Content
Eggplant leaves turn yellow in a greenhouse for a variety of reasons. Often this may be due to unfavorable weather or stress after the transplant. But most often this phenomenon is observed due to improper care, for example, violation of watering norms or irregular application of fertilizers.
Why did the eggplants turn yellow in the greenhouse?
The greenhouse creates a special environment with its own microclimate. On the one hand, plants will not suffer from temperature changes or sudden cold snaps at night. Eggplants are quite demanding and grow well only in the range of 23-27 degrees. It is much more difficult to provide such conditions in open ground.
But greenhouses also have disadvantages associated with insufficient light levels, high humidity and air stagnation. In combination with infertile soil and errors in care, this leads to the fact that the leaves begin to turn yellow. If the problem is not solved in time, the bushes will suffer greatly, which will inevitably affect the yield.
In practice, it is very important to learn how to determine the cause of yellowing of eggplants.Most often they are associated precisely with improper care of plants in the greenhouse. The main factors are described below.
Stress after transplant
If eggplant leaves turn yellow after being transplanted into a greenhouse, the cause may be due to post-transplant stress. This is especially often observed in cases where summer residents are in too much of a hurry and plant seedlings already in early May. Even when growing in a greenhouse, this should only be done in the middle or second half of the month.
If the temperature drops below 12 degrees at night, the seedlings are covered with film. If necessary, the greenhouse is heated additionally. To prevent the leaves from turning yellow, when replanting it is important to preserve the earthen ball as much as possible by first watering the soil in the container. You can also use peat pots, which are simply placed in the hole without touching the roots.
Unsuitable soil
Yellow leaves on eggplants in a greenhouse also appear due to infertile soil. The plants are quite demanding; they develop well only on fertile soils with a loose, loose structure. Loam with a neutral reaction (pH in the range of 6-7) is optimal. If the soil is depleted, it must be prepared. Work begins at least two months before transplantation. To prevent eggplant leaves from turning yellow, organic matter (compost, humus) must be added to the soil.
Eggplant leaves may turn yellow due to growing in poor, dense soil.
Thickened planting
There is almost always not enough space in the greenhouse, but you still shouldn’t plant seedlings too tightly. It is necessary to leave 30-35 cm or more between them. Typically 1 m2 place up to five plants. Otherwise, the leaves will begin to turn yellow, and other unpleasant consequences are possible:
- The soil does not have time to dry out.
- Due to increased humidity, fungi and bacteria are activated.
- The roots will begin to rot.
- It will be more difficult to care for the plants; for example, it will be difficult to get to the soil and loosen it.
- In a greenhouse, eggplants will not have enough light.
- Due to the fact that the leaves begin to turn yellow, fewer ovaries are formed, so the yield will noticeably decrease.
Root damage
In a greenhouse, leaves may turn yellow due to damage to the roots. This can happen in two cases - when replanting and loosening the soil. To avoid the problem, you must first water the containers (1-2 days in advance) so that an earthen ball forms. Then transfer the seedlings using the transshipment method, being careful not to touch the roots.
When loosening, you should use tools, such as small rakes. The surface layer is dug to a depth of no more than 5 cm so as not to damage the roots. Otherwise, such a procedure will do more harm than good.
Improper watering
Often, the reasons why eggplant leaves in a greenhouse turn yellow are due to improper watering. Summer residents can give too much water, and summers can be rainy. Therefore, it is important to monitor the weather forecast and water in moderation, avoiding excessive waterlogging. In a greenhouse, it is especially important to monitor the condition of the soil - it should remain slightly moist.
If there is too much water, the leaves will not turn yellow, but then the roots will begin to rot. In addition, in conditions of high humidity, bacteria, fungi and other pests spread quickly.
Eggplant foliage may turn yellow due to dry soil
Lack or excess of nutrition
When growing in a greenhouse, it is recommended to apply fertilizer 3-4 times per season. Even if the soil is fertile, eggplants still need feeding. Immediately after transplantation, the emphasis is on nitrogen compounds, and during flowering and the formation of ovaries, they provide mainly superphosphates and potassium, for example, in the form of sulfate.
