Eggplant pollination help. (forum)

au0rey starts with ...
Sorry this is about an eggplant plant that I have...

I am rather confused with pollinating it by hand. There are two types of flowers, one with anthers and a stigma, another with anthers but no stigma.

Where should I get pollen to transfer to the stigma? From the same flower or from the flower without stigma?

So far this plant produced a dozen or more flowers and I have tried hand pollination and produced only one eggplant (which am not sure if it was done by me or the wind!)

Hope to harvest more eggplants than dropping flowers.

Thanks for any help!
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3
Picture: 4

Time: 14th January 2010 10:27am

Reply | Edit | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author
Melbourne
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees

Charles cant spell says...
All flowers are male and female but the fruit set rate is appaerntly higher for the longer stigma ones. Apparently the flower drop on the flower cluster can be 80% but for the single flower varieties it is meant to be low.

Flower drop is also cause by heat stress and lack of water.

Essentially get the paintbrush and brush around inside each flower when you see it. the more the merrier but one flower can polinate itself essentially.

The plant looks healthy but maybe its still young and things will improve as it getts bigger/older.

Cheers.

Time: 14th January 2010 11:45pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
Original Post was last edited: 14th January 2010 11:48pm

About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth - Innaloo
#UserID: 2742
Posts: 411
View All Charlesstillcantspell1's Edible Fruit Trees

au0rey says...
Thanks Charles! This plant has grown a great deal. Yeah the one with fruit I believe comes from the flower with longer stigma.

The flowers with hardly any stigma seen usually drop off and they are smaller.

So all anthers from both flowers are viable/fine for pollination?

Time: 15th January 2010 7:42am

Reply | Edit | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author
 
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees

Charles cant spell says...
Apparently. I haven't had to study mine that much as they just pollenate, then some grub gets in them and stuffs them up. So my eggplants are suffering from lack of interest.

The only ones that I am going to persist with are the long japanese ones, tastier, smaller, faster to bear and more prolific. Unless you want to make Eggplant steaks I see little reason to grow the big ones. But thats just my opinion.

Cheers

Time: 15th January 2010 2:24pm

Reply | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report

About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth - Innaloo
#UserID: 2742
Posts: 411
View All Charlesstillcantspell1's Edible Fruit Trees

au0rey says...
I actually like the long slender ones...but happened to buy this type that grows fat. :)

Time: 15th January 2010 9:49pm

Reply | Edit | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author
 
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees

au0rey says...
Hi all, finally my eggplant has produced numerous eggplants and it is already autumn..obviously a late bloomer..My dog has been taking interest at the eggplants.

Just wondering if anyone has used coffee grounds to deter dogs? I read that they seem to work. And does coffee ground attract mice? Just dont want to deter my dog and attract mice..that's worse!

Thanks for any advice!
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 30th March 2010 12:47pm

Reply | Edit | LIKE this Answer(0) | LIKE this Question (0) | Report
About the Author
melbourne
#UserID: 0
Posts:
View All 's Edible Fruit Trees