Description of the eggplant variety Roma f1, its characteristics and yield

Gardeners successfully grow eggplants not only in greenhouses, but also in open ground. The early-ripening hybrid quickly gained popularity among gardeners due to its high commercial properties, rich harvest and universal use. Eggplant variety Roma f1 has excellent taste and ideal appearance. If the conditions are met, the fruits retain their marketable appearance for three months.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Characteristics:

• suitable for cultivation in all regions of the country;
• from one bush, with proper care, one and a half kilograms of fruits are harvested. Per square meter - about 6 kilograms;
• grows well in open ground;
• The height of the bush reaches two meters.

Description of the variety Roma f1:

• The peel of the fruit is soft to the touch and very thin. When they reach maturity, eggplants become shiny and deep purple;
• the fruits grow weighing up to 350 grams and 20-25 centimeters in length;
• the pulp is dense;
• the fruits contain a small amount of seeds;
• taste without bitterness. Great for canning, pickling, salting, frying and stewing;
• after transplanting into the ground, the fruits ripen after 70-80 days;
• The bushes bear fruit for a long time. The harvest is harvested before the first frost.

Advantages and disadvantages of eggplant

The advantages of the variety include:

• good fruit growth in cool summers;
• unpretentiousness to cultivation;
• high taste qualities;
• greater productivity;
• tender pulp without bitterness and streaks;
• variety resistance to diseases.

Many summer residents are accustomed to harvesting their own seeds from their favorite varieties of vegetables. Roma f1 is a hybrid and is not suitable for propagation by its own seeds. This is the only drawback that gardeners highlight in fruits.

Growing seedlings

The most convenient way is to grow by seedlings. Seeds are planted in the last ten days of February or early March.

Sowing seeds

The seeds do not require pre-soaking. For quick emergence of shoots, follow these simple recommendations:

1. For sowing, soil and humus with a small amount of coarse sand are used in equal proportions.
2. Before planting, warm the soil to +25 degrees.
3. Plant the seeds in separate cups or common boxes at a distance from each other.Deepen each seed into the soil one and a half centimeters. Then water and cover with film. Before emergence, the temperature should be within +25 degrees. The containers are placed in a dimly lit place.

Sprout care

In order for the root system to develop and the sprouts to be strong at the time of transplantation, follow the growing conditions:

1. The film is removed after the first shoots appear. The seedlings are placed in a lighted place, and the temperature is reduced to +18 degrees. This ensures the growth of the root system.
2. After a week, the temperature is increased. During the daytime it is maintained at + 25 degrees, at night – no more than +14. The temperature contrast will help harden the plant and make the seedlings strong.
3. When the cotyledon leaves are formed, the plant can be picked. This process will have to be taken very seriously. Tender sprouts are easily damaged. It is necessary to carry it by the top leaves and be sure to leave a lump of earth.
4. Young sprouts love regular watering. The variety is sensitive to drying out and waterlogging of the soil. Use only distilled water. After each watering, loosen the soil. This helps reduce moisture evaporation.

Plants don't like diving. It is recommended to plant seeds in separate pots.

Features of cultivation

In order for plants to be strong and healthy, it is necessary to provide them with long-term lighting. If daylight hours are short, additional lamps are connected. The lack of light leads to the growth of seedlings, reduces its immunity, and after transplantation it is more difficult for it to adapt to new conditions.

Preparing seedlings for transplantation

Important rules:

1. 2 weeks before transplantation, they begin to harden the seedlings. The seedlings are placed on the balcony, gradually increasing the residence time.
2. The day before planting, the seedlings are watered abundantly. If the seedlings grow in boxes, then watering is done again, immediately before transplanting.
3. The ideal time for planting in the ground is late May-early June.

Transplanting into beds

Important rules for transplanting seedlings:

1. The bushes are deepened into the soil by 8 centimeters.
2. Hide the root collar one and a half centimeters in the soil.
3. Replant with a clod of earth.
4. If seedlings were grown in peat pots, then they are simply placed in prepared holes, which were previously filled with water.
5. The optimal planting scheme for the variety is 40x50 centimeters.

How to care for eggplant

Transplanted plants must be protected from night cold. To do this, install a film coating on the arches. The shelter is removed after a constant temperature has been established - approximately in mid-June. If night cold snaps are predicted, the film is pulled back on.

Watering

It will take some time for the bushes to adapt to new conditions.

1. Development will be slow in the first weeks. Plants will devote all their energy to developing the root system.
2. Watering is stopped, replaced by spraying with an aqueous solution of urea.
3. Be sure to ensure air flow to the roots by systematically loosening the soil near the bushes.

When the bush has taken root and started growing, you can begin regular watering. During dry, hot summers, moisten the soil twice a week. In cool weather, watering the soil once a week is enough. The soil moisture level needs to be sufficient, but not excessive.

If there is excessive waterlogging, there is a high probability of a “black leg” appearing. Watering is carried out in the evening hours.

Fertilizers

Regardless of the soil, bushes need regular feeding. Fertilize the plants three times:

1. 14 days after transplantation.
2. During the flowering period.
3. During fruit ripening.

For the first fertilizer, cow manure or chicken manure, which is diluted in water, is ideal.

The second should contain:

• potassium;
• manganese;
• iron;
• phosphorus.

The third is carried out 40 days before harvest. Fertilize with phosphorus and potassium.

Bush formation

Good fruiting does not require complex care. Enough:

• for better development, pinch the tops of the bushes;
• after 8 fruits have formed, remove the side shoots;
• When the bushes are flowering, pick off small flowers;
• shake the plant occasionally for better pollination;
• tear off yellowing leaves.

Diseases and pests

The bushes are resistant to major diseases:

• gray rot;
• phytosporosis.

The main enemy of bushes is the Colorado potato beetle. Pests are capable of eating all the foliage in a day. You will have to fight insects from the first day after transplanting the bushes into the ground.

To repel beetles use:

• short-acting insecticides that kill larvae. The last treatment can be carried out a month before harvest;
• folk remedies.

Harvest and storage

The fruits are collected after the onset of technical maturity. Their color should take on a rich purple hue. Harvesting is carried out twice a week. For storage, choose strong, undamaged fruits. Wipe with a cloth and wrap in a paper bag. Store in a dry basement for 2-3 months.