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Eggplant is an amazing berry, which is called a vegetable. Compote is not cooked from it, but pickles are prepared. Nature has created such a variety of varieties, different colors and shapes that one involuntarily marvels at her “creativity”. Purple, pink, white and even yellow varieties are successfully grown by gardeners around the world. And it would probably be a huge injustice if in all this color variety there was no place for green eggplants.
With a relatively nondescript appearance, green vegetables are recognized as the most delicious. Due to the sweetness of the fruit, they are successfully consumed fresh. The rich microelement composition of the vegetable makes it a source of health. It is not at all difficult to grow such eggplants on your own. To do this, you need to select the seeds of a suitable variety and make some efforts to cultivate the plant.
Green varieties
There are not so many green eggplants. They differ in appearance and taste. In our latitudes, the following green varieties are mainly grown:
Alenka
This variety is one of the most popular among green eggplants. Differs in the early period of fruit ripening – 108 days from the day of sowing the seed. It is recommended to grow a culture in a greenhouse. The best time for sowing seeds for seedlings is in February, March. In this case, the peak of fruiting will be in August, September.
The plant of this green variety is small, up to 70 cm high. Such compactness allows planting bushes with a frequency of 4-6 pieces per 1 m2 soil. At the same time, the fertility of the crop is quite high, and reaches 8 kg / m2.
The shape of the fruit is familiar to a culture such as eggplant – teardrop-shaped. The average length of a vegetable is 15 cm, weight is 320-350 g. It is worth noting that the eggplant is green not only outside, but also inside. Its flesh is greenish in color. Juiciness and pleasant taste of the pulp, allows you to consume the fruit raw. As a rule, this is indicated by a characteristic inscription on the package with seeds. The fruits of this variety can be seen in the photo below.
Greenish
The fruits of this variety are spherical in shape. They are quite large, weighing up to 300 g. Eggplant pulp is light green, sweetish with a clear mushroom flavor. The variety has an early ripening period: a little more than 105 days pass from the day of sowing the seed to fruiting.
It is recommended to grow a variety in open areas. For an early harvest in mid-March, seeds should be sown for seedlings. It is necessary to dive into the ground no earlier than the end of May and no later than mid-June. An adult plant has a fairly modest size, so it can be planted 5 pieces per 1 m2 soil. The yield of the variety reaches 7 kg / m2. You can see the Green Eggplant in the photo below.
Green F1
Despite the similar name of this hybrid with the variety described above, their fruits are radically different in shape and taste. You can see the external difference by comparing the photo.
Fruits of a hybrid of light green, salad color. They have an elongated cylindrical, slightly flattened shape. Their length reaches 20-25 cm, weight is not more than 300 g. The pulp of the fruit is light, dense, absolutely does not contain bitterness.
The height of the bush does not exceed 70 cm, which facilitates the care of the plant and allows you to plant 4-5 bushes per 1 m2 soil. The plant is adapted to open and protected ground. The variety is characterized by an average ripening period of up to 115 days after sowing the seeds. The yield of the hybrid is excellent – up to 8 kg / m2.
Yoga
These eggplants are as unusual as their name. They have a curved cylindrical shape and are painted in light green, salad color. At the same time, the pulp of the fruit is white, dense and quite tasty. Such a vegetable weighs 220-250 g.
The bushes of the plant are semi-spreading, low – up to 70 cm. They are grown in open ground, by seedlings. Grown seedlings dive into the ground no earlier than mid-May. The fruit ripening period is 115 days after sowing the seed. The yield of the variety is high – up to 8 kg / m2.
Emerald F1
This green hybrid is characterized by increased resistance to low temperatures, stress, and diseases. That is why the seeds of this variety are preferred to be grown in middle climatic latitudes. Plants are suitable for growing in open areas, as well as in greenhouses. The modest height of the bush (up to 70 cm) allows you to plant them up to 6 pcs per 1 m2 of the soil.
