Your comments and tips

20 Jan 18, Diana (New Zealand - temperate climate)

I live on the Tutukaka coast and have a healthy looking eggplant with lots of flowers which fall off without fruit forming. Why is this happening and what can I do? Thank you.

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03 Feb 18, Daisy (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Hi Diana, I have never grown eggplant but perhaps the plant that you have is a male one? I don't really know whether this is even possible. Also, it could be that you need to pollinate the flowers by hand? I hope this helps! xx D

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05 Feb 18, Kristin (USA - Zone 11a climate)

Why someone would suggest maybe yours is a male plant and saying "hope this helps" is hilarious. Eggplants do not need separate male and female plants. A quick google search can tell you that. Several reasons your flowers are dropping - lack of pollination or the plant is under stress being - 1) too cold or hot 2)lack of water or nutrients. Try hand pollinating your flowers and lookup the temperature your variety of eggplant will set fruit. I looked up the temperature for Tutukaka coast and the temperature seems too cold for eggplant. I could be wrong. But you will need find out what variety you have first.

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13 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Google about flowers dropping off egg plants.

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09 Mar 23, Thumbellina (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

I’ve found “tea” made from banana skins really does help them to flower and set fruit! So easy. I just water them with it a few days in a row, and hey presto. It worked for me. Google it and give it a go!

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02 Jun 18, Caroline (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

I have never grown eggplant before but successfully grew 6 plants this year outside in Invercargill. They produced well and have just started to die off now that we are getting frosts every night. I have harvested all the fruit but was wondering if it is worth leaving them in the ground for next year or just pulling them out and starting again next year.

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04 Jun 18, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Your eggplants will probably die off completely during the winter, so it would be best to start again with new ones in Spring.

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13 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Read the notes at the bottom of the page.

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27 Aug 20, Srini K (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Hi, I have sown seeds in seed trays and its been 20 days, no sign of any seedlings. Understand its still cold in Auckland, Just wanted to check if the seeds will germinate once its get warm or I should considers sowing seeds again when its gets warm?

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28 Aug 20, Anonymous (New Zealand - temperate climate)

You need soil temperature of min of 15c and preferably 25-30c to germinate egg plant. The guide recommends planting seeds Sept Oct. Also if you over water the seeds they go rotten. Seeds should germinate in 12-18 days. Have a little dig around and see if they are ok or rotten. I would suggest planting mid Sept at the earliest. Or buy seedlings.

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