Aubergine cordon

Flinster

Hi all
hope everyone is well.

Im growing aubergines for the first time this year. I’ve seen Charles Dowding growing them as two stemmed cordons and wondered if anyone else did this? I can’t really find much information on how to do it.

I realise, like tomatoes you take out side shoots, but is that all I need to do, other than support the stems? I’m growing them in a blow away greenhouse, so the cordon set up would work better for me than large bush plants.
Any thoughts or advice welcome!
thanks.

Singing Gardener

I've always just left mine to their own devices apart from staking them. I've never removed side-shoots. This RHS advice says you should pinch out the growing tip and restrict the number of fruits (I've never done that either!).
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/aubergines

Flinster

Thanks singing gardener. Until I saw the cordon idea that is exactly what I was going to do, but a cordon makes sense to me. I will give it a whirl and see what happens! Might do both to compare results.

Nollie

Interesting idea, yes I think you would treat them the same as cordon toms, selecting a couple of stems to train and pruning out the rest, removing side shoots and the lower leaves. If you can understand the comically bad translation, this is what this article seems to be saying:

https://www.hortomallas.com/en/eggplants-inside-greenhouses-trellis-netting/

Flinster

Thanks Nollie... I shall inspect their armpits frequently! 😃

Nollie

I liked the idea of eliminating the pacifiers too - no dummies allowed!