Among all the blue varieties, the most popular is the striped eggplant Sailor. Many gardeners have already managed to appreciate this variety due to its high agrotechnical qualities; breeders choose it for the non-standard coloring of its fruits, and housewives grow it for its excellent taste.
Description and characteristics of the variety
The unusual eggplant Matrosik is a variety with average maturity, high yield, and excellent taste.
It is chosen due to the following unique features:
- Due to its high agrotechnical characteristics, it is cultivated in greenhouses and open ground.
- It withstands transportation well, maintaining its original appearance.
- It has delicate pulp, without a bitter aftertaste, and is used in many recipes for winter preservation.
- It has a certain resistance to many diseases, it is not susceptible to Verticillium wilt.
The selected variety has the following agrotechnical characteristics:
- Fruiting begins on day 100-105;
- the stems of the plant are quite strong and developed;
- its bushes are spreading and can grow up to 80 centimeters;
- The yield indicators of this variety are 8-10 kilograms per 1 square meter;
- the shape of ripe fruits is oval or pear-shaped, the surface is glossy, the color of the vegetable is dark purple stripes alternating with white;
- The pulp of the vegetable is of medium density, without voids, white, without visible bitterness.
What are the disadvantages of the variety?
This is an excellent variety, it has a lot of advantages, but as a drawback, gardeners note that there are thorns on the stem and pericarp of Matrosik, so harvesting is carried out exclusively with gloves.
Features of cultivation
A feature of almost all eggplants is that they feel comfortable and bear fruit well in warm and humid conditions. Every gardener knows the following nuances of growing aromatic Matrosikov zucchini:
- Heat-loving annuals love heat much more than their counterparts - aromatic tomatoes and unpretentious peppers.A comfortable temperature for accelerating germination is 20-25 degrees, and for comfortable growth and development – 25-30 degrees. At the same time, remember that a sharp disruption in temperature conditions, a decrease in temperature is detrimental to healthy eggplants.
- Yield indicators depend on the quality of watering; with a lack of life-giving moisture, beautiful flowers and the first ovaries slowly fade. Excess moisture provokes the development of destructive diseases.
- Eggplants grow and develop comfortably on nutritious black soil or light loamy soil. Annuals prefer feeding with organic matter or light nitrogen fertilizers.
Growing seedlings
The eggplant variety is cultivated by seedlings; in regions with a warm climate, the vegetable can be grown by sowing in open ground. The optimal predecessors for the demanding eggplant are carrots, melons, and legumes.
Selected eggplant seeds are sown in special pots or a ready-made nursery. High-quality soil, purchased in a store or made independently, is poured there.
High-quality nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are also added to the prepared mixture.
The following procedures will help increase germination rates:
- preliminary soaking of selected seeds in a growth stimulator for 3 hours or simply soaking in purified water until germination;
- in the prepared pot, make 4 holes 2 centimeters deep, put one selected seed there, sprinkle with earth, water generously;
- The optimal time for sowing seedlings is the end of February or the beginning of March. After germination, one strong specimen is left in the pot.
25 days before direct planting in open ground, the resulting seedlings are hardened, bringing the cultivation conditions closer to the most natural environment possible.
Sprout care
Caring for growing vegetables is quite simple; any novice gardener can handle it. It includes a number of the following activities:
- thorough weeding of annoying weeds;
- high-quality watering and soil loosening;
- periodic feeding;
- giving shape to the bush.
All these measures will help to grow strong and healthy striped eggplants.
Planting in open ground
Hardened sprouts are planted in open ground after May 20, when return frosts are no longer observed and the warm weather becomes stable. During planting, the following scheme is followed: 40 centimeters is the distance between the bushes; there should be a gap of 50 centimeters between the rows.
During planting, life-giving organic matter and high-quality mineral fertilizer are added to each bush.
How to care for eggplant
It is quite difficult for young shoots to take root in a new place, so they need to be provided with proper care. Blue eggplants They feel comfortable at a temperature of 23-26 degrees, so the main task of the gardener is to prevent hypothermia or overheating. In order to protect against external destructive factors, a special film is used. When the shoot reaches a height of 30 centimeters, its top is pinched. Of the side shoots, only 5 strong ones are left, the rest are simply disposed of.
Weeding
Weeding the ridge of excess weeds is carried out regularly, since eggplants do not like it when something interferes with their development. In addition, weeds attract pests and provoke the development of destructive diseases. This is why weeding is needed. Do this procedure regularly, as needed.
Watering and loosening
High-quality watering is carried out with heated water 2 times a week before flowering begins.The main reference point for this is the current degree of soil moisture. During flowering and fruit formation, the annual is irrigated directly under the root. In severe drought, light shading is done so that fragile sprouts do not get severely burned.
Also, do not forget about periodically loosening the soil to avoid clumping and to ensure free access of oxygen to the roots of the plant.
Top dressing
When planting young shoots, high-quality humus, wood ash, and nitrophoska are added to the open soil under each hole. During the formation of the ovary, established plants also need support, then they are given a complex of minerals, for example, Agricola, beloved by all annuals. During the period of active fruiting, regular nutrition is added to the plants in the form of high-quality minerals and natural organic matter.
Bush formation
Forming a bush involves pinching the top of the bush; after it stretches up to 30 centimeters, as well as in pinching and removing excess branches.
Diseases and pests
When cultivating perennials, it is necessary to take into account the fact that annuals literally attract dangerous pests. The first enemy of the little blue ones is the Colorado potato beetle. Having settled in to escape, in a matter of days he gnaws it to the end. Spraying with chemicals and infusion of beneficial wormwood will help you cope with it.
Spider mites and bugs can cause damage to the crop. For preventive purposes, the plant is sprayed with infusion of onion or regular dandelion.
How and when to harvest
When determining the maturity of an eggplant fruit, the permissible growing season of the selected variety is taken into account. The ripening time is directly influenced by: the agricultural technology used, weather conditions, and careful adherence to the specified planting dates.Eggplant has no visible signs of maturity; the main emphasis here is on the length of the fruit.
Simply pressing on the fruit will help determine ripeness - if the skin bends slightly and quickly returns to its original shape, then the fruit can be picked.
Further storage
With the right approach, the shelf life is extended. For this purpose, large, healthy specimens are selected that show no signs of damage. Place the selected samples in wooden boxes, layered with straw. Healthy vegetables store well in a cool, dark place.
