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Eggplant is native to South Asia and India. However, despite the exoticism and thermophilicity, domestic farmers also grow vegetables in their gardens. Moreover, a wide selection of varieties allows you to grow a crop not only in greenhouses and greenhouses, but also in open ground. To do this, already in early spring, farmers germinate and sow seeds, carefully care for the crops, and with the onset of favorable weather, they begin to dive eggplant seedlings into open ground. This method of cultivation requires a special approach, since the plant is quite whimsical, reacts negatively to temperature changes and transplantation. So, you can find out the basic rules and some secrets of growing eggplant in the open field below in the article.
The best varieties for open ground
Not every eggplant variety can be successfully grown outdoors. So, breeders offer more than 200 varieties for unprotected conditions that are able to painlessly endure sudden changes in day / night temperatures and short-term cold snaps. Such eggplants are characterized by a relatively short period of fruit ripening and resistance to various diseases.
Based on the opinions of farmers and reviews, comments from experienced farmers, we can safely single out the top five eggplant varieties for open ground.
So, the TOP-5 includes varieties Epic f1, Valentina, Bourgeois f1, Vera, Destan f1. These varieties and hybrids are characterized by low bushes, early/mid-early ripening period of fruits, as well as high yields and excellent taste of vegetables.
Also, when choosing eggplant for open ground, you should pay attention to varieties “Almaz”, “Bibo f1”, “Helios”, “Clorinda f1”, “Fabina f1” and some others. They can be grown both in open and protected ground.
Time to sow the seed
Having chosen a suitable eggplant variety, it is necessary to determine the time for sowing its seeds for seedlings. In this case, it is worth considering the climatic features of the area, the growing season of the crop. For example, the popular Epic f1 hybrid actively bears fruit in just 64 days from the moment of germination. This means that in central Our Country, seeds for seedlings must be sown at the end of April, and already at the beginning of June, young plants can be dived into open ground. Seeds of varieties “Valentina”, “Bourgeois f1”, “Vera” have a fruit ripening period of approximately 100-110 days, therefore, seeds for seedlings should be sown in late March – early April.
It should be noted that in the southern regions of the country, where a stable summer temperature is set in early to mid-May, sowing seeds and picking plants in open ground can be carried out earlier than the dates stated above.
Seed preparation and sowing
Eggplant seeds must be germinated before sowing seedlings. For this you should:
- disinfect the seeds by immersing them in a manganese solution for 10-20 minutes;
- lay out the seeds treated with manganese on a piece of cloth or gauze, moisten the material with warm (+30-+350With water;
- immerse the wet cloth in a plastic bag, tying it tightly;
- immerse the bag in a warm place;
- after the appearance of sprouts, plant the seeds.
Eggplants have a poorly developed root system, so it is better to plant the seeds of this crop for seedlings immediately in separate pots of 1-2 seeds. It is recommended to use peat pots or tablets as containers for growing. Small plastic bags, flexible plastic cups are also suitable.
Despite the recommendations, some farmers still prefer to sow germinated eggplant seeds in one large container. This method of cultivation involves picking plants into separate pots at the stage of the appearance of two true leaves on sprouts. With such an intermediate pick, the roots of eggplants, the length of which exceeds 1 cm, should be pinched in order for the plants to take root better.
The soil for growing eggplant seedlings should be light. You can prepare the soil yourself by mixing garden soil with peat, river sand and organic matter. A complex of mineral fertilizers can be added to the general mixture. If necessary, soil for cultivating eggplant seedlings can be purchased ready-made in specialized stores.
Growing seedlings
Containers with sown germinated seeds should be covered with a film or protective glass and left warm until germination. As soon as the sprouts have hatched through the soil, the containers should be placed in a lighted place. With a lack of light, plants can be illuminated with fluorescent lamps. The optimal light period for seedling growth is 12 hours.
Watering eggplant seedlings in the early stages of cultivation should be carried out 1-2 times a week. As the plants grow, it is necessary to moisten the soil more often. It should be remembered that eggplant is particularly demanding on watering.
