How to plant eggplant: rules for planting and care in the open field with video

Cultivation of various crops is practiced by vegetable growers every year. Often the question arises of how to grow plants correctly. Planting eggplants is easy, even a beginner can handle them. Agricultural practices must be followed to achieve positive results.

Description and characteristics of the vegetable

The birthplace of culture is India. In those places, it grows like a wild plant. In the countries of our continent, eggplant has been cultivated and planted for human consumption.

To obtain information about a plant, it is required to study its properties and characteristics. This will help grow the vegetable and avoid mistakes.

Plant:

• height: 0.4 to 1.5 m;
• leaves: oval, rough to the touch;
• color: green or purple;
• flowers: purple, arranged in 1 or 2-7 pieces. in brushes;
• flower diameter: 2.5-5cm;
• refers to perennials.

Vegetable:

• shape: pear-shaped, round, oblong or cylindrical;
• weight: up to 1 kg;
• color: black, purple and all shades;
• appearance: glossy, sometimes matte;

The fruits of the culture are classified as berries.

Many characteristics vary according to variety. Therefore, it is not possible to give a clear description of eggplant.

Growing from seeds

Despite the fact that the culture is perennial, summer residents prefer to sow it directly into the ground every year.

Eggplant planting material is checked for germination. Seeds (10 pcs.) Wrapped in a piece of gauze, immersed in water, the temperature of which is not more than +27 ⁰С. After 24 hours, the water is drained, and the gauze with seeds is placed in room conditions at a stable temperature. Gauze is constantly moistened, it should not dry out. After 7-10 days shoots will appear. Then, by the number of germinated seeds, it is determined whether they should be planted or not.

If more than half hatched, then planting material is used for sowing. If less than half, then it is worth buying new seeds.

The plot is dug up and beds are formed. Their height should be 30 cm, width - 1 m. Eggplant planting material is folded into a container and covered with gauze. Leave for a few days to germinate.

It is recommended to harden the seeds, so they can more easily tolerate temperature drops. Planting material is wrapped in gauze, left for a day at room temperature, then put in the refrigerator for 24 hours. When the specified time has passed, they are again put in the room for a day. Then once again put for 2 days in the refrigerator. After performing these steps, sowing is carried out.

Soil temperature when planting at least +15 ⁰С.

Seeds are planted to a depth of 2-3 cm, watered abundantly. Night frosts have a bad effect on eggplants, it is necessary to additionally wrap the bushes. Sowing is carried out no earlier than June, possibly earlier, depending on the climate of the growing region.

Growing seedlings

It takes a little effort and time to grow a seedling crop. By following simple instructions, he althy seedlings are grown. Eggplant planting material is taken no older than 3-4 years.

Initially prepare fertile soil in small and shallow containers. Seedling soil composition:

• 1 piece of sod land;
• 1 piece of sand;
• 2 parts of humus.

Sown to a depth of 5 mm, leaving 2 cm between seeds.

When the sowing of planting material is over, the earth is moistened with a spray gun, using warm water or boiling water cooled to +22 ⁰С. Tighten with polyethylene and put in a dark place until shoots appear. Ambient temperature +22 ⁰С. Shoots will appear in 10-14 days. After the container with seedlings, they put it on a windowsill or other well-lit place.

The summer resident determines the timing of planting on his own. Seedlings are planted in open ground after the passage of recurrent frosts. The day of sowing eggplant for seedlings is determined taking into account the climate of the growing region.

Planting eggplants in open ground

It is necessary to plant eggplants according to certain deadlines, properly preparing the soil and taking into account all the other nuances of proper cultivation. Then the harvest will be good.

Date of planting

There is no concrete answer to this question. It all depends on the method by which eggplants are grown, what are the characteristics of the climate and the preferences of summer residents.

Since the summer is short, and the growing season of the crop is long (3.5-4 months), it is preferable to grow the vegetable in seedlings.

Thus, seeds should be planted in advance, around March. The date is calculated in such a way that by the time of planting in a permanent place, the seedlings have formed 3-5 true leaves.

It is undesirable to plant seedlings with buds in the ground. She is going to have a very painful transplant. And it will lag far behind in development.

