Content
Eggplant leaves turn yellow in open ground for various reasons, mainly due to errors in care. Plants are quite demanding; they need a certain temperature regime, regular watering and fertilizing. If you do not follow some rules, the foliage will turn yellow, the ovaries will begin to fall off, and the yield will decrease. To prevent this, it is recommended to follow the tips described in the article.
Why do eggplant leaves turn yellow in open ground?
Eggplant leaves turn yellow and wither for various reasons. In most cases, they are associated with improper care and violation of growing conditions. Although there may be objective factors. The main reasons are described below.
Unsuitable soil
Eggplants grow well in open ground on fertile and loose soils with a loose structure. Loamy soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction is optimal. If the soil, for example, is saline, contains a lot of clay and is infertile, this will definitely prevent plants from developing normally in open ground.
In such cases, eggplant leaves turn yellow and wither quite quickly, especially in combination with improper watering and strong shade. Therefore, it is necessary not only to carefully prepare the soil, but also to choose the right place in the open ground.
Improper watering
Violation of watering rules often leads to the fact that eggplant leaves begin to turn yellow in open ground. The soil dries out quite quickly, especially during drought. Some gardeners provide plenty of water, but not regularly, such as once a week.
However, you need to water in medium volumes and consistently, for example, 2-3 times a week, and sometimes more often. It is important to understand that excess water is also harmful. If, due to a deficiency, the leaves begin to turn yellow in the open ground, then the roots will rot due to excessive moisture. If this situation is repeated regularly, it will lead to the death of the plants.
Lack or excess of nutrition
Eggplants are very demanding when it comes to feeding; this is true when grown both in a greenhouse and in open ground. Plants need at least four fertilizer applications per season - at the seedling stage, after transplanting into the ground, during flowering and fruiting. First, the emphasis is on nitrogen fertilizing, then on superphosphate and potassium. Moreover, it is better to alternate mineral products with organic ones.
Eggplant leaves may turn yellow due to lack of fertilizer
Determining nutrient deficiency in open ground is quite simple. For example, nitrogen deficiency manifests itself with the following symptoms:
- growth slowdown;
- thin shoots;
- small stems;
- small inflorescences;
- few leaves.
If there is a lack of potassium, the signs are as follows:
- leaves are bluish-green, dull;
- a bronze tint is often observed;
- leaves of plants in open ground begin to turn yellow and then turn brown;
- they curl at the edges.
If there is not enough phosphorus, the symptoms are approximately the same as for nitrogen. Eggplants grow poorly even with good care in open ground; the leaves become dark green with a bluish color. Some plants have foliage that turns purple.
But if the lower leaves of eggplants turn yellow, this may also be due to excess fertilizer. As a result, the soil becomes salty, which is even worse than underfeeding. Therefore, the drugs must be used strictly according to the instructions, without violating the dosage.
Stress after transplant
Yellowing of eggplant leaves can also be associated with stress after transplanting into open ground. At this point, the growing conditions change because the plants are not as comfortable in the garden as they are at home in a protected environment. In addition, the weather can be bad. If the temperature drops below 12-15 degrees at night, this will have a bad effect on the development of plants.
To prevent eggplant leaves from starting to turn yellow in open ground, there is no need to rush into replanting. In most regions, the transfer of seedlings to a new location is planned for the second half of May. And if climatic conditions do not allow it, it is better to grow it in a greenhouse. This is relevant for Siberia, the Far East, and northern regions.
Thickened planting
Eggplants should not be planted too close to each other, either in a greenhouse or in open ground. Otherwise, this will lead to negative consequences:
- the leaves will turn yellow;
- the soil will become too wet and will not have time to dry out;
- roots may rot;
- infections will spread;
- fewer ovaries will form;
- Plants develop worse due to lack of light.
Eggplants are planted at a distance of 35 cm from each other
Root damage
Damage to the roots can also cause the leaves to turn yellow. This happens when transplanting plants in open ground, as well as at the picking stage. Sometimes they are so strong that the plants take a long time to recover, and the yield drops. To prevent this, it is necessary to water the pots and carefully move them to a new place, preserving the earthen lump. To avoid damaging the roots, you should carefully loosen the soil, not going to a depth of more than 5 cm.
