How to properly plant eggplants in open ground: planting scheme, agrotechnical measures, crop rotation

Growing various crops is practiced by vegetable growers every year. The question often arises about how to grow plants correctly. Planting eggplants is not difficult; even a beginner can handle caring for them. It is necessary to carry out agricultural techniques to achieve positive results.

Description and characteristics of the vegetable

The birthplace of culture is India. In those places it grows like a wild plant. In the countries of our continent, eggplant has been cultivated and planted for consumption.

To obtain information about a plant, it is necessary to study its properties and characteristics. This will help you grow the vegetable and avoid mistakes.

Plant:

• height: from 0.4 to 1.5 m;
• leaves: oval, rough to the touch;
• color: green or purple;
• flowers: purple, arranged in 1 or 2-7 pcs. in the hands;
• flower diameter: 2.5-5 cm;
• refers to perennials.

Vegetable:

• shape: pear-shaped, round, oblong or cylindrical;
• weight: up to 1 kg;
• color: black, purple and all shades;
• appearance: glossy, sometimes matte;

The fruits of the crop are classified as berries.

Many characteristics vary according to variety. Therefore, it is not possible to give a clear description of eggplants.

Growing from seeds

Despite the fact that the crop is perennial, summer residents prefer to sow it directly into the ground every year.

Eggplant planting material is checked for germination. Seeds (10 pcs.) are wrapped in a piece of gauze and immersed in water, the temperature of which is no more than +27 ⁰C. After 24 hours, the water is drained, and the gauze with seeds is placed in room conditions at a stable temperature. The gauze is constantly moistened; it should not dry out. After 7-10 days, shoots will appear. Then, based on the number of sprouted seeds, they are determined whether they should be planted or not.

If more than half have hatched, then the planting material is used for sowing. If less than half, then it’s worth purchasing new seeds.

The site is dug up and beds are formed. Their height should be 30 cm, width - 1 m. Eggplant planting material is placed in a container and covered with gauze. Leave for several days for germination.

It is recommended to harden the seeds, so they can more easily withstand low temperatures. The planting material is wrapped in gauze, left for a day at room temperature, then put in the refrigerator for 24 hours. When the specified time has passed, they are again placed in the room for a day. Then put it in the refrigerator again for 2 days. After completing these steps, sowing is carried out.

The soil temperature during planting is at least +15 ⁰С.

Plant the seeds to a depth of 2-3 cm and water generously. Night frosts have a bad effect on eggplants; it is necessary to additionally wrap the bushes. Sowing is carried out no earlier than June, possibly earlier depending on the climate of the growing region.

Growing seedlings

To grow a crop in seedlings, it will take a little effort and time. By following simple instructions, you can grow healthy seedlings. Eggplant planting material is taken no older than 3-4 years.

Initially, fertile soil is prepared in small and shallow containers. Composition of soil for seedlings:

• 1 part of turf land;
• 1 part sand;
• 2 parts humus.

Sow to a depth of 5 mm, leaving 2 cm between seeds.

When sowing of planting material is completed, the soil is moistened with a spray bottle using warm water or boiling water cooled to +22 ⁰C. Cover with polyethylene and place in a dark place until shoots appear. Ambient temperature +22 ⁰С. Shoots will appear in 10-14 days. After the container with the seedlings, place it on a windowsill or other well-lit place.

The summer resident determines the planting dates independently. Seedlings are planted in open ground after returning frosts have passed. Day sowing eggplants for seedlings determined taking into account the climate of the growing region.

Planting eggplants in open ground

It is necessary to plant eggplants according to certain deadlines, properly preparing the soil and taking into account all the other nuances of proper cultivation. Then the harvest will be good.

Landing dates

There is no specific answer to this question. It all depends on the method used to grow eggplants, the climate characteristics and the preferences of summer residents.

Since summer is short and the growing season of the crop is long (3.5-4 months), it is preferable to grow the vegetable in seedlings.

Thus, seeds should be planted in advance, around March. The date is calculated so that by the time of planting in a permanent place, the seedlings have formed 3-5 true leaves.

It is not advisable to plant seedlings with buds in the ground. She will endure the transplant very painfully. And he will be severely delayed in development.

