We are preparing a bed for eggplant. Eggplant - cultivation and care in the open field, features of the best varieties

As already noted, eggplant differs from pepper in its thermophilicity. In order to grow eggplant in open field , you need to find a place where the sun warms the earth well and there are no cold winds.

Coarse river sand has a very favorable effect if it is added to the ground, straw cutting or sawdust can also be added. These "ingredients" will lighten the soil, which will benefit eggplant growth. Large addition doses organic fertilizers, for example, compost or various humus is a guarantee successful cultivation eggplant in the open field. During the growing season, eggplants behave quite responsive to phosphorus-potassium nutrition. For this reason, during soil cultivation, it is necessary to add about 300-500 g of ash, or 50-150 g of superphosphate and potassium salt per 1 m 2.

Cabbage, peas, beans or cucumbers are considered the best predecessors of eggplants, and various table root crops are also allowed. The soil for planting eggplant is best prepared in the fall. When preparing the soil, it must be dug up to a full bayonet of a shovel, and all roots of perennial weeds must be carefully removed from the ground. In the fall, you need to wear fresh manure, but in the spring add rotted manure. Straw cutting, as well as sawdust with peat, is best applied during the cultivation period in autumn. In early spring when the soil dries out a little, it must be loosened slightly with a rake. Soil cultivation in the spring should be started after the soil is well warmed up by the sun's rays. When the soil is dug up in the spring, the weeds remaining from the fall, as well as caterpillars, larvae and pests, are manually removed. Mineral and organic fertilizers are added to the soil.

After the soil is dug up, it must be leveled with a rake. Eggplant seedlings are planted in open ground after there is no danger of frost. In most of the agro-climatic regions of the Non-Chernozem region, the period of safe planting of seedlings falls on the first decade of June.

Since in the spring digging of the soil is done at the end of the month of April or at the beginning of May, before planting seedlings, it is necessary to loosen the soil several times, it is good to do this after rains in order to keep the necessary moisture in the ground. Loosening the soil is also very useful for future seedlings as a weed control method.

Initial shoots of weeds can be easily removed with manual cultivator or loot. The technique of planting eggplant is no different from planting pepper. Namely, holes are made, filled with water, eggplant seedlings are planted in the resulting "dirt". After the seedlings are planted in the holes, the ground around each plant is well compacted and, at the end of everything, mulched with peat or dry earth (mulch layer - 3-4 cm).

Eggplant seedlings should be planted, observing the distance between rows of 60 cm and the distance between plants of 30-40 cm. Most often, early-ripening varieties are planted in open ground.

Powerful eggplant bushes, hung with shiny purple-black fruits, are a real decoration of the garden and a reason for the pride of every vegetable grower. Growing eggplants in the open field requires certain knowledge and skills from the summer resident. Caviar and saute, sauces and marinades - you can cook an incredible number of dishes and winter preparations.
In addition to excellent taste, the vitamin, mineral-rich vegetable has a lot of useful and medicinal properties- the use of eggplant reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood, reduces swelling, strengthens the cardiovascular system.

Culture features

An annual branched eggplant bush with a woody stem and oval, slightly pubescent leaves is grown as an annual crop, although in the subtropical zone it can grow for several years.
Eggplant is an extremely heat-loving plant, demanding on moisture and soil fertility. Powerful root system does not penetrate deeply, located in upper layers soil - at a depth of up to 35 cm, so filling the soil with fertilizers, loosening and regular watering is the basis for obtaining a good harvest.

Seeds at temperatures up to 18 C germinate reluctantly and the emergence of seedlings can be expected up to 20 days. If the air is warmed up to 22-27 C, seedlings will appear on the 7-9th day, it is these indicators that will ensure the intensive growth of shoots, the friendly development of ovaries.

When cold up to 15 C young plant stops growing, and when the thermometer falls below -1 C - above-ground part dies. Adult eggplant bushes in autumn can withstand frosts down to -4 C. Dry hot weather or a sharp temperature drop causes the ovaries and flowers to fall off.
The fruit of the eggplant is a pear-shaped berry; white color.
Ripe, inedible eggplants become brownish, off-white, gray-green. Up to 30 fruits are formed on one plant different size and degree of maturity, with a weight of 150 to 600 g.

Varieties and hybrids

Breeders did their best, and eggplants are presented in a huge variety of varieties. The main characteristic is the timing of the removal of eggplant fruits, from this position they are all divided into early, middle and late. For open ground, early and mid-season varieties, late forms with long term vegetation is suitable only for greenhouses.