Don't rush to plant early. It won't lead to anything good. Eggplants do not develop at low temperatures. It is desirable that it does not fall below +15 ⁰С, and the ground warms up to + 13 ⁰С.

If the crop is grown in a greenhouse, then the planting dates are shifted. Eggplant seedlings are planted in the middle of winter, planted in a greenhouse in early May. The heated greenhouse provides for planting seeds in January, and seedlings of vegetables are transferred in early April.

Soil preparation

Special attention should be paid to the correct formation of the beds, the future harvest also depends on this.

First of all choose a place. It is better to place the bed in a lighted area of the garden, protected from drafts.

Predecessors after which it is undesirable to plant eggplant:

• peppers;
• tomatoes;
• potato;
• physalis.

Recommended crops where eggplant beds are placed next year:

• bow;
• cabbage;
• cucumbers.

Choose the fertile composition of the soil. In acidified soil, it is better to add a small amount of dolomite flour or lime.

Then organic matter is introduced, for 1 m^{2 3-4 kg of rotted manure is enough. Under no circumstances should fresh manure be added.}

To improve the composition of the soil, mineral fertilizers are added. For 1 m^{2 - 30 g of superphosphate and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium s alt.}

Eggplant roots prefer soil that is well oxygenated. River sand and peat are added to the beds. The earth is dug up and carefully leveled with a rake.

Plant pattern

To obtain the declared eggplant crop, you need to plant the plants correctly. The landing pattern is simple. Consideration should be given to the characteristics of the varieties that are grown.

Recommended spacing:

• 25-30 cm for early varieties;
• 35-40 cm in medium and late varieties;
• 55-70 cm between rows;
• 15-17 cm hole depth.

Compliance with the planting scheme will ensure that the plants will develop correctly and produce the declared yield. Otherwise, favorable conditions will be created for diseases and the appearance of pests.

Features of growing eggplant in a greenhouse

When a summer resident decides to grow a crop in a greenhouse, you need to know about some of the features of caring for vegetables in protected ground:

1. Choice of varieties. Breeders are doing their best, breeding species that grow in greenhouses and bring a harvest. There are many similar varieties, you should choose the most suitable for growing conditions.
2. Greenhouse construction. There should be vents for ventilation and creating the necessary temperature conditions. In cold regions, it is equipped with a heating system.
3. Length of daylight hours. At least 12 hours of sunlight, with a lack of additional illumination lamps are installed.
4. Water. It is recommended to water with warm water. Irrigate for the first time on the 5th day, it is undesirable to pour water on the leaves.
5. Soil composition. The soil should be loose and fertile.
6. Care. Need to remove flowers and top dressing.

Experienced vegetable growers advise beginners to grow crops in a greenhouse. It is easier to protect plants from wind and temperature changes in it.

Rules for plant care

The final result depends on how well the eggplants were cared for. No matter how well the variety and place for planting are chosen, without proper care it will not be possible to achieve a positive result.

Water and loosening

Culture does not tolerate the lack and excess of moisture. Requires moderation during watering. The rate of water consumption per plant depends on the size of the seedling itself. The larger it is, the more moisture is required for normal development.

Water temperature for irrigation is not lower than +22 ⁰С. Lower temperatures inhibit root growth and all plant development.

Water is poured directly under the root, excluding moisture on the foliage. Do this 2 times a week. When the plant blooms, water 2-3 times within 7 days. When it is not possible to water often, do it abundantly.

Loosening is necessary for eggplants to obtain oxygen by the root system. Another reason to systematically carry out loosening is the destruction of weeds. They cause a lot of problems for eggplants, because they are carriers of diseases and insect pests. Loosen, retreating from the roots of eggplant by 10 cm. The first loosening to a depth of 10 cm, then by 12 cm.

If plants are spudded at least 4 times during the growing season, this stimulates the formation of additional lateral roots, which contributes to the rapid growth and development of ovaries.

Formation

An important role is played by the correct formation of eggplant bushes. Not all varieties require this procedure. A beginner summer resident should be attentive to this point.

Form those plants that have reached 25-30 cm in height. Remove all stepchildren growing below the first bud. The first ovary is also pinched off.

Doing it or not is a personal matter for every vegetable grower. Experienced summer residents claim that proper formation increases the yield from one plant several times.

