Contents
Eggplant Vera is a domestic variety that is adapted to the conditions of the climate. It is valued for a high percentage of marketable fruits, versatility of use and stable yields even in unfavorable seasons for the crop. But in order for this species to meet the declared characteristics, it is necessary to properly sow, plant seedlings in a permanent place and provide appropriate care.
Eggplant Vera is suitable for private cultivation
History of breeding
This variety appeared thanks to the selection work carried out by employees of the Federal Center for Vegetable Growing, which is located in the Moscow region. As a result of careful selection, a species with stable characteristics has been obtained. An application for variety testing was filed in 1998, and already in 2001 the Vera eggplant was included in the State Register of Our Country.
Description and characteristics of eggplant Vera
The variety has some characteristic differences, which distinguishes it in comparison with others. This applies to the appearance of bushes, fruits, as well as the timing of crop ripening and productivity. Knowing the features of eggplant Vera, you can accurately determine the varietal affiliation.
Appearance
Depending on the growing region and weather conditions, the height of the bushes in this type of crop can reach 73-105 cm. The plants are medium leafy, powerful, but not sprawling. Therefore, close planting of seedlings on the site is allowed.
The leaves of the eggplant Vera are typical for the culture, medium in size, dark green. The plates are notched along the edge, with a rough surface. The veins on them are dark purple. Flowers appear from the axils of the leaves, large, drooping. The buds are blue-violet. They are single or collected in inflorescences of 2-3 pieces. The flower calyx is covered with rare small spines.
The fruits of the Vera eggplant are pear-shaped, up to 20 cm long. Their average weight is 125-180 g, but there are specimens weighing about 300 g. When ripe, the fruits acquire a uniform rich purple hue. Their skin is smooth, shiny, glossy. The flesh of eggplants of the Vera variety is whitish in color, dense in texture, without voids.
Bushes are recommended to be formed in 3-5 branches
Taste and purpose
The palatability of the variety is rated as excellent. They are fully manifested after heat treatment. Variety Vera belongs to the category of universal. Its fruits can be fried, stewed. Harvest is also suitable for preparing various snacks, salads, preparations for the winter.
Terms of maturation
Faith is an early ripe variety of culture. The duration of its growing season is 110-118 days. Harvest reaches technical maturity in late August-early September.
Yield of eggplant Vera
Eggplant Vera is valued for stable fruiting. This is due to its increased resistance to adverse weather conditions and temperature extremes. However, the productivity of the variety is lower than that of industrial species. The yield of Vera is 1,2-2,8 kg per 1 sq. m.
Growing regions
Despite the thermophilicity of eggplant, the variety is suitable for growing in the central and northern regions of the country. According to the State Register, Vera shows high productivity in the Urals, West Siberian and Far East regions.
Advantages and disadvantages
This variety of culture has many advantages, which is confirmed by the reviews of gardeners. But eggplant Vera also has certain disadvantages that need to be studied in advance.
No more than ten fruits should be left on one plant
Main advantages:
- stable yield;
- excellent presentation of fruits;
- versatility of application;
- lack of bitterness;
- early maturation;
- low seed;
- resistance to temperature extremes;
- unpretentiousness to care;
- suitability for transportation, long-term storage.
Disadvantages:
- spiky sepals;
- average yield;
- needs treatment from diseases, pests.
Growing seedlings
It is recommended to grow eggplant Vera in seedlings. Sowing seeds of the variety at home is recommended in late February-early March. In this case, the seedlings at the time of planting will be 65-70 days old.
For planting, you will need wide containers, at least 10 cm high. They must have drainage holes to remove excess water during irrigation. It is recommended to fill the containers with a nutrient substrate. You can buy it in the store, choosing it marked “for seedlings” or cook it yourself by mixing turf, peat, leafy soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1: 1. Also, in addition to the soil mixture, you need to add perlite at the rate of 0,5 liters per 10 liters, and then stir until a homogeneous consistency is obtained.
Two days before sowing eggplant Vera seeds, it is necessary to disinfect the soil, which will eliminate the likelihood of seedlings being affected by fungal diseases at the initial stage of development. To do this, pour the substrate with a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate, and then dry it slightly.
Planting seeds should be carried out in moist soil to a depth of 0,5 cm, keeping a distance of 2 cm. At the end of the procedure, cover the container with a film and transfer to a dark place with a temperature of + 23-25 ° C. When friendly shoots appear, the container must be rearranged to a light window sill and the content regime should be reduced to +20 ° С.
In the future, it is necessary to provide eggplant seedlings with standard care, which involves moderate watering and regular airing of seedlings. And when the plants grow up and get stronger, they need to be adapted to external conditions and the film completely removed.
Vera eggplant seedlings should be dived at the stage of two true leaves. To do this, you can use a similar substrate as when planting and containers with a volume of 200-300 ml. When transplanting, it is necessary to take seedlings with an earthy clod on the roots. Two weeks after this, the first feeding should be carried out with a complex mineral fertilizer intended for seedlings.
Harvested Eggplant Vera seeds are suitable for planting next year
Transplanting seedlings into the ground
It is necessary to transfer seedlings to a permanent place when the soil warms up enough, and the air temperature will confidently stay above +14 ° C. But before that, Vera’s eggplant seedlings need to be hardened off. To do this, it is recommended to take it outside for the first time a week before transplantation and leave it for an hour in a shady place. With each subsequent day, the time interval should be increased by half an hour.
The recommended planting pattern for eggplant Vera is four seedlings per 1 sq. m. It is necessary to plant plants in holes, the size of which is equal to the volume of the root system. Seedlings are not recommended to be buried. After the procedure, water them abundantly. By the time of planting, the plants should have 5-6 leaves.
Further Care
The variety does not require complex care; it is enough to adhere to the standard rules of agricultural technology and then a good harvest is guaranteed.
Vera eggplant should be watered regularly in the absence of rain for a long time. To do this, use settled water with a temperature of + 20 ° C. Irrigation should be carried out under the root so that moisture does not fall on the leaves. The frequency of watering 1-2 times a week, depending on the air temperature. During particularly hot periods, it is recommended to lay mulch at the base of Vera eggplant bushes to prevent excessive evaporation.
It is also necessary to regularly weed the plantings of the crop and loosen the soil at the base of the plants in order to maintain air access to the roots. The variety needs the formation of bushes. It is recommended to select 3-5 main shoots, and remove the rest of the stepchildren growing below the fork. It is also necessary to control the amount of ovary so that the quality of the fruit corresponds to the declared characteristics of the species.
Eggplant Vera needs a moderate amount of nutrients in the soil. Therefore, it must be fed two weeks after planting in open ground and at the stage of fruit formation. In the first case, you need to use chicken manure 1:15 or mullein 1:10, and in the second, potassium monophosphate in a proportion of 10-15 g per 10 liters of water. It is necessary to apply a nutrient solution for watering the bushes at the rate of 1 liter for each.
Top dressing should be carried out with moist soil to avoid burning the roots.
Eggplant Vera is affected by late blight. Therefore, as a preventive measure, it is recommended to treat it with fungicides every two weeks during the growth process. The variety is also attacked by the Colorado potato beetle. When warning signs appear, insecticides should be applied immediately to prevent the mass spread of the pest.
Conclusion
Eggplant Vera is a stable variety that performs well in regions with difficult climatic conditions. After all, it easily tolerates temperature changes, does not require complex care and is characterized by high quality fruits. Therefore, many gardeners prefer it, despite the average level of productivity.
Reviews of gardeners about the variety of eggplant Vera