An experienced vegetable grower chooses varieties different term ripening, which prolongs the harvest period, makes it more stable. In arid regions, with insufficient watering and very hot summers, you can only collect the first wave early eggplant.
At the same time, mid-season eggplant varieties in regions with temperate climate will bear full fruit until September. In areas with cold short summer it is worth giving preference to early ripening resistant hybrids with a short growing season.

Types and varieties of eggplant

In addition to the timing of reaching technical ripeness, eggplant varieties and hybrids differ in an incredible external variety of fruit colors - from black and striped to pink and creamy white, as well as in shape - from round and cylindrical to saber-shaped and pear-shaped.

early ripe eggplant

They are characterized by a friendly formation of the crop, which is ready for harvest in 90-110 days from the moment of germination. The bushes are most often compact, the fruits are small, the yield is somewhat lower than that of medium varieties with a long fruiting period.

1. Bourgeois F1
The period from germination to harvest of this wonderful hybrid is 110 days. Round, slightly flattened fruits are large, weighing 250-400 g. The skin is smooth, purple-pink; dense pulp is pleasant, without a bitter aftertaste.
The bush is moderately sprawling, tall (up to 1.6 m), very productive, throughout the season it can produce up to 15 kg / sq.m. The optimal planting distance is 60 x 90 cm. Powerful plants are tied to a trellis, otherwise the branches will break or lie down under the weight of heavy fruits.

2. Fabina F1
French productive hybrid with a compact bush, immune to verticillium wilt and defeat spider mite. The undoubted advantage of the hybrid is long-term fruiting before the onset of stable cold weather.
Dark purple, oblong eggplant fruits with an average weight of about 270 g begin to be harvested after 90 days. The pulp is tight, harmonious taste, without the slightest bitterness and hard fibers. AT field conditions Fabina F1 will give about 6-7 kg/sq.m.

3. Purple Wonder F1
A small, neat bush up to 90 cm tall is relatively easy to defeat. powdery mildew and genetically resistant to verticillium wilt.
Fruits are one-dimensional, weighing up to 350 g, oblong, saturated purple, glossy. The dense pulp is creamy white, tasty, not bitter. The period of removal of the first fruits is 90-110 days, the yield is high - up to 8 kg / sq.m.

4. Robin Hood
An unpretentious reliable variety adapts well to worsening weather conditions, easily copes with fungal infections without loss of yield. The waiting period for the first fruits is 90 days. The bush is branched, high - up to 110 cm, yield - 7-10 kg / sq.m.
The fruits are tight, pear-shaped, weighing up to 300 g, well stored and transported without loss. A distinctive feature is the ability to easily tolerate transplantation, which is valuable for vegetables grown through seedlings.

5. Eggplant variety Gardener's dream
One of the few varieties resistant to the scourge of nightshade - fungal diseases late blight and anthracnose. The fruits are leveled, weighing about 200 g, with a lilac-black skin, excellent taste. Appear within 90-100 days.
The bush is compact, 50-70 cm high, the allowable planting density is 5-6 plants per 1 sq. m. The yield is stable - up to 8 kg / sq.m.

Mid-season varieties of eggplant

Eggplants of the middle ripening period are more productive, characterized by strong growth of powerful bushes. The fruits are suitable for harvesting in 110-150 days from the moment of germination. Worth sticking with optimal distances when planting: 70 cm in a row with a row spacing of 100-110 cm.

1. Diamond
Favored by vegetable growers, the traditional variety is famous for its excellent yield and endurance in changing weather conditions. The fruits are dark eggplants, with a purple tint, oblong, one-dimensional, small - about 200 g. The flesh is dense, greenish, with slight bitterness, which manifests itself in dry weather.
The bush is neat, strong, up to 60 cm high, the ovaries are formed together - four months after germination. In spite of small size, diamond yield is up to 10 kg/sq. m.

2. Pelican F1
The first crop is harvested after 115 days from the moment of germination. This amazing hybrid is characterized by long, saber-shaped fruits weighing up to 300 g. The skin is milky white, matte. Delicious delicious pulp of creamy color, without a bitter aftertaste.
Compact bushes are planted according to the scheme 0.4 x 0.5 m. The yield is excellent - up to 1.8 kg of eggplant can be harvested from each plant, which are well stored and perfectly transported. This new hybrid deserves the close attention of gardeners, will decorate both the garden bed and the festive table.

3. Black Prince
The German variety of eggplant shows exceptional resistance to cold snaps and drought. Over a period of 110 days, average fruits are formed about 200 g in weight with black glossy skin and white tight flesh without a bitter aftertaste.
The bush is low - 40-50 cm, while it is characterized by a significant yield - up to 12 kg / sq. m. Due to early branching, this variety is recommended to be intensively formed, timely removing all side shoots to the first fork.

