Good afternoon, my reader. Growing eggplants in the middle lane is quite difficult. However, there are several secrets that will help you get a delicious, bountiful harvest.
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Watering
Eggplant is a moisture-loving plant. Prefers constantly moist soil. However, moisture stagnation should not be allowed. This leads to the defeat of the culture with putrefactive diseases.
Experienced gardeners recommend maintaining soil moisture at 80%. To do this, add water 2 times every 7 days.
In dry summers, the amount of watering is increased. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely, this leads to the fact that the ovaries dry out and fall off. Water the eggplant in the morning or after sunset.
The plant requires the greatest amount of water during flowering and fruiting. Water is taken soft, settled, with a temperature of at least 22 o C.
They are applied strictly at the root, avoiding drops on the leaves. The amount of liquid applied should be such that the soil is moist at a depth of 35 cm. It is there that the root system of the culture is located.
Humidity
Eggplants in the middle lane are mainly grown in greenhouses, since this is a thermophilic crop. Despite the fact that the plant loves abundant watering, the air humidity should not exceed 70%. At a higher rate, there is a risk of contracting fungal infections.
As a preventive measure, the greenhouse is constantly ventilated. The window and the door are opened only on one side, avoiding a draft.
Temperature
The comfortable temperature for a vegetable is 28 ° C during the day and 15 ° C at night.
At lower rates, the growth of eggplants and the process of fruit set are slowed down.
If the air temperature exceeds 30 ° C, growth and pollination stop completely.
With sharp drops, eggplant drops buds and ovaries.
Optimal conditions are maintained as follows:
- In dry summers, to protect the greenhouse from overheating, it is covered with white material or dyed with slaked lime. This is how the sun's rays are reflected from the surface.
- The paths between plantings are watered with cold water 2 times a day. This helps to lower the temperature inside.
Raise the temperature in one of the following ways:
- Laying hot stones or bricks inside the structure.
- Leave a bucket filled with hot wood ash.
- Plastic bottles with hot water are laid out.
Tillage
It consists in timely loosening and hilling. This prevents the formation of a dry crust after watering, which prevents oxygen from reaching the root system. If the plant lacks air, the roots develop slowly, the growth of the culture also slows down.
Loosening is carried out after each watering. The procedure is carried out going deeper by 10-15 cm.
During this event, hilling is carried out, pouring soil to the trunk of the plant. And remove all the weeds.
Formation
Tall eggplants with medium and late ripening need forming.
When a plant is formed into one stem, remove:
- side shoots;
- coming from the ground;
- growing from the leaf sinuses.
If in two stems, do this:
- pinch the top of the head 30 cm from the ground;
- 3 pairs of buds are left on the side shoots.
The lower leaves of the plants are periodically cut off. They thicken the planting, interfering with airing. This can lead to the development of infectious diseases. With high humidity - fungal diseases.
Diseased leaves, wilted leaves, shoots without ovaries are removed in a timely manner.
Fertilization
For successful fruiting, eggplants need timely feeding.
They are carried out according to the following scheme:
- The first - 14 days after planting seedlings in the ground. Ready-made complex formulations are used. For example, "Solution", diluted according to the instructions.
- The second - during the budding period. You will need products containing potassium and phosphorus.
- The third - during the appearance of the first fruits. Fertilizers containing trace elements are used.
Diseases and pests
With high humidity and stagnant air in the greenhouse, eggplants are subject to diseases such as:
- gray rot;
- fusarium.
To avoid this, plantings are regularly ventilated.
At the first signs of a disease, plants are treated with fungicides ("Fitosporin" or "Sporobacterin").
Observing all the measures, it will not be difficult to grow eggplants and get a rich harvest. Even in the northern and middle regions.
Do you like to grow eggplants?
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