Feeding

An important point of plant care is the correct timely feeding. It helps eggplants to form ovaries and give the declared harvest. Another reason to apply fertilizer in a timely manner is disease prevention.

Number of dressings per season is not less than 3:

1. 20 days after transfer to the garden.
2. One month after the 1st feeding.
3. When plants begin to bear fruit.

Fertilizers are recommended to alternate. Use:

• organic: manure, compost, chicken manure;
• mineral supplements: phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, iron, boron and manganese.

From folk remedies, summer residents recommend using the following top dressing:

• Wood ash. On a bucket of water 1 glass of ash. Each plant is watered under the root.
• Yeast. 5 liters of water and 200 g of pressed yeast. Let it brew for a day at room temperature. Then the mixture is diluted at the rate of 1 part per 10 parts of water, poured strictly under the root.
• Dandelion. A glass of flowers is poured with 2 liters of boiling water. Insist for 5 hours. Then add another 8 liters of water, use for irrigation.
• Chamomile pharmacy. 1 cup of plant flowers per 1 liter of boiling water. Insist for 24 hours, then add another 9 liters of water and water under the root.

Feeding methods are different, their use depends on the personal preferences of the summer resident.

Diseases and pests

The plant suffers from the attacks of the Colorado potato beetle. This insect is capable of destroying the entire plant in a matter of days. In addition to him, eggplants overcome:

• spider mite;
• aphid;
• whitefly;
• Medvedka;
• slugs.

Insecticide treatment will help get rid of them. The aisle is sprinkled with wood ash or slaked lime.

To avoid the development of diseases on eggplants, agrotechnical requirements should be observed. Properly prepare the bed, observe crop rotation and planting patterns.

Eggplants are exposed to the following diseases:

• root rot;
• bottom rot;
• fusarium;
• verticillium;
• late blight;
• mosaic;
• stolbur.

Proper processing of eggplants with special solutions will prevent the disease from developing and switching to he althy specimens. There are several ways to fight, the summer resident is free to choose an effective method himself:

1. Biochemicals. They do not harm either human or animal, focusing on the destruction of the pest.
2. Chemicals. They fight diseases quickly, but settle in the fruits of plants.
3. Folk remedies. Require repeated processing, do not last long.

Of course, it is best to do without the use of chemistry, but in some cases its use is necessary, as other means simply do not cope.

Harvest and storage of crops

There is no clearly defined period, as summer residents grow different types of eggplant. It is worth focusing on the variety of culture.

Harvest from different varieties:

• early 90-110 days;
• average 115-130 days;
• late 130-140 days.

The timing may vary depending on how agricultural technology was carried out, when eggplants were planted and on the climatic features of the region.

The peculiarity of the culture is that the degree of maturity of eggplants cannot be correlated with color, since they turn purple almost immediately. In addition to the growing season, experienced gardeners advise focusing on the length of the vegetable, by which to judge the maturity of the eggplant.

If you press on the fruit and the structure quickly recovers, the vegetable is ripe. Otherwise, you must leave the eggplant on the bush.

Remove from the bushes with a pruner, the remaining unripe fruits are left on the plant. To complete the ripening process, they are transferred to the greenhouse along with the roots.

For those who decide to save part of the eggplant harvest until winter, there is an opportunity to do so. Large and he althy specimens are selected. Cleaned in a box and sprinkled with straw. Store in a dry, cool place at a constant temperature.

There is another way to keep vegetables for a longer period - they are dried. Eggplants are sorted and cut into circles no more than 2 cm thick. Then they are threaded and hung in a well-ventilated room.

What to plant next year

Summer residents are well aware that it is not recommended to plant eggplants in the place where nightshade grew last year, as they can become infected with diseases common to the family.

Observing the rotation of crops, vegetable growers achieve a high yield. Plants get sick less often and grow and develop faster.

The next year after eggplant, cabbage, cucumbers, green manure, melons and onions are sown. Planting beets is acceptable.

Beginners' fears about the difficulty of growing are groundless, eggplant grows and develops without requiring special care. It is enough to follow the usual agricultural practices for a vegetable grower, and the plant will please with a harvest.

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