The best fruit varieties of eggplant

Site preparation for planting

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The light-loving eggplant culture is planted in areas open to the sun. The soil should be neutral in acidity, light, porous, rich in humus.
good predecessors eggplants are considered gourds, herbs and onions, cabbage.

Planting eggplant seeds

Do not plant this crop in the same place again, as well as after other nightshade crops (peppers, tomatoes).

Preparing a plot for planting eggplant seedlings in the following way.
1. Everything is cleaned in autumn plant remains and humus is introduced - at least 3 kg / sq.m, after which the soil is carefully dug up - to a depth of 30 cm.

Advice. If it is not possible to fertilize the soil with humus, a mixture is added instead chicken manure and compost in equal proportions and in the same volume.

2. In the case when fresh manure was applied under the previous crop, there is enough humus in the soil and humus can not be applied. Then they are limited to spreading complex mineral fertilizers.
3. In early spring, as soon as the soil is ripe, holes are prepared, arranging them according to the scheme according to the requirements of the variety. It is important to leave wide aisles - from 50 cm, which will facilitate care and improve aeration and lighting of plants.

4. Fill each well with a mixture of a handful of humus and a tablespoon wood ash, then ready ground dusted with a pinch of foundation.
5. In the prepared holes, already at this stage, you can install wooden supports for tying the bushes.

Secrets of planting eggplant in open ground

Due to the long waiting period for fruits suitable for harvesting, growing eggplants in the open field is fraught with difficulties. In many regions, it is very difficult to harvest this crop without the use of temporary shelters.

Shelter gives the temporary clearance necessary for the bushes to set and pour fruit. The only way to compensate for this time and do without greenhouses is to plant high-quality seedlings in the ground, at least 60 days old.
At the same time, in the southern regions, the “blue ones” are successfully harvested, not only without shelters, but even without growing seedlings. Consider the features of growing eggplant in open ground in these two ways.

Seedling method of planting in open ground

To drop off strong seedlings eggplant after the onset of sustained heat, which in most regions falls in the first decade of May, the seeds are sown in mid-February. However, there are some subtleties that are important to consider.
1. To fill the cups, humus, neutral peat and garden soil are mixed in equal proportions. It is convenient and practical for growing eggplant seedlings to use ready-made peat tablets. They contain all the elements necessary for the development of the plant, seedlings well entangle the substrate with roots and are less injured during transplantation.

Advice. To avoid infection of eggplant seedlings with fungal diseases, before sowing, the seeds are wrapped in gauze and kept for 5 minutes in a solution of foundationol at the rate of 10 g of powder per 500 ml of water.

2. Cups with soil or pallets with tablets are placed in a dark, warm place, with a temperature of at least 22 C until seedlings appear.
3. As soon as the first peaks of shoots appear, the crops are transferred to a bright window and the temperature is lowered to 18-19 C. This measure is necessary so that weak shoots do not stretch. If there is not enough light, use the backlight.

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4. Water growing eggplants infrequently - once every 7-10 days, but plentifully, with warm settled water.
5. Under watering, soluble fertilizers (Kemira-Lux or Crystalon) are applied 2-3 times, this will allow you to get resistant to any weather conditions and diseases, strong seedlings.

Advice. Carry out the first top dressing when the first true leaf is formed, the second - after two weeks, and the last - 10 days before planting (in early May).

6. In mid-April, seedlings begin to be taken out into the street, at first setting in a shallow shade, against the wall of a building that protects delicate plants from gusts of wind.
7. Fortified bushes are planted in prepared holes, tying the stem to pre-installed supports with a dense twine in the form of a figure eight.

Seedless method of planting in open ground

In the southern regions, the main difficulty in growing eggplant is the need for frequent watering and sunburn leaves and fruits. Therefore, plantings of this crop are located closer to the source of water, and to protect against scorching sun non-woven light agrofibre is used.
Sowing expensive eggplant seeds in rows is impractical, so they are most often sown in holes. The distance between the bushes is determined based on the requirements of the variety, usually for low species it is enough to leave 40 cm between holes in a row and about 60-70 cm between rows.

Sowing eggplant seeds in open ground includes the following steps.
1. Before planting, the seeds are treated with foundationazole; for quick germination, they can be treated with one of the growth stimulants - Emistim C or Epin.
2. Having wrapped the treated seeds in a damp cloth, they are left in a warm place until they hatch, hoping to sow a heat-loving crop in well-heated soil.

3. The wells are filled as described above, and several seeds are sown in each, placing next to the seeds of the lighthouse crop - spinach, radish, or mark the sowing sites with pegs.
4. It is important to loosen the ground in time, to prevent the formation of a crust and the growth of weeds, which can completely drown out weak seedlings.