Typically, feeding is done after transplantation, during the formation of buds, ovaries, and then at the fruiting stage. But if there are not enough nutrients, it is recommended to do extraordinary feeding. When grown in a greenhouse, eggplants are carefully inspected. Signs of deficiency can be determined by external symptoms. For example, with a lack of nitrogen:
- the leaves begin to turn yellow, turn pale, very few of them appear, they become smaller;
- growth slows down greatly;
- shoots become thinner;
- the inflorescences will be small.
With a lack of potassium, the symptoms are:
- the leaves will become bluish-green, duller;
- they may also become a little bronzed;
- after this, part of the foliage will turn yellow and become covered with a brown tint;
- The leaf plates curl at the edges.
With a lack of phosphorus, the symptoms are approximately the same as in the case of nitrogen deficiency. The leaves will turn yellow and fall off, the shoots will thin out. In this case, the foliage may also turn dark green with a bluish tint. Often eggplants lack several elements at once, so it is better to feed them with complex fertilizer.
Temperature changes
Due to temperature changes, even in a greenhouse, eggplant leaves may begin to turn yellow. In some regions, summers are cool and rainy, and the climate is quite harsh.
A situation is considered dangerous when it was hot during the day (+30 degrees and above), and at night the temperature dropped below +15. If such weather occurs for several days in a row, the foliage will turn yellow and fall off. Therefore, additional protective measures should be taken - shading, shelter at night.
Yellowing of eggplant leaves is often observed due to temperature changes
Diseases and pests
If the care is normal, the plants have enough light, the soil is quite fertile, but the tops still begin to turn yellow, the reason may be related to diseases: verticillium, late blight, mosaic, fusarium, spotting.
You can avoid the disease if you do not overuse watering, apply fertilizers on time, and regularly ventilate the greenhouse. If necessary, treatment with special preparations should be carried out. Some pathologies (for example, mosaic) are incurable. Therefore, all that remains is to dig up and destroy the eggplants, and treat the soil with a fungicide solution.
It is recommended to work with a mask and gloves; if necessary, safety glasses are also used.
Natural causes
Experienced gardeners know that eggplant leaves can turn yellow for natural reasons. This phenomenon is observed during the cultivation of seedlings, when the cotyledon leaf plates begin to die.In adult bushes, they can also turn yellow and die at the end of the growing season. Normally, the lower leaves wither first; this happens in the second half of summer.
What to do if eggplant leaves in a greenhouse turn yellow
In order for the leaves to begin to turn yellow, it is necessary to create the correct care conditions in the greenhouse. Water is given once every 4-5 days, i.e. about twice a week. It must be warm, so it must be defended first. It is best to organize a drip irrigation system, but it is acceptable to give liquid from a watering can.
Fertilizers are applied several times per season with a break of two weeks. Water with mullein infusion 1:10 or chicken manure 1:20. Use ammonium nitrate (5 g per 10 l), superphosphate (40 g) and potassium sulfate (30 g). You can also use complex fertilizers, for example, Kemira Lux.
Regular watering and fertilizing is the best protection against yellowing of leaves.
The greenhouse is periodically ventilated. To prevent the leaves from turning yellow, it is left open overnight (if the temperature does not drop below +15 degrees). If signs of fungal infections are detected, treat with fungicides:
- "Maksim";
- "Ridomil Gold";
- "Ordan";
- "Skor."
For aphids, spider mites and other pests, insecticides are used:
- "Aktara";
- "Karate";
- "Inta-Vir";
- "Fitoverm".
Prevention measures
If the eggplant leaves in the greenhouse begin to turn yellow, coping with this problem is not always easy. Therefore, it is recommended to take certain preventive measures:
- Grow only those varieties that are intended to be kept in greenhouse conditions.
- Plant eggplants at a distance of at least 30-35 cm.
- Prepare the soil thoroughly - add up to 10 kg of humus or compost per 1 m2. If the soil is heavy, cover the same area with sawdust or sand up to 3-5 kg.
- Inspect plantings regularly. If necessary, carry out treatments and fertilizing.
- Maintain cleanliness in the beds - periodically loosen, prevent the growth of weeds.
Conclusion
Eggplant leaves turn yellow in a greenhouse for a variety of reasons. Moreover, most often they are associated with improper care. When growing in a greenhouse, it is necessary to plant seedlings at a distance of at least 30 cm from each other, periodically water the plants and apply fertilizer. It is important to periodically monitor the bushes to prevent the spread of infection or pest invasion.
