Good afternoon, my reader. Not many summer residents dare to grow eggplants in temperate climates. And in vain, a thermophilic culture can be cultivated in our latitudes. Of course, a capricious plant will need careful care. But, if you follow the recommendations of experts, then everything will definitely work out.
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Sowing dates of eggplants for seedlings
The sowing period of a thermophilic plant depends on the climatic conditions of the region of residence. In the southern regions of the country (Crimea and the North Caucasus), this event is held in the third decade of January. In the Volga region, seedlings are sown in the first decade of March. In the middle lane and in the Urals - in the second, and in Siberia and the Far East - in the third decade of March.
Seed and soil preparation
The health of the seedlings and, accordingly, the future eggplant harvest depends on the quality of the seeds. Before planting the plant, it is recommended to check the seed for germination.
For this, a tablespoon of salt is dissolved in 1 liter of warm water and seeds are placed in this solution. In this case, the seed that sank to the bottom is considered to be of high quality. And the one that remained on the surface of the liquid is culling.
To accelerate the germination and vegetation of a heat-loving culture, the seeds are treated with any growth stimulant:
- "Zircon";
- Energen Aqua;
- Ecosil;
- "Immunocytophyte";
- Heteroauxin;
- "Epin" and others.
These substances are used according to the instructions attached to them.
Fans of "old-fashioned methods" can use aloe juice instead of a stimulant. To do this, the leaves of the plant are placed in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours. Then the eggplant seeds are wrapped in a piece of clean cotton cloth (gauze), abundantly moistened with aloe juice. After 24 hours, the inoculum is washed and slightly dried.
The nightshade culture will germinate faster if its seeds are kept for another 3-4 days in gauze (napkin) moistened with water. In this case, the air temperature should be at least 22-25 ° C. As soon as the seeds swell, they begin to be planted in common containers or separate containers (plastic glasses, peat pots).
Sowing soil can be purchased at a flower shop or prepared with your own hands. For this, the following are suitable:
- sod soil - 1 part;
- bottom peat - 2 hours;
- leaf humus - 2 hours;
- wood ash - 0.5 tsp;
To disinfect the soil mixture, it is doused with boiling water or treated with a strong (saturated) solution of potassium permanganate. This procedure will protect plants from possible fungal diseases.
The correct sowing of seeds is a guarantee of success
Eggplants do not tolerate transplanting (picking) well. Therefore, it is better to sow them immediately in separate containers with a size of at least 0.25 liters. 2-3 seeds are placed in each pot to a depth of 0.8-1 cm and sprinkled with a small layer of soil. After 1.5-2 weeks, the first shoots appear.
To stimulate the germination process, the containers are covered with glass or plastic. This shelter is removed when the first shoots appear. When the seedlings grow up a little, they begin to thin out. The best specimen is left in each container, and all the rest are carefully removed.
The grown seedlings are planted in a permanent place after warm weather sets in. In the south of the country, this is done in early April, in the Volga and Chernozem regions - from mid-May. And in the Urals, the Far East and Siberia - in early June.
Despite the fact that among summer residents, eggplants are considered a capricious plant, it can be quite successfully grown in the vastness of our country. Strong, healthy seedlings will be the key to a future harvest.
Do you know the secrets of growing eggplant by seedling method?
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