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Eggplant is native to South Asia and India. However, despite its exoticism and heat-loving nature, the vegetable is also grown by domestic farmers in their gardens. Moreover, a wide selection of varieties allows you to grow the crop not only in greenhouses and greenhouses, but also in open ground. To do this, already in early spring, farmers germinate and sow seeds, carefully care for the crops, and with the onset of favorable weather they begin to plant eggplant seedlings in open ground. This method of cultivation requires a special approach, since the plant is quite whimsical and reacts negatively to temperature changes and replanting. So, you can find out the basic rules and some secrets of growing eggplants in open ground below in the article.
The best varieties for open ground
Not every eggplant variety can be successfully grown in open ground. Thus, breeders offer more than 200 varieties for unprotected conditions that can safely tolerate sudden changes in day/night temperatures and short-term cold snaps. Such eggplants are characterized by a relatively short period of fruit ripening and resistance to various diseases.
Based on the opinions of farmers and reviews and comments from experienced farmers, we can safely highlight the five best eggplant varieties for open ground.
Thus, the TOP 5 includes varieties “Epic f1”, “Valentina”, “Bourgeois f1”, “Vera”, “Destan f1”. These varieties and hybrids are characterized by low bushes, early/mid-early period of fruit ripening, as well as high yield and excellent taste of vegetables.
Also, when choosing eggplants for open ground, you should pay attention to the varieties “Almaz”, “Bibo f1”, “Helios”, “Clorinda f1”, “Fabina f1” and some others. They can be grown both in open and protected ground.
Time to sow the seed
Having chosen a suitable variety of eggplant, you need to determine the time for sowing its seeds for seedlings. In this case, it is worth taking into account the climatic features of the area and the growing season of the crop. For example, the popular hybrid “Epic f1” actively bears fruit just 64 days from the moment of germination. This means that in central Russia, seeds for seedlings must be sown at the end of April, and already at the beginning of June, young plants can be planted in open ground. Seeds of the varieties “Valentina”, “Bourgeois f1”, “Vera” have a fruit ripening period of approximately 100-110 days, therefore, seeds for seedlings should be sown in late March - early April.
It is worth noting that in the southern regions of the country, where stable summer temperatures are established in early to mid-May, sowing seeds and planting plants in open ground can be carried out earlier than the deadlines stated above.
Preparing and sowing seed
Eggplant seeds must be germinated before sowing as seedlings. To do this you should:
- disinfect the seeds by immersing them in a manganese solution for 10-20 minutes;
- place the manganese-treated seeds on a piece of cloth or gauze, moisten the material with warm (+30-+350With water;
- immerse the damp cloth in a plastic bag, tying it tightly;
- Immerse the bag in a warm place;
- After the sprouts appear, plant the seeds.
Eggplants have a poorly developed root system, so it is better to plant the seeds of this crop for seedlings immediately in separate pots of 1-2 seeds. It is recommended to use peat pots or tablets as containers for growing. Small plastic bags and flexible plastic cups are also suitable.
Despite the recommendations, some farmers still prefer to sow germinated eggplant seeds in one large container. This method of cultivation involves picking plants into separate pots at the stage of the appearance of two true leaves on the sprouts. With such an intermediate picking, the roots of eggplants, the length of which exceeds 1 cm, should be pinched so that the plants take root better.
Soil for growing eggplant seedlings should be easy. You can prepare the soil yourself by mixing garden soil with peat, river sand and organic matter. A complex of mineral fertilizers can be added to the general mixture. If necessary, soil for cultivating eggplant seedlings can be purchased ready-made in specialized stores.
Growing seedlings
Containers with sown germinated seeds should be covered with film or protective glass and left warm until germination. As soon as the sprouts have hatched through the soil, the containers should be placed in a lighted place.If there is a lack of light, plants can be illuminated with fluorescent lamps. The optimal length of the photoperiod for seedling growth is 12 hours.
Watering eggplant seedlings in the early stages of cultivation should be done 1-2 times a week. As plants grow, it is necessary to moisten the soil more often. It should be remembered that eggplant is particularly demanding when it comes to watering.
