Lovers of large fruits with high taste are increasingly choosing the new eggplant variety Marzipan F1. The hybrid preserves well in hot weather and grows well in northern regions. To get a rich harvest, we recommend that you study the rules of planting, cultivation and care in advance. In our article you will find answers to all your questions.
Description of the hybrid
Marzipan F1 is a mid-season hybrid. From the moment of sowing the seeds until the ripeness of the fruit, 120-127 days pass. Marzipan is a heat-loving crop.Therefore, it is recommended for growing in the southern regions, where the fruits develop remarkably well in open ground. In the central parts of Russia it is grown in a greenhouse. Eggplants grow large. Despite the strong stem, the weight of the fruit causes the bush to break. Therefore, it is necessary to tie it up.
Characteristics of eggplant Marzipan F1
Characteristics of eggplant:
- the bush grows up to a meter high;
- the pulp is not bitter, pale cream, sweetish;
- the plant is erect;
- flowers grow in inflorescences and are also single;
- leaves are large, green in color;
- fruit shape is standard;
- average length is about 15 centimeters, width - 8;
- the fruits are fleshy and large;
- eggplants contain few small seeds;
- the peel is shiny, purple.
Fruits grow weighing 300 - 600 grams. During the season, you can harvest approximately 1.5-2 kg of crop from a bush.
Advantages:
- resistance to adverse conditions;
- high taste qualities, Marzipan is one of the most delicious varieties.
Growing
To obtain maximum yield, follow simple recommendations.
Seeds
Seeds need to be prepared in advance before planting:
- Warm up for four hours at +25 degrees.
- Soak the seeds at +40 degrees for 40 minutes.
- Disinfect. To do this, you will need to place the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and soak for a quarter of an hour.
- To increase germination, rinse off potassium permanganate and place in any stimulating solution for 11 hours.
After all stages of preparation, the seeds are placed in a wet cloth and stored in a warm place until germination.
The soil
To grow seeds, use a special universal soil. It is fully prepared for vegetable growth and includes all the necessary components in the correct ratio.
You can prepare the soil yourself.To do this, you can use one of the following options:
- Mix 2 parts of humus with part of turf soil.
- Combine humus, peat and turf soil in equal proportions.
- Mix equal amounts of humus with soil and coarse sand.
The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral.
Seedling care
Prepared seeds begin to be sown in the second half of March. For seedlings use:
- any plastic containers;
- peat pots.
The volume of the container should not exceed 300 ml. There must be drainage holes so that excess liquid can drain. Fill with fertile soil and then moisten well.
Seeds are also planted in common boxes at a distance from each other. But later the seedlings will have to be pruned.
When planting in a cup, the seeds are planted to a depth of no more than one and a half centimeters, one at a time in the center of the container. In the boxes, it is necessary to leave a distance of about 5 centimeters between the seeds.
After planting the seeds you must:
- cover the containers with glass or a transparent bag;
- leave the seeds in a warm place with sufficient light. The temperature should be +22…+26 degrees.
If the temperature conditions are observed, the first shoots will appear after 7-10 days. Immediately after this point you will need:
- monitor daylight hours, which should be 10 hours;
- the temperature at night will be required within +17…+19 degrees;
- Water regularly, but do not over-moisten the soil. Do not allow it to dry out. Water in the morning and only with settled water. When watering with cold liquid, the likelihood of blackleg appearing increases.
If the seeds were planted in a common box, then when the second true leaf appears, they need to be transplanted into separate containers.Before transplanting, water the soil generously. This will help you reach the plant without damaging the roots. After transplantation, the root system will begin to form, so growth will slow down.
Landing
The plant must be planted on the site after 8-12 leaves appear. Eggplants are heat-loving crops, therefore:
- transplanted into the greenhouse in the second half of May;
- in open ground - in mid-June.
Rules of care
To get a good harvest, you will need to properly care for the bushes:
- When the bush reaches a height of 30 centimeters, the stem is tied to a support. To avoid damaging the barrel, do not tighten too much. Leave a small reserve. Then the resulting side shoots are tied up a couple of times a month.
- Leave a maximum of 3 strong shoots. All foliage growing below the fork is plucked off the stem. Shoots without fruit formation are pruned.
- Proper removal of leaves helps to ensure good lighting of flowers and reduce the likelihood of gray rot. Be sure to remove secondary shoots.
- Damaged and dried foliage is trimmed throughout the season.
- At the end of summer, pinch off the top of the stem. Leave 5 ovaries that can ripen before frost. At the same time, all the flowers are picked off.
Watering and impregnation
It is necessary to water the bush once a week before flowering. As soon as flowers have formed on the plant, the frequency of irrigation is increased to once every three days.
For irrigation, use only warm water.
Irrigate the soil in the morning or late in the evening. Water at the roots and loosen the soil. Due to highly waterlogged soil, the fruits grow small and not very tasty.
The beds are mulched with straw, dried grass or sawdust.This helps reduce the number of waterings and retain moisture in the soil. In August, watering must be reduced.
Top dressing
During the entire growth period, fertilizing is carried out several times:
- When the first leaves appear, water with a special mixture. To a 10-liter bucket add ammonium nitrate - 5 g, superphosphate - 30 g, potassium sulfate - 10 g.
- 1.5 weeks before planting in the ground, superphosphate - 65 g, potassium salt - 25 g are diluted in a 10-liter bucket of water.
- When the first flowers appear, water with a mixture of fertilizers diluted in a 10-liter bucket. Urea - 5 g, superphosphate - 20 g, potassium sulfate - 5 g.
- At the time of fruiting, use a solution: water - 10 l, superphosphate - 10 g, potassium salt - 10 g.
Diseases and pests
The most common disease is blackleg. The fungus causes darkening of the root collar, causing the bush to wither. To avoid disease, before planting the seeds, spill the soil with boiling water and calcinate it on a baking sheet for disinfection.
Colorado potato beetles have a big impact on eggplants.
Insects attack after potato tops dry out. At this point, the eggplants are ripening on the plants. Therefore, chemical treatment cannot be carried out. Installing a fine mesh up to a meter high will help avoid insect attacks.
Harvest and storage
Under suitable conditions, the fruits retain their appearance and taste for several months. Eggplants reach technical ripeness 1-1.5 months after flowering. The fruits are painted a rich purple color. The pulp becomes elastic and the seeds turn white.
The fruits ripen gradually, so they are collected selectively, checking the degree of ripeness every three days. Cut with pruning shears or a well-sharpened knife, leaving 3 centimeters of the stalk.
To store eggplants, wipe them with a dry towel and place them in the basement. Room temperature from 0 to +2 degrees. They are stored on the floor for two weeks, arranged in a maximum of two layers. After three weeks, undamaged, hard fruits are selected and wrapped in paper. Then they are laid out on straw and covered with thick cloth. If all conditions are met, you can enjoy the taste of fresh eggplant for 3 months.
