Japanese method of growing/pruning eggplant?

peebee · September 7, 2011

I watch a weekly local gardening program here in CA that is in Japanese, and enjoy watching this experienced, weathered guy talk and demonstrate various growing methods. This time the subject was eggplants.

He brought in a beautiful, huge Japanese long eggplant in a pot, and proceeded to cut off all the suckers on the bottom, and even the robust second and third stems, leaving just one main one. He said even tho it is painful for the grower to cut these healthy stems with flowers and small fruit, if you prune you will have more fruit later. He said to fertilize a week before, and a week later. Oh, and he even cut off the top of the remaining stem, about almost a half.

Also, and this I have read online on different forums, eggplants benefit from sidedressing during the season, so he made at least 4 deep holes with a thick stick around the perimeter (not so close to the plant, but circling it) and he put in time-release fertilizer.

I'm thinking of trying this method cuz I have nothing to lose--my eggplants are just so-so this year and I have always wondered if pruning would help. I trust this guy cuz I've watched his shows and he is right on about growing stuff.

Anyone else heard of this drastic pruning?

September 7, 2011	#1
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	Japanese method of growing/pruning eggplant? I watch a weekly local gardening program here in CA that is in Japanese, and enjoy watching this experienced, weathered guy talk and demonstrate various growing methods. This time the subject was eggplants. He brought in a beautiful, huge Japanese long eggplant in a pot, and proceeded to cut off all the suckers on the bottom, and even the robust second and third stems, leaving just one main one. He said even tho it is painful for the grower to cut these healthy stems with flowers and small fruit, if you prune you will have more fruit later. He said to fertilize a week before, and a week later. Oh, and he even cut off the top of the remaining stem, about almost a half. Also, and this I have read online on different forums, eggplants benefit from sidedressing during the season, so he made at least 4 deep holes with a thick stick around the perimeter (not so close to the plant, but circling it) and he put in time-release fertilizer. I'm thinking of trying this method cuz I have nothing to lose--my eggplants are just so-so this year and I have always wondered if pruning would help. I trust this guy cuz I've watched his shows and he is right on about growing stuff. Anyone else heard of this drastic pruning?