Eggplant seedlings with a lack of light are excessively stretched upwards. This situation can be eliminated by installing reflective materials (mirrors, foil) around the perimeter of the surface on which containers with plants are located. This will allow sufficient illumination of large eggplant leaves, making the sprouts even, equally leafy on all sides.
Seedlings need to be fertilized once every 1 weeks. For top dressing, you can use mineral complexes with a high content of nitrogen, which helps to accelerate the growth and development of eggplant green mass.
Seedling of seedlings
Eggplant seedlings should be planted in a well-lit, sunny place. To prevent shading around the perimeter of the ridges, low-growing crops should be planted, such as onions, carrots or sorrel. The best predecessors for eggplant are legumes, melons, onions, carrots, cabbage. At the same time, eggplants can be planted in the soil on which solanaceous crops used to grow, no earlier than after 3 years.
2 weeks before the proposed picking, it is necessary to start hardening the seedlings. To do this, pots with plants are taken out into the street, first for 30 minutes, then gradually increase the time until full daylight hours. This will allow eggplants to adapt to the temperature conditions of open ground and exposure to direct sunlight.
Given the differences in the climate of the regions, it is impossible to name a specific date for picking seedlings in open ground. So, each farmer himself must choose the best time for planting, taking into account the following features:
- eggplants grow and abundantly form ovaries only at temperatures above +200WITH;
- even the shortest, slight frosts are detrimental to young seedlings.
At the time of planting eggplants in open ground, seedlings should have 5-6 true leaves. The age of seedlings, depending on the duration of the fruiting period of a particular variety, can be 30-70 days.
It is necessary to dive eggplants into open ground in compliance with a certain distance, which depends on the tallness of the bushes. So, plants with a height of more than 1 meter are planted no thicker than 3 pieces per 1 m2 soil. Low-growing eggplants can be planted in 4-5 bushes per 1 m2 soil. Failure to observe the distances between plants can lead to shading, the development of diseases, and as a result, a decrease in yield.
The soil for planting should duplicate the composition of the substrate in which the seedlings were cultivated. “Lenten” garden soil can be flavored with organic matter. Manure infusion, well-rotted compost, is often used as an organic top dressing.
About an hour before planting the eggplants, the ridges and the seedlings themselves must be watered. Sprouts from plastic (polyethylene) containers must be removed very carefully, keeping a clod of earth on the vine. Peat containers must be embedded in the soil without removing the plant.
In pre-prepared holes, the plants are immersed to such a depth that the cotyledon leaves of the eggplant are in the soil. The holes, with seedlings inside, are covered with soil, slightly compacting it. Additional watering of eggplants dived into open ground is not required.
Growing heat-loving plants in open ground in central Our Country, as well as in the northern regions, in Siberia and the Urals, immediately after planting, eggplants are recommended to be covered with polyethylene using arcs. It is possible to remove the polyethylene shelter only when night temperatures exceed +150C. As a rule, such warm nights are established after June 15th.
Plant Care
Caring for dived plants consists in regular watering, fertilizing and loosening:
- watering eggplant before flowering should be 1 time in 6-7 days. In particularly hot weather, the frequency of watering can be increased;
- in the process of flowering and fruiting, the culture should be watered 2 times a week;
- the volume of water during irrigation should be 10-12 liters per 1 m2 soil;
- plants should be watered after sunset directly under the root;
- water temperature for irrigation should be above +250WITH;
- loosening simultaneously with weeding should be carried out as needed, but at least 4 times during the entire growing season;
- eggplants should be fed every 2 weeks using manure infusion or special mineral complexes.
More detailed information about caring for eggplant in the open field can be found in the video:
Growing eggplant in the open field is not at all difficult if you know and follow all the rules of cultivation. So, it is especially important not only to choose a suitable variety, but to grow healthy strong seedlings from seeds that will successfully adapt to new outdoor conditions, take root in the ground without a long stop in growth. A successful planting of eggplant seedlings in open ground is also a step towards obtaining a rich harvest of tasty and healthy vegetables. After picking the seedlings, it is important to direct your efforts towards observing the schedule of watering and fertilizing, since only with a sufficient amount of moisture and micronutrients, the culture is able to fully bear fruit.