[header] How to prune eggplant [title] Pinch the first set of flowers as they bud. [step] As your eggplant starts to blossom, pinch the first buds you see coming through. Use your fingers to gently pinch the buds right where they meet the stock of the plant. 
[substeps] This encourages your plant to put more energy into growing sturdy stocks and deep roots instead of producing new fruit right away. New blossoms will appear in a few weeks, and your plant will be better able to support large, healthy fruits.