Eggplant (Solanum melongena), a tender evergreen in mild climates, creates more fresh fruit when pruned. As a member of the family, several features are shared by eggplant with potatoes, peppers and tomatoes. Like tomatoes, eggplant advantages of pruning and staking. Unlike tomatoes eggplant is pruned to three primary branches. Benefits of pruning reduced susceptibility to illness and contain improved fruit quality. Before fruiting to avoid sunburn of the fresh fruit prune develops. Prune significantly and occasionally throughout the period if fresh fruit production drops off to get a new flush of leaves and blossoms.
Prune staked eggplant to three branches. The two principal branches will be the major division of the plant. Leave one branch.
Remove all suckers. Suckers are sprouts that develop involving a leaf node as well as the primary stalk. If left to develop, branches which are like plants, having a primary stem and side branches are produced by suckers. Place the blade of your hand shears near the stalk and clip the sucker out.
Clip leaflets off in the primary branch following the eggplant starts to flower. Removal of the lower leaves allows light to penetrate the canopy and increases air circulation.
Maintain a routine of suckering that is typical all through the growing period for improved fruit production and plant vigor.