5. When three true leaves appear, seedlings break through, leaving two plants in the hole, when 6-8 leaves are formed, one strong bush is left.

Advice. If the place on the site is limited, then for low compact varieties it is acceptable to form a hole with two plants, but this method requires more frequent watering and the best fertilizer soil.

Top dressing of eggplants in open ground

Care and harvest of eggplant

The main work on caring for vegetative eggplants is similar to the processing of planting tomatoes and peppers, but there are some nuances.

1. To develop a powerful root system and obtain strong productive bushes, the soil is constantly maintained in a loose state, free from weeds.
2. Immediately after planting the seedlings and until the moment when it takes root and starts to grow, water warm water under the root, not too plentiful. Further watering is carried out every week and ensure that the earth gets wet to a depth of at least 40 cm.
3. Two weeks after planting, before watering, top dressing is applied with one of the modern soluble complex fertilizers. From the moment the ovaries are formed, fertilizers with a lower nitrogen content and a high phosphorus and potassium content are introduced.
4. The formation of an eggplant bush is to remove too low-growing branches, the fruits and leaves of which will touch the soil and begin to rot. To receive early harvest 4-6 shoots are left on the bush, the rest are removed, the upper buds are pinched.

Advice. Convenient use different types fertilizers Kristalon - during intensive growth they take blue Crystal, at the beginning of flowering - white, when fruit is set - red.

Eggplants are removed together with a cup to reach technical maturity - about a month after the formation of the ovary. Eggplants suitable for removal are colored according to the variety, the skin is elastic, the flesh is dense, tender.

Demanding to agricultural technology, capricious eggplant can be a real challenge for a vegetable grower. But if you follow the basic rules of growing, watering, fertilizing and hard work in the beds, you can get an excellent harvest of purple glossy fruits, even without the use of greenhouses.

Experienced growers know how to grow eggplant outdoors. These vegetables began to be grown in our country not so long ago. Eggplant belongs to the nightshade family. It is not only delicious but also healthy vegetable. Its fruits can be used for various diseases(atherosclerosis, gout, kidney pathology). Those people who do not have greenhouses and greenhouses grow these vegetables in the open field.

These agricultural plants come from southern countries, so they are more demanding on the presence of light and heat. Growing eggplant outdoors requires some effort. These vegetables have the following features:

• stop pollination at temperatures below +20°C;
• love the light;
• sensitive to temperature changes;
• most intensively grow and bear fruit at high temperature air;
• require frequent and abundant watering.

It is recommended to grow these vegetables in greenhouses, as in middle lane Russia's climate is unstable. Most varieties of this plant grow best in short but bright daylight hours. During flowering and fruiting, temperature fluctuations and frosts can cause flowers and fruits to fall off. This will not increase productivity in any way.

Another feature of this crop is the long period of growth from the moment of planting seeds to fruiting. The first harvest is removed only after 85-140 days. It all depends on the variety. To grow large and ripe eggplants, you need to get strong seedlings from seeds. Eggplants are demanding on the quality of the soil. Regular application of phosphorus and potash fertilizers stimulates their growth.

Choosing the optimal variety

Growing eggplant in the open field begins with planting seeds. It is important to choose the best variety. For unprotected soil, early (early) varieties are best suited. Early dates ripening is very important so that the plants can bear fruit before the air temperature drops. Each variety has its own distinctive features. Fruits differ in shape, size, weight, color and taste.

In most cases, eggplant fruits are purple in color and elongated. Fruits can be arranged singly or in the form of a brush. The following eggplant varieties are best suited for open ground:

• "Joker";
• "Vakula";
• "Sancho Panza";
• "Negus";
• "Simferopol";
• "Alekseevsky";
• "Diamond";
• "Pink flamingo";
• "Robin the Hood".

Very productive is the variety "Diamond". The plant reaches a height of up to 65 cm. The fruits are cylindrical in shape, have dark purple color and dense pulp without bitterness. The fruits have a mass of 130-140 g. From 1 m² at proper care you can collect up to 8 kg of eggplant. Even more high-yielding is the variety "Vakula". The first harvest can be obtained within 100 days after planting.

When choosing a variety, consider following points:

• the shape and size of the fruit;
• maturation time;
• the number of fruits;
• taste characteristics and density of fruits;
• the size of the bushes and the presence of thorns;
• resistance to diseases, pests and temperature extremes;
• the possibility of preservation.

Seeds for seedlings can be purchased at a store or market.

How to get eggplant seedlings

Anyone who regularly plants these vegetables knows how to grow eggplant outdoors. After purchasing the seeds, they need to be planted in containers. The seeds are pre-soaked. It is required to check the seeds for germination. To do this, put them in water for a few minutes. Those seeds that float to the top are unusable.