Temperature changes
Temperature changes can cause eggplant leaves to begin to turn yellow. This is especially common when growing outdoors, although in some regions problems can arise even with a greenhouse.
Eggplants develop normally if the temperature does not drop below +15 at night and does not rise above +30 °C during the day. But it is not always possible to provide such conditions. A short-term drop in temperature will not affect the plants. And if the changes are repeated repeatedly, the leaves will begin to turn yellow, and in some cases the bushes may shed the ovary.
Diseases and pests
Eggplant leaves turn yellow and fall off due to the influence of diseases. In open beds, plants often suffer from the following pathogens:
- fusarium wilt;
- late blight;
- spotting;
- mosaic (viral disease);
- verticillium.
Yellowing can also be associated with pests, for example, aphids, spider mites. They can be detected visually or by the presence of cobwebs on the back of the leaves. Folk remedies, as well as special drugs, are used for prevention and treatment.When processing, you must follow the dosage in the instructions and safety rules, since many fungicides and insecticides are moderately toxic to humans.
Natural causes
Eggplant leaves turn yellow in spots and for natural reasons:
- At the seedling stage, when the cotyledon leaves, the first to emerge from the seed, begin to die.
- In mature plants, when old green leaves die.
These are normal phenomena that are observed when growing in open beds and in a greenhouse. Therefore, there is no need to take special measures.
Old leaves can be carefully torn off and placed in a compost bin.
What to do if eggplant leaves are yellow
If the tops begin to turn yellow in open ground, it is necessary to clarify the reason. To do this, you should carefully examine the plants and the soil under them. If it is too wet, stop watering temporarily. Normally, water should be given every 2-3 days, but if the weather is rainy, additional moisture is not needed. To prevent it from evaporating, it is recommended to mulch with straw, sawdust and other materials.
You should also apply fertilizer for eggplants in a timely manner. Even at the seedling stage, before picking, add an infusion of mullein 1:10 or chicken manure 1:20. If there is no organic matter, give ammonium nitrate 5 g per 10 l and potassium sulfate 20 g per 10 l.
To prevent the leaves from turning yellow before transplanting into open ground, immediately after picking they are fed with Kristalon or other complex fertilizer. A few days before transplanting, a mixture of mineral fertilizers is added to the soil - superphosphate 50 g per 10 l, potassium sulfate 30 g and ammonium nitrate 5 g. At the budding stage, superphosphate with potassium sulfate is also given. During the formation of ovaries, spray with a solution of boric acid 2 g per 10 liters.
If eggplant leaves turn yellow due to diseases and pests, it is necessary to treat the plants with special preparations. Insecticides are used to control insects:
- "Decis";
- "Fufanon";
- "Aktara";
- "Agravertine".
Fungicides are used to treat fungal infections:
- "Maksim";
- "Ordan";
- "Skor";
- "Fitoverm" and others.
During fruiting, it is better to treat plants with folk remedies.
Prevention measures
Preventing developmental disorders is always easier than dealing with the consequences. To prevent leaves from turning yellow when grown in open ground, experienced gardeners recommend following the following preventive measures:
- First of all, you need to carefully select a landing site. It should be well lit and dry. The beds are located on a small hill to avoid stagnation of rainwater.
- It is necessary to carefully prepare the soil in open ground. To make it fertile and light, the day before autumn it is dug up and compost or humus is added in the amount of 7-10 kg per 1 m2.
- During the growing process, plants are periodically inspected and, if necessary, treated against pests and diseases.
- The beds are kept clean - they need to be periodically loosened and debris removed.
- Do not plant seedlings too close to each other. The minimum permissible distance is 35 cm both in open areas and in the greenhouse. Then the leaves will grow normally and will not fade.
Conclusion
Eggplant leaves turn yellow in open ground for various reasons, for example, due to insufficient watering, drought, and irregular fertilization. The reasons may also be related to insufficiently fertile soil. Therefore, when planting, you need to take into account all these points and provide good care.