There is no need to rush to plant the crop early. This will not lead to anything good. Eggplants do not develop at low temperatures. It is advisable that it does not fall below +15 ⁰С, and the soil warms up to + 13 ⁰С.

If the crop is grown in a greenhouse, the planting dates are shifted. Eggplant seedlings are planted in mid-winter and planted in the greenhouse in early May. The heated greenhouse provides for planting seeds in January, and transplanting vegetable seedlings in early April.

Soil preparation

Particular attention should be paid to the correct formation of the bed; the future harvest also depends on this.

First of all, choose a place. It is better to place the garden bed in a lighted area of ​​the garden, protected from drafts.

Predecessors after which it is undesirable to plant eggplants:

• peppers;
• tomatoes;
• potato;
• physalis.

Recommended crops for growing eggplant beds for next year:

• onion;
• cabbage;
• cucumbers

Select the fertile composition of the soil. It is better to add dolomite flour or lime in a small amount to acidified soil.

Then organic matter is added, per 1 m² 3-4 kg of rotted manure is enough. Under no circumstances should fresh manure be added.

To improve the soil composition, mineral fertilizers are added. At 1 m^{2 —} 30 g superphosphate and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium salt.

Eggplant roots prefer soil that allows oxygen to pass through well. River sand and peat are added to the beds. The earth is dug up and carefully leveled using a rake.

Planting scheme

To obtain the declared eggplant harvest, you need to plant the plants correctly. The planting scheme is simple. The characteristics of the varieties that are grown should be taken into account.

Recommended interval:

• 25-30 cm in early varieties;
• 35-40 cm in middle and late varieties;
• 55-70 cm between rows;
• 15-17 cm depth of holes.

Compliance with the planting scheme will ensure that the plants develop correctly and produce the stated yield. Otherwise, favorable conditions will be created for diseases and the appearance of insect pests.

Features of growing eggplants in a greenhouse

When a summer resident decides to grow a crop in a greenhouse, you need to know about some features of caring for vegetables in protected ground:

1. Choice of varieties. Breeders are doing their best, breeding species that grow in greenhouses and bear fruit. There are many similar varieties; it is worth choosing the one most suitable for growing conditions.
2. Greenhouse design. There must be vents to provide ventilation and create the required temperature conditions. In cold regions it is equipped with a heating system.
3. Length of daylight. At least 12 hours of sunlight; if there is a shortage, install additional lighting lamps.
4. Watering.It is recommended to water with warm water. Irrigate for the first time on the 5th day; it is not advisable to pour water on the leaves.
5. Soil composition. The soil should be loose and fertile.
6. Care. Removal of flowers and fertilizing is necessary.

Experienced vegetable growers advise beginners to grow crops in a greenhouse. It makes it easier to protect plants from wind and temperature changes.

Plant care rules

The final result depends on how correctly the eggplants were cared for. No matter how well the variety and place for planting are selected, without proper care it will not be possible to achieve a positive result.

Watering and loosening

The culture does not tolerate lack or excess of moisture. Moderation during watering is required. The rate of water consumption per plant depends on the size of the seedling itself. The larger it is, the more moisture is required for normal development.

The water temperature for irrigation is not lower than +22 ⁰С. Lower temperatures inhibit root growth and overall plant development.

Water is poured directly under the root, preventing moisture from getting on the foliage. Do this 2 times a week. When the plant blooms, water 2-3 times for 7 days. When it is not possible to water frequently, do it generously.

Eggplants need loosening to obtain oxygen from the root system. Another reason to systematically carry out loosening is the destruction of weeds. They cause a lot of problems for eggplants because they are carriers of diseases and insect pests. They loosen, retreating 10 cm from the roots of the eggplants. The first loosening is to a depth of 10 cm, then 12 cm.

If you hill up plants at least 4 times during the growing season, this stimulates the formation of additional lateral roots, which promotes rapid growth and development of ovaries.

Formation

The correct formation of eggplant bushes plays an important role. Not all varieties require this procedure. A novice summer resident should be attentive to this point.

They form those plants that have reached 25-30 cm in height. All stepsons growing below the first bud are removed. The first ovary is also pinched off.

Whether to do this or not is a personal matter for each vegetable grower. Experienced summer residents claim that proper formation increases the yield from one plant several times.