In order for the seeds to germinate better, it is recommended to soak them in a solution of potassium permanganate or aloe juice. Before planting, heat treatment is carried out. To do this, the seeds must be placed in hot water for 20 minutes. For planting seeds, you will need containers and soil. To prepare the soil, you need to mix the earth with sand and humus.

To enrich the land, mineral fertilizers based on nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus are applied. For seedlings, any shallow containers are suitable. It could be pots wooden boxes, plastic container, cups. Seeds are planted singly at a distance of 3 cm from each other. The planting depth is 1.5 cm. To obtain seedlings, it is advisable to cover the containers plastic wrap creating a greenhouse effect.

The containers are placed in a warm and dark place. When the first stems appear, the plants must be moved to a sunny place. Seedlings need to be watered regularly. This is done as the earth dries up. Abundant watering is not recommended. After the appearance of several leaves, it is required to feed the plants with urea with "Superphosphate" and a potassium mixture.

A total of 2 feedings are required. The second is organized 2 weeks after the first. When eggplants reach 10 cm in height and have 5-6 leaves, they can be planted in open ground in a garden bed. For better adaptation of seedlings, it is recommended to harden it for 2 weeks before planting in the garden. For transplantation, you need to choose a warm day.

Land preparation

When planting young plants, take into account the following factors:

• the presence of wind;
• side of the world;
• site illumination;
• the nature of the soil;
• the possibility of eggplant neighborhood with other vegetable or berry crops.

Plant transplantation is carried out from mid-May to June 5. This is the optimal time. If you plant eggplants too late, the fruits may not have time to ripen. In May, the night temperature is still low, so the seedlings need to be covered with a film in 2 layers so that it does not freeze. This should also be done when there is a risk of frost.

The worst eggplant precursors are cucumbers, peppers, potatoes and tomatoes. The best neighbors for eggplants will be undersized plants(lettuce, sorrel, onion, carrot). It is not recommended to plant eggplant in the area next to which shrubs grow.

Eggplant grows best in light, humus-rich soil. Clay soils less suitable for this vegetable. If the earth is heavy, then it is recommended to add sawdust, sand or peat to it. The area should be well lit. You can not plant eggplant in the shade. You need to prepare the bed in advance (in autumn). In order for the plants to take root better in a new place, you need to carefully dig up the bed and loosen the soil from above.

How to plant seedlings

The day before planting plants in open ground, they must be watered. This is done to prevent the soil from drying out. It is recommended to plant eggplants in one line, as their bushes are sprawling. If there are several rows, then the distance between them should be at least 55-60 cm. The distance between eggplants is determined by the variety and width of the bush.

If the bush is compact, then the interval between seedlings is 40 cm. high grades eggplant require larger area. Often, plants are staggered with an interval between rows of 60 cm. Immediately before planting eggplants, the ridge should be leveled with a rake and small holes should be dug. The depth of the holes is 10-15 cm.

In each well you need to put a small amount of ash and pour a little solution of potassium permanganate. The earth in the holes is abundantly watered with water and plants are planted. In advance, the ground with seedlings must be moistened with water. This will ensure easy removal of the coma with the earth. The planting depth should exceed the depth of the container with seedlings by 1 cm. In this case, the roots will not be damaged.

Eggplants are planted in the evening. Soil temperature should not fall below 15°C. Mulch is a must. For this purpose, straw, peat, humus, and film material are used. Mulching is necessary to retain moisture and warm the soil. In case of hot, sunny weather, the plants need to be shaded.

Features of growing eggplant (video)

Eggplant care after planting in the garden

Growing eggplant is meaningless without proper care for them. Seedlings take root in open ground for about 2 weeks. At this time, it is not recommended to water the plants. It is required to loosen the soil and carry out top dressing using urea. To prepare a fertilizer solution, you need 1 tbsp. l. urea and 10 liters of water.

When caring for eggplant, you need to follow following rules:

• periodically moisten the soil;
• regularly loosen the earth;
• apply fertilizer;
• spud eggplant;
• clean the beds from weeds;
• fight pests.

lack of moisture in hot weather can lead to the fact that the leaves and buds of plants will fall off. The stems will begin to stiffen. Before flowering, eggplant should be watered once a week. A bucket of water is required per 1 m². In hot weather, it is necessary to water the plants 2 times a week. During flowering and fruit formation, watering is organized under the root.

The frequency of watering is 1-2 times a week. The water should not be cold. Optimal time for irrigation - morning or evening. During the season, it is required to loosen the ground at least 5 times in the beds with eggplants. Loosening strengthens the root system. Along with loosening, hilling is necessarily carried out. Yields largely depend on the frequency of fertilization.

