevent fruit formation.
Add organic manure like cow dung or any form of manure to the growing plants. Vermicompost can also be added to the growing plant to provide enough nutrients to the plants. NPK fertilizer can also be used. Excess or lack of fertilizer can affect plant growth.
Watering issues
The eggplants require proper watering for their growth. The plants prefer the soil to be moist. Excess watering or underwatering of the plants can lead to the drop of flowers or even the fruits formed.
Water the plants regularly. Applying a thick mulch can help preserve moisture in the soil for a longer period of time and can also prevent evaporation. Deep water the plants once a week. Deep watering can help in retaining moisture content in the soil for a longer time. It also helps in developing deep roots, thus helping the plant obtain enough water from the soil.
Make sure to provide enough water during a single watering this prevents faster evaporation of the water from the soil. Be consistent with watering. Make sure that the soil is at least 10 inches deep and gets completely wet while watering the plant.
Temperature:
Temperature plays an important role in the growth of brinjal plants. The plants are sensitive to temperature and too much heat or cold can damage the plant and prevent the flowers from forming fruits as the pollen becomes sterile due to the heat.
During hot summer days, provide the plant with shade or cover it with a cloth to prevent any damage caused due to excess heat. It is advisable to buy heat tolerant or cold tolerant plants. In case the plants do not fruit due to excess heat, shift them to shade. The plants should recover once they cool down.
Lack of pollination:
Lack of brinjal flower pollination is one of the major problems of the brinjal flower drop issue.
Eggplants have complete or perfect flowers with both male(anthers) and female(pistil) reproductive in the same flower. Hence, they are self-pollinating or depend on wind or insects for their pollination. These pollinators help in transporting the pollen from the anthers to the stigma of the plant.
When the conditions are extremely cold, hot, or humid there are chances that pollination does not take place. During extremely hot or cold conditions, the plant prevents pollination from taking place or drops off the flower to survive the extreme condition.
During humid conditions, the excess moisture in the air makes the flower sticky and prevents the pollen from falling onto the pistil thus preventing pollination. In such cases, the plants can be hand pollinated by gently tapping or shaking the plant to loosen the pollen or by transferring the pollen to the stigma with the help of a brush. Tap or shake the plant gently, this is one of the most common and easiest methods to hand pollinate a brinjal plant.
Hope this article will resolve all your queries related to the brinjal flower drop issue.
F&Q:-
Brinjal (in the Indian Subcontinent, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Africa) also known as “Egg Plant” in the US, Canada, and the UK, belongs to the nightshade family of Solanaceae and its botanical name is Solanum Melongena. The plant is grown across the world for its edible fruit.
The Brinjal flower is a complete flower with male and female structures in each flower having self- or cross-pollinating characteristics. Self-pollination of the Brinjal flower happens through vibrations created by winds and rain and also by hand-shaking. Besides this, bumblebees along with various other insects help in the pollination of the Brinjal flower.
The Brinjal flower is not edible. Brinjal leaves and flowers contain solanine which is poisonous. The leaves and flowers of brinjal can be poisonous if consumed in large quantities.
The Brinjal flower belongs to the nightshade family of Solanaceae and its botanical name is Solanum Melongena.
Brinjal is usually considered a vegetable because it is cooked and eaten. But Brinjal is neither a flower nor a fruit, it is a fruit. Brinjal belongs to the family of Solanaceae and is classified as a berry botanically. Brinjal has a lot of tiny and edible seeds which makes it a fruit botanically. Brinjal is a fruit that grows from its flower.
