Pollinating Eggplants: Tap Flowers and Hum Engelbert Humperdinck

Simple Technique

Gently tap each flower twice daily with a pencil to shake loose pollen. Eggplants are self-fertile but benefit from vibration.

Musical Accompaniment

While pollinating, hum Engelbert Humperdinck songs—tradition says it helps. (Sinatra is for squash.)

Why It Works

Eggplant pollen is heavy and doesn't move well by wind. Mechanical vibration mimics buzz pollination by bees.