All fertilizers are divided into mineral (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash), organic (manure, manure, humus) and complex. Fertilizers are dry and liquid. Some fertilizers are applied under the root, while others need to be placed on top of the beds. 3 fertilizers are enough per season.

The most commonly used slurry, bird droppings and mineral fertilizers ("Superphosphate", urea, ammonium nitrate).

Some growers prefer complex fertilizers. These include Ammophos, Nitrofoska, Nitroammofoska, Diammofoska. Depending on the type of soil, microfertilizers can also be used. During flowering, fertilizer such as Effekton is often used. Instead, a mullein solution can be used. During the formation of fruits, eggplants are recommended to be fertilized. bird droppings. The third feeding is carried out 2 weeks after the second.

Eggplant garter and harvest

Tall eggplants must be tied up. It is preferable to use the trellis method. Wooden poles are driven into the ground. Between them, rails are installed on which the wire will be attached. The wire is necessary for the plants to cling to it. Before tying, it is necessary to remove the side shoots, as their growth damages the plant and slows down the ripening of the fruit.

For a garter, you can also use simple stakes with twine. The first harvest is collected in 90-140 days. A month after flowering, you can collect the first fruits. Do not leave the eggplant on the branches for a long time, as they can become overripe. Overripe fruits acquire Brown color. The fruits are cut with a pruner or knife.

The fruit is removed along with the stalk. From 1 plant at a time, you can remove from 5 to 20 fruits. Cluster-forming varieties can produce up to 100 eggplants. Unripe fruits can be stored for a long time at a temperature not lower than 12°C. The fruits are kept in open packages or boxes of sawdust. Thus, eggplants are easy to grow outdoors, you just need to know what conditions these vegetables like.

Eggplant seedling care (video)

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Eggplant is a culture of the nightshade family, a popular vegetable grown by many gardeners on their own. summer cottages. Technology of growing eggplants in open ground has its characteristics which we will cover in this article.

We will consider in detail how to grow eggplant seedlings, care for them before transplanting them into open ground, how to treat eggplants from pests and diseases, how to properly harvest and where to store eggplant crops.

Growing eggplant from seeds

Eggplant bush with a height of 40-150 cm with large green leaves. Fruits grow up to 70 cm long, up to 20 cm in diameter, weight up to 1 kg, glossy purple.

Eggplant is a thermophilic and sun-loving plant. It grows well in places protected from the wind and where the sun shines.

The most heat-loving vegetable of the nightshade family is eggplant, it does not tolerate freezing, so it is mainly grown through seedlings. Fruit ripening occurs 100 days after the appearance of the first shoots.

Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out during the month of March, starting from the first days. Sowing dates are calculated as follows: when transplanting seedlings into the ground, the earth should warm up to +18 degrees, and the age of the seedlings by this moment should be 55-75 days.

The soil for sowing eggplant seeds should be loose, contain sand and clay. In the spring, humus can be added to the soil.

Seeds are preliminarily subjected to heat treatment in water heated to 50 degrees for 20 minutes and immediately cooled in cold water, and then it is necessary to process in a weak solution of potassium permanganate (if the seeds are not purchased) for 30 minutes. You can germinate the seeds in wet gauze before sowing, so shoots will appear faster.

Seeds should be planted in prepared individual pots or plastic cups with soil. Seeds are buried 1 cm into the ground, the soil is compacted, and covered with a film.

Growing seedlings

Eggplant seeds germinate at a temperature of 25-26 degrees for 10-15 days. When shoots appear, the film is removed from the pots, and the illumination for seedlings is increased, the air temperature can be lowered to 16-20 degrees over time (so eggplant seedlings will not stretch, the root system will be better developed).

Eggplants do not tolerate drafts and sudden changes in temperature, they can get sick. Seedlings require regular watering, periodically carry out top dressing.

By reducing watering, providing sufficient illumination and a cool seedling placement, the sprouts will not stretch, growth will slow down a little, the plants will be green, strong and healthy.

If, nevertheless, it was not possible to sow the seeds in separate cups, the grown eggplant seedlings dive. Eggplants do not tolerate diving well, so try not to damage the plants when transplanting.

Eggplants are watered a day before picking, then carefully removed from the total container and transferred to separate pots.

Video - how to sow eggplant seedlings

When the open ground warms up well enough (+18 degrees), eggplant seedlings are planted. This happens around the end of May - beginning of June. Seedlings should have 5 leaves and a root up to 10 cm long (the age of the sprouts is 2-2.5 months).

The planting site for eggplant should be sunny and protected from the wind. The best predecessors in the eggplant plot are cucumber, cabbage, carrots, garlic, onions, and peas.

Transplantation of seedlings is carried out in the afternoon.

Before planting in the ground, seedlings must be watered with warm settled water.

