Eggplant dropping fruit ?!? - Ask Extension
Have never seen this happen in over 10 years of growing eggplant. This is a new variety I am try out from Johnny's Seeds "Nigral". I find ...
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Eggplant dropping fruit ?!? #840794
Asked July 15, 2023, 11:26 AM EDT
Have never seen this happen in over 10 years of growing eggplant. This is a new variety I am try out from Johnny's Seeds "Nigral". I find the fruits lying on the ground in the morning usually. They seem to simply drop/detach from the calix. There is also one side that is discolored and the beginning of some sort of rot. Any ideas on what the problem is, and what might be a good remedy? The plants themselves are in generally fine condition.
Baltimore City County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi- the fruit-dropping is quite odd. Two possibilities:
1. The fruits are detaching from their calyxes as a result of some genetic abnormality (seems unlikely).
2. Wildlife feeding damage. Nigral is touted as "spineless" making the foliage and fruits vulnerable to wildlife damage. The top of the eggplant looks, possibly, like feeding injury.
Are the calyxes intact and attached to the plant with fruit laying on the ground below or do the calyxes look damaged?
Overly mature fruits and fruits contacting soil can become infected with pathogens like alternaria and anthracnose. Eggplant fruit skin is highly vulnerable to sunscald. The skin spots and discoloration are minor issues that can become more pronounced for unshaded and overly mature fruits.
Jon
1. The fruits are detaching from their calyxes as a result of some genetic abnormality (seems unlikely).
2. Wildlife feeding damage. Nigral is touted as "spineless" making the foliage and fruits vulnerable to wildlife damage. The top of the eggplant looks, possibly, like feeding injury.
Are the calyxes intact and attached to the plant with fruit laying on the ground below or do the calyxes look damaged?
Overly mature fruits and fruits contacting soil can become infected with pathogens like alternaria and anthracnose. Eggplant fruit skin is highly vulnerable to sunscald. The skin spots and discoloration are minor issues that can become more pronounced for unshaded and overly mature fruits.
Jon