Eggplant seedlings when there is a lack of light, it stretches upward excessively. This situation can be eliminated by installing reflective materials (mirrors, foil) around the perimeter of the surface on which containers with plants are located. This will allow sufficient illumination of the large eggplant leaves, making the sprouts even and equally leafy on all sides.
It is necessary to fertilize seedlings once every 2 weeks. For feeding, you can use mineral complexes with a high nitrogen content, which helps accelerate the growth and development of green mass of eggplants.
Picking seedlings
It is necessary to plant eggplant seedlings in a well-lit, sunny place. To prevent shading along the perimeter of the beds, low-growing crops should be planted, for example, onions, carrots or sorrel. The best predecessors for eggplants are legumes, melons, onions, carrots, and cabbage. At the same time, it is possible to plant eggplants in the soil on which nightshade crops previously grew no earlier than after 3 years.
2 weeks before the expected picking, it is necessary to start hardening the seedlings. To do this, pots with plants are taken outside first for 30 minutes, then gradually increase the time until full daylight hours. This will allow the eggplants to adapt to the temperature conditions of open ground and exposure to direct sunlight.
Given the differences in regional climate, it is impossible to name a specific date for planting seedlings in open ground. So, each farmer must choose the best time for planting, taking into account the following features:
- eggplants grow and form abundant ovaries only at temperatures above +200WITH;
- even the shortest, slightest frosts are destructive for young seedlings.
At the time of planting eggplants in open ground, the seedlings should have 5-6 true leaves. The age of seedlings, depending on the duration of the fruiting period of a particular variety, can be 30-70 days.
It is necessary to plant eggplants in open ground at a certain distance, which depends on the tallness of the bushes. So, plants more than 1 meter high are planted no thicker than 3 pieces per 1 m2 soil. Low-growing eggplants can be planted 4-5 bushes per 1 m2 soil. Failure to maintain distances between plants can lead to shading, the development of diseases, and as a result, a decrease in yield.
The soil for planting should have the same composition as the substrate in which the seedlings were grown. “Lenten” garden soil can be flavored with organic matter. Manure infusion and well-rotted compost are often used as organic fertilizer.
About an hour before planting the eggplants, the beds and the seedlings themselves must be watered. Sprouts from plastic (polyethylene) containers must be removed very carefully, keeping the lump of earth on the root. The peat container must be embedded in the soil without removing the plant.
In pre-prepared holes, the plants are immersed to such a depth that the cotyledon leaves of the eggplant are in the soil. The holes with the seedlings inside are filled with soil, slightly compacting it.Additional watering of eggplants planted in open ground is not required.
When growing heat-loving plants in open ground in central Russia, as well as in the northern regions, Siberia and the Urals, immediately after planting, it is recommended to cover eggplants with polyethylene using arcs. The polyethylene shelter can only be removed when night temperatures exceed +150C. As a rule, such warm nights occur after June 15th.
Plant care
Caring for pickled plants involves regular watering, fertilizing and loosening:
- You need to water eggplants before flowering once every 6-7 days. In particularly hot weather, the frequency of watering can be increased;
- during flowering and fruiting, the crop should be watered 2 times a week;
- the volume of water when watering should be 10-12 liters per 1 m2 soil;
- Plants should be watered after sunset directly at the root;
- water temperature for irrigation should be above +250WITH;
- loosening simultaneously with weeding should be carried out as needed, but at least 4 times during the entire growing season;
- Eggplants should be fertilized every 2 weeks using manure infusion or special mineral complexes.
More detailed information about caring for eggplants in open ground can be found in the video:
Growing eggplants in open ground is not at all difficult if you know and follow all the cultivation rules. Thus, it is especially important not only to select a suitable variety, but to grow healthy, strong seedlings from seeds that will successfully adapt to new outdoor conditions and take root in the soil without long-term growth stops.Successfully planting eggplant seedlings in open ground is also a step towards obtaining a rich harvest of tasty and healthy vegetables. After picking seedlings, it is important to direct your efforts to adhere to the schedule of watering and fertilizing, since only with a sufficient amount of moisture and micronutrients can the crop fully bear fruit.
