Content
Eggplant is an ancient crop that has been known to man for more than 15 centuries. Its homeland is Asia with a warm and humid climate. In temperate latitudes, they learned to cultivate eggplant relatively recently. This is due to the whimsical nature of the plant and its requirement for special conditions. Thus, Russian farmers grow eggplant exclusively from seedlings. However, even in indoor conditions, a number of rules for caring for young plants should be followed so that by the time they are planted in the ground they have sufficient vitality and reserve of strength, resistance to diseases. To do this, every farmer must know how to water eggplant seedlingswhat and at what time it is necessary to fertilize seedlings, what light regime is optimal for plants and how to create it correctly. All indicated and additional key points for growing eggplant seedlings are described in detail in the article.
Time to sow
It is very important to sow eggplant seeds for seedlings on time. Each gardener must calculate the sowing date independently, taking into account the climate of the region and the agrotechnical characteristics of the selected variety. So, in central Russia, you need to plant already grown seedlings in open ground in late May - early June. You can plant young eggplants in the greenhouse 2-3 weeks earlier.Let’s assume that it is decided to grow eggplants of the famous “Almaz” variety in open ground. The period from emergence to active fruiting in unprotected conditions for this variety is 150 days. This means that seeds for seedlings should be sown at the end of February, plants should be planted in the ground in early June, when the age of the seedlings is 80-90 days. This cultivation schedule will allow you to be content with the eggplant harvest, starting from the end of July to August inclusive.
If you want to grow an early ripe eggplant variety, for example, “Epic f1”, the fruiting period of which is only 64 days, then you need to sow the seeds for seedlings at the end of April and plant the plants in open ground at the age of 30-35 days.
Seed preparation
It is believed that pre-planting seed preparation is not necessary. However, a certain set of manipulations at an early stage of cultivation makes it possible to select viable, viable seeds and protect future eggplants from infection by pests and the development of diseases.
Pathogenic bacteria and pest larvae can be destroyed from the surface of the seed using a concentrated manganese solution or special chemicals. So, the seeds should be immersed in a glass and filled with a disinfectant solution for 30 minutes. After the allotted time has passed, the water must be drained and the seeds must be thoroughly rinsed with running water.
At the stage of preparation for sowing, it is also recommended to soak the seeds in a nutrient solution. This measure accelerates their germination and makes future seedlings stronger and more productive. For such soaking, you can use a nitrophoska solution: 1 tsp per 1 liter of water. substances.Ready-made mineral mixtures for these purposes are also available for sale. Soak the seeds in the nutrient solution for 24 hours. After processing, the seeds are not washed.
Germinating seeds allows you to select viable specimens and speed up the process of growing eggplants. To do this, place the eggplant seeds in a damp piece of cotton cloth or gauze. Wet material, with seeds wrapped inside, can be placed on a saucer or placed in a plastic bag. At the germination stage, you should carefully monitor the moisture level of the tissue and temperature conditions. At temperature +25-+300Eggplant seeds germinate in 9-10 days.
Sowing seedlings
Soil for growing eggplant seedlings should be nutritious and loose. So, to sow seeds for seedlings, you need to prepare a mixture of peat, humus and river sand. Additionally, you can add fertilizer: for 3 liters of soil, 1 matchbox of superphosphate and a little wood ash. After mixing all the components, fill the containers for growing seedlings with a homogeneous mixture.
It is better to use peat cups or tablets as containers for growing eggplant seedlings. If such containers are not available, you can use plastic cups and small plastic bags. They should be provided with drainage holes that will ensure the removal of excess moisture and prevent rotting of the root system.
Sprouted eggplant seeds are immersed in each container filled with prepared soil to a depth of 0.5-1 cm.
