The eggplant variety King of the F1 market has proven itself well and is valued for its friendly yield, which is characterized by increased taste characteristics. It is the taste of the fruit that allows this vegetable to be used in the preparation of first and second courses, salads, sauces, as well as in preparations for the winter.
Description and characteristics of eggplant
Eggplant King of the F1 market belongs to early ripening hybrids. The duration of ripening ranges from 100 to 110 days.Technical ripeness is determined by its dark purple color.
The plant in the form of a compact bush forms shoots colored green-violet. The bushes are decorated with green foliage with a purple tint. The beautiful cylindrical-shaped fruits, 18-22 cm long, 6 cm in diameter, characterized by a smooth shiny surface of a rich purple color, attract attention. The white pulp is dense and has no bitterness.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The King of the Market F1 eggplant variety has a number of advantages, thanks to which it has earned its place in the garden.
The main advantages for which the variety is valued:
- high and stable yields, up to 10 kg of fruit can be harvested from 1 m2;
- excellent taste characteristics;
- standard growing conditions;
- immunity to major diseases of fungal and infectious origin and pest invasion;
- ease of care;
- possibility of long-term storage of crops;
- versatility in purpose, the fruits are suitable for culinary processing and canning;
- a source of useful elements that enrich the body and improve health.
Disadvantages include curvature of the fruit, but this only occurs with improper care.
Features of cultivation
The eggplant variety Market King F1 is grown according to the standard scheme. The culture is cultivated by seedlings and does not require special conditions.
Landing dates
It is recommended to sow seeds in the last ten days of February. To obtain a quantitative and high-quality harvest, you need to pre-soak the seed using a non-concentrated solution of potassium permanganate or special means to increase germination.
Soil preparation
The plant is demanding on soil structure and fertility.The container in which the seedlings will develop must be filled with high-quality soil substrate. You can make it yourself from 2 parts turf soil, 1 part humus and a small amount of peat to loosen the mixture.
The soil must be warmed up for 10 days before sowing. To do this, you need to put it in pots, pour it with a solution of potassium permanganate and cover it with glass.
Sowing seeds
Sow the prepared material to a depth of 1 cm, keeping a distance of 1.5 cm between planting units. Water, then cover with a transparent film to maintain the optimal level of humidity.
Sprout care
The first shoots will not take long to appear: they will appear a week after sowing. During this period, watering and fertilizing should be avoided, as this will first lead to vigorous growth and then mass death of seedlings.
Caring for eggplant seedlings includes:
- Lighting, since sprouts need daylight for up to 12 hours.
- Abundant watering using warm water.
- Protection against sudden temperature changes. Containers with crops should be placed away from window frames and heating appliances.
Transplanting
The period from sowing seeds to planting in open ground or a greenhouse is 65-70 days. By this time, eggplant seedlings of the King of the Market F1 variety have 5-6 true leaves. Planting should be done in the evening, this will help the seedlings quickly adapt to new places.
The main stages of planting seedlings include:
- Hardening of seedlings 7 days before planting.
- Moistening, loosening and fertilizing selected areas.
- Water the seedlings so that they do not lack moisture during transplantation.
- Forming holes while maintaining a distance between them of at least 70 cm.
- Planting seedlings, deepening their root system by 6-7 cm, and leaving the cotyledon leaves above the surface of the ground. The distance between planting units should be 50 cm. It is important that the plants are not located next to each other. This can negatively affect the formation of bushes and yield.
Important! Immediately after planting, you need to protect the seedlings from direct sunlight.
Fertilizer and watering
To obtain the best and most delicious fruits, the real kings of the market, a number of care measures should be carried out, the main ones of which are watering and fertilizing:
- Regular and abundant watering. Eggplants belong to moisture-loving crops, so they should be watered once every 3 days, and in dry weather daily. Since water deficiency can lead to plant death. The temperature of the irrigation water should be +25 C. It is better to water in the morning or evening.
- Timely application of nutrients will ensure a quantitative and qualitative harvest of healthy vegetables. You need to feed 3-4 times per season. The first fertilizing should be carried out 7 days after planting the seedlings. Maintaining this time will allow the seedlings to take root and the roots to absorb nutrients. At the beginning of flowering, it is better to feed the eggplants using a complex of fertilizers containing microelements and minerals. During fruit ripening, fertilizing based on nitrogen and phosphorus is suitable. The main thing is not to overdo it with organic substances, as this can provoke the growth of King of the Market F1 eggplants to the detriment of flowering and development, which will negatively affect the quality of future harvests.
Also, the characteristics of the variety presuppose the implementation of such agricultural techniques as:
- weeding, removing weeds, as well as carefully loosening the soil near the bushes, since the roots of the plants lie shallow;
- removal of lower growth points at the time of bush formation;
- inspecting plants for diseases and parasites and, if detected, carrying out appropriate procedures;
- gartering bushes, since the shoots of the crop are fragile and easily break, especially under the weight of large eggplants.
Diseases and pests
The eggplant variety Market King F1 demonstrates excellent resistance to diseases inherent in the crop, but this phenomenon does not eliminate the risk of infection.
Common diseases that threaten eggplants:
- Blackleg. This problem can be diagnosed by darkening and destruction of the root collar. Rot affects the roots and leads to the death of the crop. Diseased specimens should be immediately removed from the garden bed, the soil should be dried, loosened and sprinkled with wood ash on top.
- Late blight. One of the dangerous fungal diseases of crops. It is signaled by growing dark brown spots on the lower leaves. The disease affects the fruits and inflorescences of eggplant. Treatment involves the use of copper-containing drugs.
The Colorado potato beetle, aphids, and naked slug are considered dangerous pests. Such parasites should be combated by treating the bushes with chemicals.
To prevent diseases and attacks of pests that lie in wait for the crop at different stages of development, you should act proactively, adhering to certain rules:
- at the stage of growing seedlings, use only soil well fertilized with nutrients;
- carry out fertilizing to help the crop cope with the stresses that occur when crop cultivation technology is disrupted;
- When plants are infected, urgently carry out all operations to eliminate it.
If these rules are followed, nothing will threaten the fruits, and a high-quality harvest is guaranteed.
Collection and storage
The King of the F1 eggplant fruits ripen gradually, so the crop must be harvested selectively. The audit must be carried out every 3 days. Cut with a sharp knife, leaving a part of the stalk measuring 3-5 cm.
It is necessary to store the crop in a place where it is dark and cool. The air humidity in the room should be on average 80%, since a lack of this indicator leads to a loss of juiciness of the eggplants and a wrinkled surface.
Among the variety of eggplant varieties, the Market King F1 hybrid deserves special attention due to its positive characteristics. Healthy vegetables grown in your garden will be a delicious ingredient for many nutritious dishes.
