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Eggplant has been known to man for more than 1.5 thousand years. Asia is considered its homeland; it was there that it was first cultivated. In botany, the plant itself is considered herbaceous, and its fruit is a berry, however, in cooking it is recognized as a vegetable. Eggplant is distinguished by its heat-loving nature, so in mid-latitudes it is often grown in greenhouses, however, thanks to breeders, a decent harvest can be obtained in open ground conditions. It is worth noting that different varieties of eggplant are characterized not only by their adaptability to relatively harsh climatic conditions, but also by a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. The choice of a particular variety depends on the growing conditions and preferences of the gardener.
The best greenhouse varieties
When growing eggplants in a greenhouse, it is important to take into account the growth of the variety. Thus, the height of the bush can reach 2.5 m, which requires a larger planting area and careful care of the plant. Miniature bushes with a height of 40 cm are much easier to grow, however, their short stature affects the yield of eggplants.To select the optimal variety, options with the best taste, excellent yield and different bush heights are given.
Diamond
A low-growing variety of eggplant with a bush height of 45-55 cm. Recommended planting density in a greenhouse is 3-4 pcs/m2. It is preferable to sow seeds for seedlings in mid-March, planting them in the ground no earlier than May 20. The ripening of the vegetable occurs 110-150 days after germination of the seedlings.
Fetus Diamond varieties It is presented in a cylindrical shape with a dark purple peel, has a length of 14-18 cm, weight 120-160 g. Eggplant pulp is dense, greenish, does not contain bitterness, and is suitable for canning. You can visually evaluate this vegetable in the photo.
A distinctive feature of Almaz eggplants is a guaranteed yield of 8 kg/m2.
Robin Hood
Early ripening variety. The height of the bush is from 70 to 100 cm. The period from planting to fruiting is 90-120 days. The best time for sowing seeds for seedlings is the beginning of March; it is recommended to plant them in a greenhouse at the end of May - mid-June. The planting density in the greenhouse should not exceed 2.5-3 pcs/m2.
The vegetable is lilac in color, up to 21 cm long, pear-shaped. The average fruit weight is 300 g. The taste qualities of the variety are high.
Goliath F1
A mid-early ripening hybrid, with a bush height of 170 to 250 cm. Grown exclusively in greenhouses. The frequency of picking seedlings should not exceed 2 bushes per 1 m2 soil. Fruiting occurs 118-125 days after sowing.
The fruit of the Goliath F1 variety is pear-shaped and has a dark purple peel. Its length reaches 27 cm, diameter up to 19 cm, the weight of such an eggplant is from 650 to 1100 g. The flesh of the vegetable is dense and greenish. Productivity is high and reaches 18 kg/m2. Goliath F1 is shown in the photo.
It is worth noting that all varieties are suitable for a greenhouse, since high humidity and temperature are the optimal environment for crop growth. It is believed that hybrids are the hardiest, most productive and have the best taste.
Planting conditions and rules for growing eggplants in a greenhouse are shown in the video:
Varieties for open ground
Only adapted varieties that are resistant to possible unfavorable temperature conditions can grow and bear fruit successfully in open ground.
Bourgeois F1
Early ripening hybrid. From the day of seed germination to fruiting, 105 days pass. Despite the fact that the variety is intended for unprotected soil, it can be used to obtain a fairly early harvest. To do this, you can plant seedlings in mid-March and plant them from the end of May to June. When planting early, seedlings must be protected with temporary film cover. The optimal planting scheme for this variety of eggplant is 3-4 bushes per 1 m2.
Bourgeois F1 have a spherical shape, dark purple peel color (photo). The average diameter of the fruit is 10 cm, its weight is about 300 g. The pulp of the vegetable is greenish, without a bitter aftertaste. Productivity reaches 5 kg/m2.
Marathon runner
An early ripening variety for planting in open ground. No more than 105 days pass from the day of sowing the seeds to the day of harvesting. It is most often grown by seedlings, with sowing seeds in mid-March and picking seedlings at the end of May.
Eggplant Marathon Man presented in a cylindrical shape with a dark purple peel color. The length of such a vegetable reaches 35 cm, and the weight is about 400-600 g. The eggplant pulp is white, dense, and does not contain bitterness. Crop yield up to 6 kg/m2. Below is a photo of the Marathonets variety.
Epic F1
Early maturing eggplant hybrid.It takes no more than 65 days to ripen. The bush of the plant is small, up to 90 cm high, slightly spreading, which allows you to plant seedlings in the amount of 4 bushes per 1 m2 soil.
Eggplants are very beautiful purple-black in color, oval-conical in shape (photo). The length of such fruits reaches 21 cm, diameter 10 cm. The average weight of one vegetable is 220-230 g. The flesh of the vegetable is white and dense. The yield of the variety does not exceed 6 kg/m2.
