Content
Eggplants appeared in Russia in the 18th century from Central Asia. And they were grown only in the southern regions of Russia. With the development of greenhouse farming, it has become possible to grow eggplants both in the middle zone and in areas with a harsher climate. Currently, growing eggplants has become commonplace for our summer residents, who affectionately call them “little blue ones.” Although new varieties have now been developed, the color and shape of which are not at all similar to traditional eggplants.
Benefits for the body
Eating eggplants has a beneficial effect on the entire body. The high potassium content keeps the heart muscle in excellent working condition. Dietary fiber and fiber improve intestinal motility. Eggplant is a dietary product that improves blood composition and removes cholesterol. The consumption of eggplants is recommended for everyone, without exception, especially for older people to prevent atherosclerosis.
Seed preparation and sowing time for seedlings
Eggplant is a magical plant that helps fight serious illnesses; each of us can grow it in our own garden.
Naturally, like the vast majority of other heat-loving plants, growing eggplant begins with preparing the seeds and sowing them for seedlings.
A single and accurate answer to the question for all conditions and circumstances, when to plant for seedlings eggplants in the Moscow region, simply does not exist. This is due to the fact that the specific planting date depends on many different factors:
- Growing conditions eggplants (open or protected ground);
- Harvest periodI (early, mid-early, late varieties are distinguished);
- Time it takes for seedlings to emerge. Eggplants take longer to germinate than other crops, approximately 10 -12 days;
- Age of seedlings for planting in the ground. Eggplant seedlings are ready at the age of 55 - 65 days;
- Plant growing season (time from germination to harvest). Eggplants have a long growing season of 100 to 150 days. Therefore, it is impossible to do without growing seedlings. Otherwise, it will not be possible to get an eggplant harvest in central Russia;
- Climatic conditions. Take an interest in long-term weather forecasts. In the middle zone, both early and late spring are possible, and snow also falls in April.
In the Moscow region, according to phenological terms, spring begins at the end of March - mid-April and continues until the end of May and even the beginning of June.
In the first half of March there is a struggle between winter and spring coming into its own. Daylight hours gradually increase, frosts and warm sunny days alternate. In the second half of March, snow begins to melt in the Moscow region. The snow disappears in about 2 weeks. By the beginning of April, average daily temperatures cross zero. The soil thaws by the 20th of April, at this time frosts are possible in the Moscow region, which will periodically return almost until May 20th. Thawed the soil gives you the opportunity to do some gardening.
In May, average daily temperatures are low +10+11 degrees. Returns of cold weather are possible.
June is a warm month, but during this period prolonged rains and cold snaps are possible. The average daily temperature in June in the Moscow region is +14+15 degrees.
July is the warmest month in the Moscow region. August is harvest time.
With the numbers in front of you, it’s easy to calculate the approximate time for planting seeds. Attention! Since eggplants love warmth, we will plant the seedlings in the greenhouse from May 1 to May 10.
Provided that the soil has warmed up enough for the plants to adapt and grow. Perhaps you have a warm bed or a heated greenhouse. From the expected date of planting eggplants in the ground according to the calendar, we count back the time for seedling growth: 65 days, and the time for emergence of seedlings: 12 days. We get mid-February, approximately February 12 – 18.
It should also be taken into account that some vegetable growers recommend planting eggplant seedlings even later than the first ten days of May. In this case, the timing of sowing seeds for seedlings quite logically shifts to the end of February.
By this time, it is necessary to prepare the container for planting and the soil. Buy eggplant seeds early, as seeds require preparation before planting to improve germination and protect future plants. When purchasing seeds, pay attention to the production date. There is a rule that works in the vast majority of cases, namely: the fresher the seeds, the better they will sprout.
After purchasing seeds, it is necessary to carry out simple preparatory measures. They are as follows. First, inspect your eggplant seeds at home in good light. Then sort them into small and large ones, and discard damaged seeds and those that have dark spots.
After doing all of the above, you should plant small and large seeds separately. This will allow you to obtain uniform, even seedlings; strong seedlings will not drown out weak ones.
Disinfection and hardening of seeds
Before planting, eggplant seeds must be disinfected. The most popular and easiest way is to place the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for about 20 minutes.
There is another quite common way of disinfecting seeds. It is as follows: stir 3 ml of hydrogen peroxide in 100 g of water (use a syringe for dosing), heat the mixture to a temperature of about 40 degrees and lower the seeds there for 10 minutes.
Some gardeners carry out stratification. In essence, it is a seed hardening procedure, but longer, allowing for the activation of biological forces. This method is based on the fact that in nature, mature seeds fall to the ground and lie in cold conditions until spring. The meaning of stratification is an attempt to recreate conditions as close as possible to natural ones. Eggplant seeds are mixed with sand, moistened and placed in the refrigerator. They are kept on the bottom shelf for one to four months. And only after that they sow seedlings.
The seed hardening procedure increases future yield.The seeds are placed on gauze or a thin layer of sand, moistened and placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for 12 hours, then removed and kept for a day at room temperature, then placed back in the refrigerator. So, repeat 3 times. When carrying out hardening, it is necessary to ensure that the gauze or sand is always wet.
After the selection, hardening and stratification procedures, the seeds can be planted in containers intended for this purpose. Many planting experts recommend germinating them first. Although this is not mandatory. To germinate, seeds are placed on damp gauze and left at room temperature. As soon as white seedlings appear, the seeds can be planted in the ground. The germination procedure accelerates the emergence of seedlings.
Planting seeds for seedlings
Therefore, immediately plant the seeds in separate containers. You can use plastic cassettes, peat pots or tablets, which allow you to transfer the plant into a larger container without damaging the root system.
The soil mixture for seedlings should be fertile, light and loose in composition. You can take ordinary garden soil, but be sure to enrich it with purchased quality soil and add a little sand or vermiculite. The latter helps improve the quality of the soil, allowing it to remain loose, without forming a crust on the surface. Vermiculite is able to absorb excess minerals and then release them to plants. In addition, it protects the plant's roots from temperature changes.
When planting seeds, do not bury them too deep.The best option is to embed to a depth of 0.5 cm, maximum 1 cm. The soil must be moistened before planting and then covered with glass or film. The next important task is to provide the seeds with a temperature of +25 degrees. It is this mode that is considered the most ideal for the speedy emergence of seedlings. Otherwise, the emergence of seedlings may take more than 2 weeks. How to plant eggplant seedlings, watch the video:
As soon as shoots appear, the temperature must be lowered. During the day +20 degrees, at night + 17. 2 weeks before planting in a permanent place, begin to harden the seedlings. To do this, take it out onto the balcony first for 2 hours, and then for the whole day.
Strong seedlings, ready for planting in the ground, have a strong trunk, 8 deep green leaves and a height of approximately 30 cm.
Eggplant is a valuable vegetable crop, the cultivation of which has a number of nuances, which we tried to draw your attention to.