The distance between plants is at least 40 cm, and between rows 60 cm.

Seedlings are planted as follows:

Digging a hole to size
- fill the hole with warm settled water
- a seedling sits in a hole and sprinkled with earth to the surface level
- mulch with a layer of peat soil.

The first 2 weeks after planting, make sure that the ground remains moist all the time.

Attention! Do not forget the main rule when growing seedlings - it is better not to grow than to overgrow.

Eggplant cultivation technology

The main care in the process of plant growth is to observe watering, weeding from weeds and loosening the soil, forming bushes, as well as timely fertilizing.

Eggplants have a fragile and delicate root system, so instead of constant weeding, cover the beds nonwoven fabric or dry grass.

During flowering, eggplants are sprayed with sweet water for better pollination. At this time it is forbidden to use chemicals.

High varieties of eggplant must be tied to supports.

During the period of mass formation of fruits, eggplants need abundant watering. Watered with warm settled water at a temperature of 25-30 degrees in the evening. Water only under the root without getting on the casting. The next day after watering, remove the weeds and loosen the soil carefully around the plants and between the rows.

We form an eggplant bush

A month after flowering, fruits form on the bushes.

To obtain a high yield of eggplant, it is necessary to pinch the bushes. Cut off stepchildren regularly, thereby forming a bush.

A properly developed bush should have 3 lateral shoots and no more than 10 ovaries.

Formation undersized varieties does not require special efforts, do not remove necessary ovaries that do not have time to ripen before the cold.

The formation of tall varieties can be different:

One-stem bush, for tall varieties growing in a mini-greenhouse, or weak plants that are not able to hold all their fruits. Keep the strongest stem, tie to a support
-- for medium tall plants form a bush with two shoots. Extra stepchildren are removed, 2 strong shoots remain for growing fruits
- with an insufficient number of seedlings, 3 main stems are left. This method is suitable for growing at a large distance between the bushes.

Shoots without ovaries should be removed. So the bush will look naked, the sun's rays fall well on the fruits.

The growth of the plant is stopped by pinching the top, so the crop begins to ripen faster.

At high air temperatures, the flowers fall off, the ovaries do not form correctly, the fruits taste bitter.

During the growing season, eggplants need three single feedings: a mixture mineral fertilizers(10 g of ammonium nitrate and superphosphate and 3 g of potassium sulfate per 1 m 2 of plot area) and manure mixtures.

The first feeding of eggplants is carried out 10 days after transplanting into the ground.

The second top dressing occurs 20 days after transplantation, the third after the appearance of the fruit.

After top dressing, do not forget to water the area.

Pests and diseases of eggplant

Eggplants are exposed to pests when grown outdoors. Pests cause damage to plants - these are aphids, slugs, bears, thrips. It is necessary to treat the plant with Phytoferm. They love eggplant and Colorado beetles.

Eggplants are susceptible to various fungal and bacterial diseases. Affected by gray rot, stolbur, mosaic, late blight.

Spray plants with Phytosporin (harmless to humans and animals) 3-4 times per season to prevent disease.

Video - features of growing eggplant, seedlings, diseases and pests

The first ripened fruits can be seen already in July.

Harvesting begins on the basis of such signs:

The pulp is elastic, saturated with juice;
- seeds in fruits are light;
-- fruit length 10 cm and above;
-- different varieties have their own fruit color (from white to purple);
- the surface becomes glossy, shines.

Harvest eggplants on time to avoid overripe fruit (dark brown color, hard, not tasty fruit) every week.

Eggplants are cut from the bushes with secateurs or carefully plucked by hand along with part of the stalk.

Eggplants are not stored for a long time, so they should be preserved in the form of caviar, pickled, dried, cut into pieces.

Eggplant keeps well in the refrigerator. Due to their high palatability, eggplants are grown all over the world, they are widely used in the preparation of various dishes, canning.

By following the eggplant growing technology, you can achieve high yields of beautiful and healthy vegetables.

In the open field, under the sun and rain, vegetables ripen much better if they are planted correctly. Planting eggplant seedlings is a responsible event, because so much care and time has been given to them.

How to properly disperse the garden, prepare the soil, and other little things that are quite important in caring for this delicate, demanding, but very tasty and healthy vegetable.

The summer of one year is different from the summer of another year, and it is impossible to say the exact number of plantings, since the number of regions from north to south is large. Different latitudes, climate, length of summer are the reasons why in one region you can start transplanting in April, and in others only in mid-June.

As soon as the temperature at night and in the morning stop dropping below 15 degrees, and will be fixed for at least 2 days, you can plant seedlings.

In regions with a harsh climate, you should not plant seedlings in the ground before June 10 - 12. Night frosts will destroy the entire crop.

