Content
Eggplant is a heat-loving crop. In the Urals it is successfully grown, but only in greenhouses. Summer in the Urals is quite short: it comes late and lasts only a couple of months. This is extremely insufficient for ripening eggplants. In addition, the weather can change quite unexpectedly, which will negatively affect crop yields. Let's talk in more detail about the varieties and growing conditions of this popular vegetable crop in the Urals.
Secrets of growing
Every summer resident and gardener who has at least once grown eggplants knows well that this culture is quite demanding and capricious. For success to smile on you, you will have to work hard and create the necessary conditions.
Another secret to success is choosing the right eggplant variety. Preference is given to early ripening ones, since there is very little time for ripening. The seeds are carefully selected, processed, and then the difficult stage of growing seedlings awaits. It is important that it turns out strong and healthy.
Growing is done in two ways:
- in a heated greenhouse;
- in an unheated greenhouse, where additional artificial heat sources are placed.
In June, night temperatures down to frost are still possible in the Urals. At this time, in the south, in the open ground, you can see the first ovaries of seedlings. Only the month of July can be considered warm, but in mid-August cold snaps are not uncommon.
Based on these conditions, it is necessary to arrange additional heating in the greenhouse specifically for eggplants.
Seed selection
It is rare that anyone sows eggplant seeds in open ground; in Russia it is customary to first grow seedlings in certain comfortable conditions, and only then transplant them into the ground.
You can purchase seeds in early spring at any specialty store. The packaging must indicate that the variety is:
- early ripening with a period of technical ripeness from 85 to 120 days;
- mid-season with a maximum ripening period of up to 140 days.
There is no point in buying other varieties, since they will not have time to ripen. The most popular are the early ones. Today there are a lot of them on sale; every year new hybrids appear on the shelves, which, as the manufacturer assures, are resistant to cold weather. Don't trust advertising so much that you let your guard down. Of course, these hybrids will be resistant to small changes, but not a single eggplant variety will tolerate cold.
The best varieties
Let's look at eggplant varieties that are well suited for growing in the Urals. We will also present a comparative table, because many gardeners are interested in the issues of eggplant yield and the characteristics of its cultivation.
It is recommended to choose one of the following eggplant varieties:
- Diamond;
- Donetsk is productive;
- Joker;
- Vakula;
- Swan;
- Mowgli;
- Sailor;
- Snow;
- Leader.
Each of these varieties is worthy of attention. For example, the Almaz variety is in first place in popularity in Russia. When choosing an eggplant variety, pay special attention to:
- maturation;
- productivity;
- where it can be grown (in a greenhouse or open ground);
- resistance to viruses.
| Variety/hybrid | Productivity of the variety, in kg per 1 m2 | Ripening time, in days | Fruit weight, in grams | Disease resistance | Features of cultivation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond | 8 | 110-150 | 100-170 | stolbur, cucumber and tobacco mosaic | Produces fruits together, seedlings are planted in early June, no more than 6 pieces per square meter |
| Donetsk fruitful | 3-5 | 120 | 120-135 | wilt disease | in a greenhouse up to 4 plants are planted per 1 square meter |
| Joker | 6,8-7,2 | 85-100 | 50-130 | tobacco mosaic, wilting flowers | good for growing in greenhouses |
| Vakula | up to 12.2 | 95-110 | 450-600 | tobacco mosaic | designed specifically for greenhouses, standard sowing scheme (no more than 6 plants per 1 square meter) |
| Swan | from 12 to 18 | 100-110 | 200-250 | major diseases | standard care, can also be grown in open ground |
| Mowgli | 4,5 | 100 | up to 70 | aridity, high temperatures | the variety is ideal for heated greenhouses where it is difficult to maintain moderate air humidity |
| Sailor | at least 10 | 102-106 | 250-400 | withering | No more than 5 plants should be planted per square |
| Snow | 5,8 | 106 | 280-320 | major diseases | without thorns, standard landing pattern |
| Leader | 8 | 90 | 400-600 | major diseases | eggplant of Chinese selection, ripens very quickly, not demanding |
Below in the photo you can see what a beautiful color the eggplants of the “Sailor” and “Swan” varieties have.