In addition to the above varieties, Ermin F1, Berinda, Faith, Giselle, Lilac Fog and some others. Recommendations on how to properly plant eggplants in open ground are given in the video:
Popular varieties
In addition to those described above, other productive varieties of eggplant are also popular, the taste of which is appreciated by consumers:
King of the North F1
The hybrid is early ripening (ripening period 100 days). It is well adapted to low temperatures and is excellent for middle and northern latitudes. The bush is up to 40 cm high, and has a good yield of up to 15 kg/m2.
Eggplants are elongated-cylindrical, bright purple in color (photo below). The average length of the fruit is 25-30 cm, however, there are vegetables up to 40 cm in length. The pulp of the fruit of this variety is white, very tasty and contains absolutely no bitterness, perfect for preparing culinary dishes and canning.
Marzipan F1
A mid-season hybrid, particularly resistant to drought, high and low temperatures, suitable for cultivation in northern regions. Can be grown in greenhouses, greenhouses, and open areas. The first harvest of eggplants of this variety will please the owner 120 days after the seeds are sown.
Fruit Marzipan F1 They are pear-shaped with a dark purple skin. Their length is no more than 15 cm, diameter is 7-8 cm. Eggplants are quite massive, their weight sometimes exceeds 1 kg. A distinctive feature of the variety is its surprisingly tasty pulp with a sweetish taste and creamy-white color.
Dolphin
A mid-early variety of eggplant that takes 120-130 days to ripen. The bush is vigorous, up to 2 meters high, and requires staking. The crop is grown exclusively in a greenhouse with a planting scheme of no more than 3 bushes per meter.
The fruits of the Dolphin variety are saber-shaped and lilac-white in color. The length of such eggplants reaches 45 cm, weight is about 450 g. The flesh is greenish, tasty, and quite dense. Productivity reaches 9 kg/m2.
The popularity of varieties is due, first of all, to excellent taste and the success of gardeners in growing crops. You can get acquainted with other popular eggplants in the video:
High-yielding varieties
Productivity is the main parameter when choosing a variety for many gardeners. This is especially true for the choice of eggplants that are grown for harvesting for the winter. So, judging by the reviews of gardeners, the most productive include:
Beyonce F1
The hybrid has high yield and early ripening. It is grown in open ground and in greenhouses. The period from sowing seeds to fruiting is 105 days. It is recommended to sow seeds in May. The plant is medium bushy and can be planted at 4-6 pcs/m2.
The fruit is pear-shaped, purple. The average weight of an eggplant is 300 g. Its flesh is white with a pleasant, sweetish taste. The peculiarity of the variety is its record yield - up to 27 kg/m2.
Thelma F1
The hybrid is an early ripening representative of the Dutch selection.Ripens 102-105 days after sowing the seeds. The plant is quite tall and bushy. Can be planted in open or protected ground with a frequency of 4-6 pcs/m2. The best time for sowing seeds is May.
The fruits are pear-shaped, with a dark purple skin. Their length reaches 25 cm, weight about 260 g. The pulp is dense, greenish. The yield of the Telma F1 variety reaches 20 kg/m2.
Amazing varieties
Not every gardener knows what amazing varieties of eggplants have been offered by modern selection. They are not only tasty and very healthy, but also extremely cute:
Swan
Mid-season eggplant, suitable for growing in open areas and greenhouses. The bush is compact, relatively short-growing up to 70 cm, so at 1 m2 It is recommended to plant 4-6 plants per soil. The ripening period of the vegetable is 100-105 days after sowing the seed. The variety is characterized by good yield up to 18 kg/m2.
Eggplant variety Swan have a cylindrical shape and a white (sometimes yellow) color. The length of the vegetable reaches 22 cm, weight 200-240 g. The pulp is very white, tender, without a bitter taste. You can evaluate the external qualities of the variety in the photo below.
Piglet
Mid-season variety, ripens in 108 days after sowing the seeds. Grown exclusively in greenhouses. Productivity is low - up to 6 kg/m2.
Piglet eggplants are spherical in shape and light purple in color. The weight of one fruit reaches 350 g. The pulp of the vegetable is white.
Sailor
Mid-season eggplant with original color. Ripens in 102-105 days after sowing the seeds. Suitable for open and protected ground. The plant is compact, up to 75 cm high. The crop yield reaches 10 kg/m2.
Eggplant Matrosik is white with longitudinal lilac stripes. The shape of the vegetable is oval-pear-shaped.Fruit length up to 17 cm, weight 250-400g.
Conclusion
It is worth noting that eggplant is represented by such a wide selection of varieties that you can choose a crop that will be adapted even to growth in a pot, which allows you to grow it indoors. An example of such “apartment” varieties are Polosatik and Medallion.
To obtain an early, rich harvest of eggplants, it is necessary to sow the seeds in a timely and correct manner and follow the rules of growing the crop, which can be found in detail in the video:
In domestic latitudes, eggplant is not as popular as, for example, a tomato or cucumber. However, the culture deserves special attention, since it is a natural source of potassium salts and other vitamins that have a beneficial effect on the human body. It is not for nothing that this unique vegetable is called the “source of longevity”, which can be successfully grown in your own garden.