The fruits are of a classic oval shape, green in color, weigh about 300 g. Their flesh is white, juicy, without bitterness. The fruit is suitable for eating raw. For its maturation, it takes from 105 to 110 days from the date of sowing the seed. A distinctive feature of the variety is a significant duration of the fruiting period, which provides a yield of up to 8 kg / m2. Eggplants of this variety are shown in the photo.
Louisiana
Eggplants of this variety are representatives of the American selection, which are successfully grown in domestic latitudes. Their main advantage is an excellent yield of up to 3 kg from one bush. The plant fructifies amicably, the fruits of a cylindrical shape are relatively even and approximately equal in length (15-20 cm). The average weight of one eggplant is 200 g.
The plant is medium-sized, not too spreading, so the planting frequency is 4-5 pcs / m2 soil. The best conditions for growing varieties are greenhouse. The fruit ripening period is 110-115 days. You can see Louisiana green vegetables not only in the photo below, but also in the video, which describes the conditions for growing crops in domestic latitudes and gives an objective assessment of the resulting crop:
Thai green
Gardeners who have tested the seeds of this variety are sure that all the efforts to grow these fruits are worth it: eggplants of excellent taste, with tender, sweet, fragrant pulp. The chefs of the largest restaurants in the world agree with them, in which this variety is widely used.
This variety is perfect for those who like to experiment on their land. Already from the name it is clear that the warm country of Thailand is the birthplace of the vegetable, but, despite this, the crop can be grown in our latitudes. True, for this you will have to create ideal greenhouse conditions.
The fruits of this variety are long – up to 25 cm, bright green in color (example in the photo). They ripen 85 days after picking seedlings into the ground.
It is worth noting that the cost of Thai eggplant seeds is quite high.
Green Galaxy F1
This hybrid has green spherical fruits. On the surface of the eggplant there are characteristic white stripes. A distinctive feature of this variety is an excellent taste without bitterness and the thinnest peel of the fruit. The average weight of eggplant does not exceed 110 g.
The eggplant bush is vigorous, characterized by increased resistance to diseases, unpretentious to weather conditions.
Features of growing green eggplant
Choosing an eggplant variety, you need to decide on a place for growing it. Planting a crop on the same plot of land is not recommended, since the soil may contain fungus, insects and microorganisms that can harm the plant. It is best to pick up a site for eggplants on which gourds, root crops, and cabbage grew. These plants are the best precursors for green eggplants.
Even in the fall, fertilizer should be applied to the selected piece of land. It is preferable that it be humus, superphosphate, potassium salts.
Green vegetables, as well as representatives of other colors, are grown by seedlings. To do this, small cups are filled with nutrient soil, in which seeds are planted to a depth of 1-2 cm. In the presence of favorable climatic conditions, seedlings can be grown in a greenhouse. To do this, the greenhouse soil is mixed in a ratio of 2: 1 with humus. Such a composition will help warm the seeds and give them strength for successful growth. Sowing seeds for seedlings in a greenhouse is recommended to be carried out in the first days – mid-March. At home, cultivation can be started from February. After 50-55 days after sowing the seeds, the seedlings dive to a permanent place of growth.
Features of growing eggplant seedlings are shown in the video:
Before picking, plants grown at home must be hardened by taking the pots outside for a while.
It is recommended to plant seedlings with special care so as not to damage the root system of the plant. So on the root of the eggplant, a clod of earth must be preserved. To do this, water the pots before picking. The soil in which the seedlings are to be dived must also be moistened.
The first feeding of planted plants is carried out 20 days after picking. It is best to choose urea as a fertilizer for this period. Each subsequent top dressing is carried out after 3 weeks with a mixture of urea and superphosphate. After each top dressing, abundant watering and loosening must necessarily follow.
Pinching, budding is recommended for a rich harvest. Detailed recommendations on how to carry out these operations can be obtained by watching the video:
The full cycle of eggplant care activities is shown in the video: