Should Eggplants Be Pinched?

Question

Eggplants are in the same family as tomatoes, but there does not seem to be any information as to whether or not you should ‘pinch’ eggplant as you do tomato. I have contacted extension services (multiple states), web sites, nurseries, etc.  and everyone has a different opinion and none of them seem to have any RESEARCH to back them. Should you pinch eggplant?

Answer 1

I only pinch out new blossoms a few weeks before the first expected frost. This allows the plant to focus more energy on any existing fruits rather than additional ones.