White eggplants are famous for their piquant taste; you should definitely try growing at least one of these varieties. Some compare the taste to mushroom, others to poultry. Among the varieties presented here, “Swan” should be considered the most productive. Only “Vakula” can compete with it in this matter, although all other varieties are included in the group of high-yielding ones. With proper care, you will not be left without eggplants in the fall.
You can also pay attention to the varieties:
- Snowball;
- Black Moon;
- Early;
- Ping pong;
- Pelican.
They are also suitable for growing in a greenhouse in the Urals. A good overview of the seeds is presented in the video below.Each gardener determines the best varieties for himself.
Growing seedlings
In order to grow healthy seedlings from purchased seeds, you need to start work in February-March. At least 50 days must be counted until you can plant the first seedlings in the greenhouse.
Before planting the seeds, you can treat them. This is what they do with those purchased on the market, those purchased abroad, and those whose manufacturers you do not trust. Verified agricultural companies carry out in advance:
- disinfection;
- seed hardening.
Today, there are a huge number of professional tools for processing seed material. Any of them can be purchased at the store and used according to the instructions. The next step is germination. You don’t have to do it, but plant the seeds directly in moist soil. In this case, you should listen to some advice:
- the seeds are not buried (maximum depth is 2 centimeters);
- the soil should be moist, but you should not be zealous about it;
- the growth of seedlings is ensured by bright, long-lasting sun (if there is none, the sprouts will have to be illuminated artificially);
- eggplant seedlings sprout unevenly;
- When the first shoots appear, it is necessary to ensure uneven day and night temperatures in order to create natural growth conditions from the very beginning (this is also important for greenhouses).
All these rules will allow you to grow beautiful and healthy seedlings.
Also, do not plant different varieties in the same container. In the greenhouse, a separate sector is allocated for growing each variety.
When sowing eggplant seeds, you need to choose high-quality soil.This is one of the basic rules according to which you can grow the best eggplants in a greenhouse.
Care
Experienced gardeners do this: they grow several varieties of eggplant at the same time, and the next year they replace those that are not to their taste with new ones. It's comfortable. The requirements for growing eggplants are as follows:
- loose soils;
- timely soil moisture;
- the optimal temperature is about +28 degrees;
- area without shading (the greenhouse should be in a sunny place).
The soil is dug up and loosened before planting. Picking should not be done. When transplanting into a greenhouse, take into account that eggplants do not like to be buried, and also that their root system is very delicate.
In the fall, potassium and phosphorus are added to the soil. A week before transplanting, you can add organic matter to the soil. This will not only become a source of additional heat, but will also have a great effect on the yield of any variety. Up to 10 kilograms of organic fertilizer are applied per 1 square meter.
Read the information on the seed package carefully and do not throw it away immediately after sowing. The fact is that care options may differ slightly. Some eggplant varieties love pinching, but, for example, for the Almaz variety it is not carried out at all.
Let's also talk about neighboring cultures. Eggplants of all varieties are treated with great attention, therefore it is allowed to grow them in a greenhouse nearby only:
- bell pepper;
- tomatoes.
No other crops can be grown. Eggplant seedlings are ready if:
- it has at least 8 healthy leaves;
- she looks good;
- the plant reaches a length of up to 20 centimeters.
When transplanting, the plant with soil is lowered into a ready-made, moistened hole and sprinkled with earth, rather than pressed down.The seedlings are tied up, watered in a timely manner, and the greenhouse must be ventilated, preventing stagnation of air masses.
Has a beneficial effect on the yield of each variety feeding. During the growth, flowering and fruiting of eggplants, it must be done at least 2 times. To do this, you can use the following solution:
- 10 liters of water;
- 15 grams of ammonium nitrate;
- 15 grams potassium sulfate.
You can also purchase ready-made dry fertilizers for eggplants. Loosening the soil is done carefully, since eggplant rhizomes are easily damaged. Watering should not be done with very cold water; it is better to leave it in barrels.
Conclusion
Those who have ever started growing eggplants have encountered some problems, however, the yield and excellent qualities of the product force gardeners to buy the seeds of this wonderful crop again and again. Residents of the Urals should also try to grow it.