Top dressing

An important point in caring for plants is proper timely feeding. It helps eggplants form ovaries and produce the desired yield. Another reason to apply fertilizer in a timely manner is disease prevention.

The number of feedings per season is at least 3:

1. 20 days after transfer to the garden bed.
2. A month after the 1st feeding.
3. When the plants begin to bear fruit.

It is recommended to alternate fertilizers. Use:

• organic matter: manure, compost, chicken droppings;
• mineral supplements: phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, iron, boron and manganese.

Among folk remedies, summer residents recommend using the following fertilizers:

• Wood ash. 1 cup of ash per bucket of water. Each plant is watered at the root.
• Yeast. 5 liters of water and 200 g of compressed yeast. Let it brew for 24 hours at room temperature. Then the mixture is diluted at the rate of 1 part to 10 parts of water, poured strictly under the root.
• Dandelion. A glass of flowers is poured with 2 liters of boiling water. Leave for 5 hours. Then add another 8 liters of water and use it for irrigation.
• Pharmaceutical camomile. 1 cup of plant flowers per 1 liter of boiling water. Leave for 24 hours, then add another 9 liters of water and water at the root.

Feeding methods are different, their use depends on the personal preferences of the summer resident.

Diseases and pests

The plant suffers from attacks by the Colorado potato beetle. This insect can destroy an entire plant in a matter of days. In addition to it, eggplants overcome:

• spider mite;
• aphid;
• whitefly;
• mole cricket;
• slugs

Treatment with insecticides will help get rid of them. The row spacing is sprinkled with wood ash or slaked lime.

To avoid development diseases on eggplants, agrotechnical requirements must be observed. Properly prepare the bed, observe crop rotation and planting patterns.

Eggplants are susceptible to the following diseases:

• root rot;
• root rot;
• fusarium;
• verticillium;
• late blight;
• mosaic;
• stolbur.

Proper treatment of eggplants with special solutions will prevent the disease from developing and spreading to healthy specimens. There are several ways to fight; the summer resident is free to choose an effective method:

1. Biochemical drugs. They do not harm either humans or animals, focusing on destroying the pest.
2. Chemicals. They fight diseases quickly, but settle in the fruits of plants.
3. Folk remedies. Requires repeated processing and does not last long.

It is best, of course, to do without the use of chemicals, but in some cases its use is necessary, since other means simply do not cope.

Harvest and storage

There is no clearly defined period, since summer residents grow different types of eggplants. It is worth focusing on the crop variety.

Harvesting from different varieties:

• early 90-110 days;
• average 115-130 days;
• late 130-140 days.

The timing may vary depending on how agricultural technology was carried out, when the eggplants were planted and on the climatic characteristics of the region.

The peculiarity of the culture is that the degree of ripeness of eggplants cannot be correlated with color, since they turn purple almost immediately. In addition to the growing season, experienced summer residents advise focusing on the length of the vegetable and judging the ripeness of the eggplant by it.

If you press on the fruit and the structure quickly recovers, the vegetable is ripe. Otherwise, you need to leave the eggplant on the bush.

They are removed from the bushes using pruning shears, and the remaining unripe fruits are left on the plant. To complete the ripening process, they are transferred to the greenhouse along with the roots.

For those who decide to save part of the eggplant harvest until winter, there is an opportunity to do so. Large and healthy specimens are selected. They put it in a box and cover it with straw. Store in a dry, cool place at a constant temperature.

There is another way to preserve vegetables for a longer period - they are dried. The eggplants are sorted and cut into circles no more than 2 cm thick. Then they are threaded on a thread and hung in a well-ventilated area.

What to plant next year

Summer residents know very well that it is not recommended to plant eggplants in the place where nightshades grew last year, as they can become infected with diseases common to the family.

By observing crop rotation, vegetable growers achieve high yields. Plants get sick less often and grow and develop faster.

The next year, after the eggplants, cabbage, cucumbers, green manure, melons and onions are sown. It is permissible to plant beets.

Beginners’ fears about the difficulty of growing are unfounded; eggplants grow and develop without requiring special care. It is enough to follow the agrotechnical methods familiar to a vegetable grower, and the plant will delight you with a harvest.