Eggplants bloom but bear no fruit: gardeners search for reasons flowers keep dropping

In the Facebook group "Sapņu Dārzs – dārznieku forums" (Dream Garden gardeners' forum), several gardeners have shared a recurring problem: eggplants grown in greenhouses bloom heavily and even form small fruit buds, but these soon drop off before any harvest can be gathered. One gardener, Sandra, who is growing ten eggplant plants, says she still hasn't managed to get a harvest despite trying to hand-pollinate the flowers herself. Other forum members describe similar experiences this season.

Possible causes

Participants point to unsuitable growing conditions as a common culprit. Eggplants love warmth, but they suffer from sharp temperature swings, excessive heat, high air humidity, and cold nights. Pollination also matters — unlike squash-family plants, eggplants have bisexual flowers containing both male and female parts, so pollination usually doesn't require transferring pollen between separate flowers. Still, stagnant air inside a greenhouse can hinder the process, and gardeners suggest gently shaking the flowers in the morning or simply ventilating the greenhouse well, which also helps reduce excess humidity.

Watering and feeding

Gardeners stress the importance of consistent soil moisture, since both prolonged dryness followed by heavy watering can be harmful. When it comes to fertilizing, attention should be paid to the availability of calcium, boron and other nutrients, though it's advised not to jump to conclusions about nutrient deficiency before first checking temperature, humidity, and ventilation.

The greenhouse isn't always best

Notably, several gardeners report better results this year growing eggplants in pots or outdoors, in sunny, warm spots sheltered from wind. So if flowers keep dropping, it may be worth trying to relocate a plant, as sometimes a simple change in growing conditions is enough to finally get the first fruits.