Content
Eggplants are an extremely heat-loving crop. It is recommended to grow in Russia only through seedlings. Eggplant does not tolerate cold temperatures and especially frosts and dies immediately. That is why growing a crop is a complex process; it requires patience and certain knowledge from the summer resident. Let's figure out what temperature is for eggplant seedlings considered the most acceptable.
Seed preparation and sowing
In addition to temperature, eggplants are picky about soil type and fertilizers. It is believed that if summer residents manage to grow this crop, it means they have achieved true success in their garden beds. When purchasing seeds, pay attention to the following parameters:
- ripening period;
- taste qualities;
- resistance to diseases;
- method of cultivation;
- productivity.
The gardener must be satisfied with all parameters. If cultivation in a greenhouse is recommended, then in open ground the variety will not be able to bear fruit at full strength.
Here are a few examples of the ripening periods of the most popular eggplant varieties in Russia:
- variety "Almaz" - up to 150 days;
- variety “Black Beauty” - from 110 to 115 days;
- variety "Helios" - up to 120 days;
- hybrid "Bibo" - up to 110 days.
Growing seedlings begins with preparing the seeds.
It is best to purchase seed from a store you trust. If the seeds are purchased by hand, they can be kept for 2-3 hours in a solution of potassium permanganate.
The soil for sowing can be as follows:
- ten parts of high-quality purchased soil;
- one part sand (it needs to be heated well in the oven);
- one or two parts of compost (can be specialized).
Everything is mixed and the cups are filled with this soil. Some gardeners prefer to grow eggplant seedlings using peat tablets. This is a good way, but you need to choose them so that the diameter matches the seedlings. pH also matters. For eggplants, both soil and peat should have a slightly acidic or neutral reaction, that is, approximately 6.0-6.7. Also, carefully monitor the moisture content of the peat tablets; it evaporates very quickly, and eggplant seedlings do not tolerate drought.
Sowing is carried out with dry seeds at the depth indicated on the package. Usually it is 1.5-2 centimeters. Then the seeds are watered and covered with film or glass. They need to be grown at a certain temperature. Determine in advance the warmest place in the apartment or house. It is optimal if it is +23-25 degrees Celsius. It can be a little lower, but this will definitely affect the germination rate. The soil itself is preheated well (to a temperature of +26-28 degrees).
Seedling care
Now we can talk directly about growing seedlings.This period is special, since the yield of varieties and hybrids, as well as plant health and endurance, depend on the type of seedlings.
Eggplant seedlings must be healthy. To do this, a number of conditions are met:
- the temperature of eggplant seedlings should be above 20 degrees, preferably +23-25;
- Watering should be carried out regularly; drying out of the soil is unacceptable;
- if there is little light in your region, the seedlings are illuminated using a lamp, however, the daylight hours should not exceed 12 hours.
If all conditions are met, you can count on a rich harvest. Temperature, light conditions and watering depend on the fact that eggplant is a native southern crop. It came to us from distant India thanks to actively developed trade routes with Europe. The vegetable came to Russia late, but our citizens’ love for eggplant caviar today, perhaps, is transmitted at the level of genetics.
It's not hard to imagine the climate in India: warmth, humidity and lots of sunshine. There this vegetable is also found in the wild. Our gardeners very often encountered the fact that growing seedlings brings more problems than real results. A large percentage of summer residents prefer to purchase ready-made seedlings at the end of May rather than endure the torment associated with the growing process.
Using seedling trays, sow one variety in each. This will make it much more convenient to monitor the seedlings. If everything is quite simple with additional lighting, then the problem is glaze and temperature conditions need to be discussed in detail.
Watering
Rainwater is considered the best water for watering eggplants, but who will get it for seedlings? That is why tap water is collected in advance and left to stand for 24 hours.It should not be cold; the most ideal option is room temperature water.
When growing eggplant seedlings, it is best to use a sprayer for watering. It will moisturize soilwithout damaging the root system and without washing the seeds out of the soil.
Temperature
It is not enough to follow the recommendations that nature itself gives us. Russia is a country of risky farming. During the summer, the daytime temperature can differ significantly from the nighttime temperature. This is important, because the seedlings will soon have to find themselves in the harsh conditions of open ground or a greenhouse.
In order for eggplant seedlings to get used to different temperatures, adhere to the following regime:
- when the first shoots appear, remove the film or glass from the plants; during the day, maintain the thermal regime at +23-28 degrees Celsius (conditions are different everywhere);
- At night it is recommended to lower the room temperature to +17-19 degrees.
What will it give? The eggplant root system will be more developed, in addition, the plants will get used to the fact that the temperature is quite different between day and night. It is dangerous if the temperature drops below +10 degrees, this is especially noticeable for young, immature plants. When growing eggplants in open ground, you need to do everything to keep them warm and comfortable.
A good video about the features of growing eggplants in seedlings is presented below:
Transplanting eggplant seedlings into the ground
Let's move on directly to the moment of transplanting the finished seedlings into the ground. For a beginner, it will be interesting to know exactly when to transplant and what needs to be done for this. Let's answer both questions.Initially, we note that the predecessors of eggplant can be:
- carrot;
- legumes;
- melons;
- greenery.
This crop cannot be grown after tomatoes, peppers, physalis and potatoes. The risk of illness is too high.
Depending on the growing season of the selected eggplant variety or hybrid, seedlings are considered ready for planting after 50-70 days. It must be strong and have at least 6 green true leaves.
The soil for eggplants is prepared in advance, in the fall. Not only the predecessors are important, but also the quality of the soil itself. Eggplants love fertile, light soil. Use the following tips:
- if the soil is heavy, peat and humus are added to it in the fall, and sawdust can be added;
- if the soil has an excess of peat, humus should be added to it in the fall;
- for sandy soil, clay, sawdust and peat are used as additives.
In spring, fresh manure cannot be added to the soil; it must be rotted so as not to damage the plant. Additionally, fertilizers are applied in the fall:
- urea;
- potassium sulfate;
- superphosphate.
In the spring, the soil is dug up, acidity is checked, and weeds are removed. All activities are carried out at least a month before the intended planting of eggplant seedlings in the ground. Then they form beds approximately 30 centimeters high.
If the climatic conditions in the region are not stable and cold temperatures are possible even in summer, use the following secrets:
- when growing in open ground, when replanting, dig a hole deeper and place a couple of spoons of organic matter in it, then cover it with earth;
- When grown in greenhouses and unheated greenhouses, barrels with manure are installed to create additional heat sources.
Organic matter, decomposing, provides additional heat for the weak root system of eggplants.
The scheme for planting the crop in the ground is indicated on the packaging, but the standard 40x50 scheme can be used. Eggplants love feeding, especially during the flowering period. Any fertilizer with a high phosphorus content is suitable for this. Fertilizer application is combined with watering. Please note that after planting eggplant seedlings in the ground or greenhouse, the temperature and quality of irrigation water should not change. The water should be left standing for 24 hours and warm enough to at least match the air temperature. If the water is cold, the eggplants may get sick.
Caring for eggplants is as follows:
- the soil is carefully loosened (in order not to damage the roots, the soil must be constantly loose);
- regular watering (plants cannot be overwatered);
- fertilizing can be done three times per season, this is enough;
- weed control is mandatory.
The eggplant harvest is cut with a sharp knife or pruning shears so as not to damage the dense shoots. The taste of eggplants will delight every gardener who can independently cope with their cultivation. The most important thing is to observe the temperature regime. This culture’s love for warmth and plenty of sunlight will force the gardener to work hard. We hope that our advice will help many people grow a rich harvest of eggplants.
