Eggplants began to be domesticated more than a thousand years ago. Having traveled a long way from Africa to Europe, the dark blue fruit firmly established itself among farmers. The vegetable came to Russia in the 18th century and became widespread.
And today, gardeners set aside the sunniest spots on their plots for planting eggplants.
Many people argue about where this vegetable grows better - outdoors or in a greenhouse? Let's figure it out, says Anastasia Kovrizhnykh .
How to Grow Eggplant Seedlings Correctly
High yields of any vegetable crop depend on timely sowing, careful cultivation of seedlings and care of the adult plant.
About 25 fruits are harvested from one eggplant bush. Originating from India, the purple vegetable is sensitive to the length of daylight. In early summer, there is plenty of heat and lots of light.
It turns out that during the warmest summer period plants cannot develop.
Fruit formation begins with the decrease in daylight hours. But the cool nights of August do not provide the bushes with suitable conditions. As a result, the yield drops sharply.
Most old varieties of eggplant depend on day length. Breeding does not stand still.
New generations of seeds are not so sensitive to long periods of light. Therefore, when choosing seeds, it is important to carefully read the manufacturer's packaging.
Once the right varieties have been purchased, they can be prepared for planting. A warm thermos will help to bring the seeds out of dormancy. In a gauze bag, the seeds are dipped in water at +50 degrees for five minutes.
Then keep them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for fifteen minutes. The solution will save future shoots from diseases. Rinse the bag with seeds with water and leave to dry.
Dry seeds are hardened. At night they are kept in the refrigerator, and during the day indoors. And so for five days. Germination will help speed up the process of germination. On a saucer between two damp cloths, seeds are laid out and left in a warm place. As soon as they hatch, you can start planting.
The soil for planting should be loose, nutritious and disinfected. Suitable mixtures:
- high-moor peat and turf soil;
- humus soil;
- sand and rotted sawdust;
- ready-made soil mixtures in the store.
The sowing time for seeds depends on the location. In the northern and European parts of Russia, sowing begins in mid-March. In the southern regions, they begin in February. You can plant early and late ripening varieties at the same time. It will just shift the time for transplanting into the ground. Young plants of early varieties are ready for transplantation on the 50th day from the first shoots. Late varieties on the 80th day.
The root system of eggplants is sensitive to transplantation. Therefore, it is better to sow the seeds in separate pots. The seed is placed at a depth of 2 cm and sprinkled with soil.
In order for eggplant seedlings to grow healthy and strong, it is important to follow the rules of watering and temperature conditions. At night, seedlings are comfortable at a temperature of +16 degrees, and during the day up to +25 degrees.
Alternating temperatures will prevent the seedlings from stretching. After three days, the shoots are watered with settled water.
Before transferring the plants to permanent soil, they are hardened. Reduce watering and take them to a cool place. Two hours is enough for the first time. Then gradually increase the period. Hardened bushes 20 cm high are ready for planting.
How to Grow Greenhouse Eggplants
It is not so easy to achieve a high yield from a heat-loving vegetable in northern regions. A greenhouse on the plot will help out.
It is advisable to prepare the greenhouse for planting in the fall. Remove all residues from predecessors and weeds.
Using copper sulfate, disinfect the soil and dig it up. In the spring, three weeks before planting, add mineral fertilizers and humus per 1 sq. m.:
dolomite flour - 50 g;
nitrophoska - 50 g;
organic fertilizers - 5 kg.
The soil is dug up and covered with film. For heat-loving eggplants, the soil should warm up to +16 degrees, and the air to +18 degrees. Three days before planting, the soil is moistened.
The seedlings are carefully released from the cups without damaging the delicate root system. It is ideal to use peat tablets or pots for growing. The roots will not be disturbed. The plant will take root faster in a new place.
Low-growing early varieties are suitable for growing in a greenhouse. Fruits appear on the 90th day from the moment of germination.
Large bushes are planted at a distance of 45 cm from each other, and 60 cm are maintained between rows. Seedlings are planted in a hole 15 cm deep together with a lump of earth. The young bush is sprinkled with earth without pressing and watered.
The capricious eggplant noticeably reacts to the temperature in the greenhouse. In the cool, the plant slows down its growth, and in the heat it sheds its flowers. The optimal temperature should be no higher than +28 degrees and no lower than +18 degrees.
In two weeks, the root system of the bushes adapts to the new location and is ready for the first feeding with mineral fertilizer. Organic fertilizer is suitable for the second feeding. During the season, the bushes are fertilized up to 5 times.
Due to the increased requirements for air temperature and soil moisture, it is advisable to grow greenhouse eggplants separately from other crops.
Why Eggplants Are Grown Without Cover
High requirements for temperature, humidity, and daylight hours previously prevented eggplants from being grown outdoors. Thanks to modern selection, new cold-resistant varieties grow without greenhouses and hotbeds.
The soil is prepared for planting in the same way as in a greenhouse. It is dug up in the fall or spring, and fertilizers are added. In the southern regions, planting eggplant seedlings in the fresh air is not a problem. And in the middle zone, it is better to prepare higher beds so that the soil warms up faster before transplanting. In early June, the seedlings are ready to move to open ground.
Eggplants love sunlight, but in moderation, no more than 12 hours a day. Therefore, at the time of formation of ovaries, it is better to cover the plants from excess light. Eggplants do not like cold rains.
The plants are shedding their ovaries. You can't do without temporary shelter here.
Low-growing and branching tall varieties grow in open ground. Low-growing plants do not require pinching and form a bush on their own. Tall eggplants need support. They are tied to a support and the bush is formed by removing the stepsons.
The main conditions for obtaining an eggplant harvest in open ground:
selection of a variety or hybrid in accordance with the area where planting is planned;
raised ridges of sandy loam soil;
good lighting;
the presence of temporary shelter from rain and excess light.
You can grow eggplants in a greenhouse or open ground based on your own capabilities.
Thanks to the work of breeders, new generation varieties are resistant to cold, long daylight hours and diseases.
Greenhouse eggplants do not tolerate neighbors. But low-growing bushes, protected from wind and cold, form a good harvest.
Tall eggplants feel great in open spaces and bear fruit for a long time if they are protected from drizzling rain and excess light. The choice is up to the gardener.
Previously we wrote about how to properly grow gladioli .
Expert: Anastasia Kovrizhnykh