The development of seedlings from seed to the state for planting - about 1.5 months

Development from a seed to an independent, ready-to-plant seedling - more than a month and a half, therefore, by sowing the seeds in April, by the first decade of June you will get what you need.

Where and where to plant seedlings

If you take into account all the nuances when planting, and not just plant somewhere, you will get excellent harvest healthy vegetables in your garden. Eggplant is a vegetable that does not tolerate negligence. Therefore, we do everything according to the rules.

Garden bed preparation

Whatever variety you choose, it is more logical to make a bed wide for a maximum of two bushes. There are indisputable facts in favor of this:

• So easier to handle and tie eggplant;
• Easier to water;
• The plant gets enough sun;
• In case of summer frosts, or heavy rains, it is possible to cover the planting.

So, the width should be a maximum of two bushes. Street varieties usually reach a maximum of 70 cm, but despite this, it is better to tie them up at the time of fruiting.

The width of the bed for two plants should be not less than 1m. Do not spare the earth, as it will generously repay you for your freedom.

The length can be any, but keep in mind that watering is carried out only with settled water, and stretch a hose from artesian well you can’t - ice water will destroy the plants.

Choose sunny areas taking into account the fact that plants must necessarily see the first rays of the sun. The morning sun on your vegetables is the key to an excellent and healthy harvest.

The bed should stretch from west to east- so the bushes will not obscure each other.

Even if you have dug up a garden bed since autumn, in spring, in just a couple of days, you will have to dig it up again. In late April - early May, you can plant mustard on it, and plant green crops in the garden before planting seedlings.

You can cover with a film to create a favorable damp environment in the ground for mustard to rot and worms to appear. The day before the transplant, the film and all shelters must be removed.

Make sure that this bed was not under nightshade last year.

seedling preparation

In order for the eggplant to adapt as quickly as possible to a new environment, bright sun, small temperature changes, seedlings need temper before planting.

How to do it right, and with a minimum amount of physical activity:

1. Two weeks before transplanting, on cloudy days, take out the plants for 2 to 3 hours;
2. A week before transplanting, take the seedlings to the greenhouse;
3. Cover even in the greenhouse with covering material;
4. In cloudy weather, open the material;
5. Leave overnight and for a day before transplanting in a greenhouse without shelter.

Even if you have a greenhouse with tomatoes, they will tolerate eggplant for a couple of weeks. There is no need to make a special greenhouse for them - the bushes are still small, and they will easily enter the greenhouse.

Seedlings ready for the ground look like an adult:

• On her real leaves- rounded and dark green, there are at least 6 of them;
• The stem is thick, in appearance a little stiff;
• The plant is not shriveled, not dry, but not overflowing with water - an earthen ball from the pot should be removed without crumbling.

Landing patterns

Most often, gardeners use a parallel and staggered planting pattern.

Both methods are convenient, the only thing is that the chess one inspires the feeling that the plant receives more light, and the distance between plants is less.

Step back between plants on both sides not less than 40 cm, and from the edge of the garden 30 cm, and so, with two plants wide, you will get 100 cm beds.

When planting in a checkerboard pattern, it becomes possible to make the bed narrower, but then it will not include the amount that perfectly included 2 plants each.

Another plus for the chess version - Possibility to cover with foil. Bed width approx. 60 - 70 cm. And the film will be enough in the first weeks if you are worried about possible night frosts.

Mistakes

When transplanting seedlings, many gardeners make the same mistakes:

• Immediately after landing do not tie the plant to a stick. Despite the apparent thickness, the stalk of the eggplant is very fragile, and the slightest gust of wind breaks it. The sticks to which you tie the plant will also serve as a support for shelter in the first days;
• Planting seedlings in the place where last year grew nightshade: potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants too. The plant is very energetic in taking nitrogen from the ground. Fertilizer and top dressing with potassium and phosphorus additives are the procedures necessary for eggplant;
• Evening watering. As soon as the ground seems dry, gardeners try to water the young plants more abundantly. “Thanks” to such pity, the plant begins to hurt and turn yellow. Before the first ovaries appear, watering should be done every 7 days, when the earth dries out and the bush wilts slightly. With the beginning of the formation of fruits, watering is best done every 2 days.
• Fear of bush formation on one's own. After the formation of ovaries begins, you need to remove excess foliage, and shoots without an ovary - this will give strength for the formation of new ovaries and fruit ripening. It is better to remove the first fruits without waiting for technical ripeness, so that new peduncles form more actively.

The skill of a gardener lies only in experience, and which plants you grow is up to you. By paying attention when transplanting seedlings, you will ensure easy growth and care of the plant, which means good harvest on your own land.