It is worth noting that some farmers prefer to sow seeds for seedlings in a single large container. When 2 true leaves appear, such eggplants are dived into separate containers. An example of such growing seedlings is shown in the video:
It is worth noting that this method of growing has its disadvantages:
- in progress transplants, there is a high probability of damage to the eggplant root system;
- after picking, plants slow down their growth while adapting to new conditions;
- Extraordinary picking of eggplant seedlings requires additional effort and time.
Considering these disadvantages, experienced farmers do not recommend sowing eggplant seeds en masse in a single container, followed by intermediate planting of seedlings into separate pots.
Sowing seedlings should be watered with warm water and covered with glass or polyethylene to speed up seed germination. Place the containers in a warm place with a temperature of about +250C. After the sprouts have hatched, containers with seedlings are placed on a warm, well-lit surface.
Watering
Eggplant seedlingsOf course, it needs to be watered. Moreover, the volume and regularity of watering is very important, since excessively wet soil provokes the development of various diseases and root rotting. Insufficient watering provokes premature woodiness of the stems, does not allow the plant to fully form ovaries and negatively affects the crop yield.
Optimal humidity soil for growing seedlings eggplant makes up 80%. This suggests that watering eggplant seedlings should be done as the soil dries, approximately once a week.Adult plants consume more moisture: at the stage of flowering and ovary formation, eggplant seedlings need to be watered once every 5-6 days. For irrigation, it is recommended to use settled warm water, the temperature of which is more than +250WITH.
It is worth noting that for eggplants, not only watering the soil is important, but also air humidity. Thus, 65% air humidity is the optimal indicator for the crop. This parameter can be adjusted by spraying with warm water.
Two weeks before the expected planting of plants in the ground, the given watering regime should be changed. During this time, you need to irrigate the land once every 3-4 days.
Top dressing
As feeding You can use specialized mineral complexes or products prepared independently:
- Egg shell infusion. To prepare the infusion, place the shells of 10 eggs in a three-liter jar and add hot water. For 5-6 days, the mixture must be stirred periodically and at the end of this time, strain, and then use for watering the seedlings.
- Tea infusion. Used tea leaves in the amount of one glass should be filled with hot water in a three-liter jar. After 5-6 days, the mixture should be filtered and used to water the eggplants.
- Mullein solution. To 10 liters of water you need to add 1 cup of mullein and a teaspoon of urea.
- Complex fertilizer. You can purchase it at a specialty store or prepare it yourself by mixing a teaspoon of potassium sulfate with two tablespoons of superphosphate.Dissolve the resulting mixture in a bucket of water and use it to water the seedlings.
The given means for feeding eggplant seedlings can be alternated. Also, do not forget about wood ash, which can be periodically added to the soil with seedlings. For 2-3 seedlings there should be 1 teaspoon of the substance.
Hardening
2-3 weeks before planting eggplant seedlings in the ground, it is necessary to begin hardening the young plants. When the outside temperature exceeds +150When there is no strong wind, pots with plants can be taken outside.
Subsequently, this period is gradually increased until full daylight hours.
Hardening is especially important for eggplants that will be planted in open ground. This procedure allows plants to gradually adapt to the temperature and humidity characteristics of the atmosphere and exposure to direct sunlight.
Light mode
Eggplant seedlings are demanding in terms of light conditions. Thus, the optimal length of daylight for the crop is 12 hours. In central and especially in the northern part of Russia, a spring day, as a rule, does not spoil the sun, so eggplants must be illuminated with fluorescent lamps.
Seedlings, which are often grown on window sills, tend to stretch out and may lean to one side towards the light source. To prevent this situation, pots need to be rotated regularly.You can install reflective materials, such as foil or mirrors, around the perimeter of the window sill.
Conclusion
It is not at all difficult to follow the described rules for growing eggplant seedlings. Even the most inexperienced gardener will probably cope with the task. At the same time, the above technology allows you to grow healthy, strong plants that will take root in new conditions without problems and will not significantly slow down their growth after picking. In gratitude for your care and efforts, soon after planting, eggplants will give their owner a bountiful harvest of tasty and healthy vegetables.
