Eggplant King of the North F1: variety description, cultivation with photos and reviews

Eggplant variety King of the North F1 is the earliest. This culture is resistant to small frosts, is characterized by increased productivity and excellent taste. No more than 100 days pass from the appearance of the first sprouts to harvesting. This crop was bred to grow in the northern regions, but it also grows well in temperate climates.

Description and characteristics of the variety

King of the North F1 is a hardy plant that tolerates light frosts well. The hybrid bushes are quite powerful and strong; when planted on the ground, the height of the bushes does not exceed 70 cm, so they do not need to be tied up.If the crop is planted in a greenhouse, then the bushes can grow over 1 meter high. In this case, a garter is needed.

Stalks are greenish-violet, brightly colored. The leaves have purple veins. The flowers are numerous, delicate purple color. The fruits are round, elongated. Many summer residents compare this variety with sausages. The length of the fruit can reach 30 cm, the diameter is 7 cm. But there are fruits that reach a length of 45 cm.

The rind on the eggplant is of a pronounced purple color, thin and glossy. The flesh is white, medium density, without coarse veins and bitterness. The plant bears fruit for an average of 2 months. When grown in greenhouse conditions, the fruiting period is even longer.

Eggplants of this variety are rich in calcium, iron and phosphorus. They help to normalize metabolism and remove bad cholesterol from the body.

The blue variety King of the North F1 has no bitterness, the fruits do not need to be soaked in s alted water before cooking.

Pros and cons

The hybrid has many advantages, thanks to which gardeners like to plant this variety.

1. Frost resistance. The variety is resistant to temperature fluctuations and light frosts, which are frequent in early summer. Low temperature does not affect eggplant yield in any way.
2. Excellent germination. Even when planting seeds without prior preparation, up to 70% of planting material is included.
3. Unpretentiousness. No need to waste time tying plants and forming a bush. The hybrid tolerates transplanting into the ground well and quickly gets used to unusual conditions.
4. Resistance to fungal diseases that often affect eggplant.
5. Remarkable taste. Eggplants of this variety have tender flesh, completely without bitterness. This vegetable is suitable for preparing snacks and canning.
6. Attractive appearance and long shelf life.
7. High yield. Even in bad weather, they collect up to 15 kg of blue ones from 1 m².

The King of the North also has minor flaws. Some housewives do not like the elongated shape of the fruit, which is inconvenient to cut. The disadvantages include the fact that the fruits often get dirty on the ground, due to their length.

Be aware that the King of the North is a hybrid. It will not be possible to grow seedlings from self-collected seeds, so you need to buy planting material every year.

Growing seedlings

The king of the north is characterized by good germination, but pre-treatment of seeds does not hurt. Perform it in several stages.

• Dissolve a teaspoon of s alt in a liter of warm water, pour planting material into it and mix well. Those seeds that have surfaced are poured out.
• The remaining seeds are dipped in hot water for 3 minutes. The temperature should be no higher than 45 degrees.
• After hot water, the planting material is dipped for 20 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

A moistened cotton napkin is placed on a saucer, and seeds are placed on top. They put the saucer in a warm place, cover it with another damp cloth.

After 3-4 days, when the sprouts hatch, the eggplants are planted in the soil, at a distance of 5 cm from each other. 1-3 seeds are planted in the hole, weak sprouts are then removed. Use special containers, pressed peat pots or just flower pots. The soil must be roasted in the oven before planting.

When the sprouts have 3 leaves, they swoop down. Do this carefully, as the root system of plants is weak.

To prevent fungal diseases, crushed activated charcoal tablets or chalk are added to the planting substrate.

Landing in the ground and preparation for it

Seedlings are hardened off before planting in the ground. To do this, the pots are first taken out for 2-3 hours outside, then this time is gradually increased to 10 hours. Pots should not be placed in a draft.

The place for planting eggplant should be open, sunny and protected from the wind. You can’t plant blue ones in places where nightshade ones grew before.

Landing in the ground is carried out when the average daily temperature is at least 20 degrees. This usually happens in mid-June. By this time, each sprout should have 7-8 leaves. If there are buds or flowers on the seedlings, this is not an obstacle to planting in open ground.

The bushes are planted at a distance of 50 cm from each other, the distance between rows should be about 60 cm. The depth of the holes is 15 cm.

If the seedlings were planted in peat pots, then the eggplants are dropped into the holes along with the container.

Eggplant care

The king of the north is an unpretentious hybrid, but if the summer resident wants to get a big harvest, the plants need minimal care.

Irrigation

All eggplants love water, but it's important not to overfill them. If the summer is not hot, then the plants are watered every three days. At temperatures above 30 degrees, you need to water the beds every day. The best time for watering is morning. Pour some water under the spine, it is undesirable if the liquid gets on the leaves.

The first week after planting in the ground, the little blue ones are not watered. Abundant watering at this time leads to a decrease in plant immunity.

Mulching

Mulch is essential for this eggplant variety to protect fruit from contamination. In addition, due to mulching, moisture lingers in the soil for a long time. Mulch helps the summer resident and save time on weeding the beds.

Feeding

You need to feed the hybrid every two weeks. After that, the beds are watered abundantly so as not to burn the roots. For top dressing, a solution of carbamide and superphosphate is used, they are taken at 10 grams per 10 liters of water. Supplement the solution with 5 grams of potassium sulfate.

You can fertilize plants with a solution of fresh chicken manure or dandelions.

Disease and pest control

The king of the north is resistant to diseases and pests. But if the summer turned out to be damp, then the bushes are periodically sprinkled with wood ash or crushed chalk.Aphids or spider mites can attack eggplant bushes. In this case, the plants are treated 2 times a day, for a week, with an infusion of onion peel and garlic arrows.

To fight slugs use store-bought pesticides. Meta and Thunderstorm preparations will do.

Harvesting and storage of crops

Harvest blue ones when the skin becomes glossy and bright. It is important not to overcook the fruit, as the flesh will turn brownish. In addition, an untimely harvest prevents the formation of new ovaries.

You can keep eggplant fresh for no more than a month and a half. Store vegetables in a cool place, at a temperature not exceeding 4 degrees. Beforehand, each eggplant is wrapped in a napkin.

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