Question
QUESTION: Background. I have several large eggplant plants. They were beaten-up by spider mites which resolved with 2 applications of oil. They are blossoming prolifically. Lots of flowers. But, of the dozens upon dozens of flowers, only one flower evolved into an eggplant. The others eventually just seem to shrivel up and die. I think I may be overdoing the watering (every other day). I mistakenly have been using a fertilizer containing 15% nitrogen and 9 % phosphorus. I will be switching to a 15/15/15. Any thoughts?
Thank you in advance for helping me to grow as much of my family's food as possible.

ANSWER: Fred, you are doing all of the right things. Excess nitrogen results in lush foliage but a smaller harvest. Phosphorus is critical for blooming plants. Switching to a more balanced fertilizer is the correct resolution to your problem.

Excess watering will cause blossoms to shrivel and drop. This problem usually corrects itself over time. But only water when needed. Eggplants only need 1.5" of water per week. So twice a week should suffice. Just be sure to water deeply to encourage the roots to reach down into the subsoil rather than to the surface.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever provide assistance.

Regards,

Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The high nitrogen fertilizer that I should not have used was applied about 3 weeks ago. Would it be too soon to use a 15-15-15 fertilizer which is adding more nitrogen but in a more balanced ratio.

Put differently, how long before I should apply a better balanced fertilizer that is not too nitrogen imbalanced?

And, is a solution to look for a fertilizer that has little or no nitrogen in it, and apply it now?

Answer
I would use a water-soluble fertilizer that has a 1-2-2 ratio, such as 10-20-20. You still need a low percentage of nitrogen for the foliage. Miracle-gro markets a product called Bloom Booster that works well. They also sell a specialized fertilizer labeled specifically for tomatoes and peppers. Either of these will work great on eggplant.

Frequency of application depends on the type of fertilizer used. If you use a granular product, once every 6 weeks is sufficient. If you use a water-soluble product, once every 2 weeks is needed. Except for corn, for which I use a granular product, I fertilize once every 15 days with the water-soluble brands. This has always proven successful for me.

More important than fertilizing is amending your soil. Be sure to work in organic matter every spring with compost, aged manure, and peat. This provides a balanced ph level and a constant source of nutrients throughout the year. In short, plants grown in organic soil thrive compared to those planted in untreated soil.

I hope this proves beneficial. Good luck!

Mike