Eggplant is a herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae species. The fruits are eaten, which are a rich source of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Thanks to its beneficial properties and excellent taste, eggplants are grown by many gardeners.
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There is an opinion that the vegetable is capricious in cultivation. This is not so - with proper care of the seedlings, the culture will delight you with a rich harvest of delicious eggplants.
After reading this article, you will learn about the rules for choosing and planting seeds, dressing, temperature, watering and many other features of growing healthy eggplant seedlings.
Choosing seeds and preparing them for sowing
The basis for obtaining a good harvest of any crop is the selection of quality seeds. They should be purchased from trusted suppliers or in specialized stores.
When choosing planting material, give preference to 1st generation hybrids - they differ highly resistant to bad climatic conditions and less susceptible to disease and attacks pests.
Before planting, for better germination of seedlings, it is necessary to carry out the following stages of seed preparation:
- Step 1 - heating the seeds. Dry roasting in the oven for several hours at a temperature of about 50 ° C is considered the fastest and most effective. Pay attention not to unnecessarily overheat the planting material - this will negatively affect its germination.
In order for the result of warming up the seeds to be guaranteed positive, use the "soft warm-up" method: seeds in advance (2.5-3 months before planting) should be provided with a favorable temperature regime (about 28-30 ° C).
- Stage 2 - seed treatment. The planting material must be held for half an hour in a medium concentrated solution of potassium permanganate or in a 10% hydrogen peroxide solution.
- Stage 3 - hardening of seeds. Wrap the eggplant seeds in a damp cloth for 17-20 hours and leave in a warm room. Then transfer them to a cool place. After 8 hours, the planting material should again be provided with a warm temperature regime. Repeat this procedure for 6-8 days.
- Stage 4 - seed soaking. A few days before planting, place the planting material in a container, fill it with water. Dry the seeds well after the procedure.
Experienced gardeners are advised to soak the seeds in rain or melt water.
Determine the sowing time
Usually, sowing of planting material in greenhouses is carried out in late February - early March. When disembarking directly into open ground - in mid-March.
When determining the timing of sowing seeds, it is necessary to understand that from the moment of this process to transfer them to the ground, about 60-70 days should pass.
It is important to take into account the climatic conditions of a particular region, the agrotechnical characteristics of the plant variety, the readiness of the greenhouses to receive "tenants", etc.
Preparing the soil mixture
The substrate is disinfected before planting eggplant seeds in it. This can be done by pouring boiling water over it or by igniting it in the oven for several hours at medium temperatures.
It is recommended to purchase potting soil at specialized points of sale, but you can also prepare it yourself. Here's one tried and tested recipe - combine superphosphate (1 part), mullein (1 part), potassium salt (1 part), humus (8 parts), and turf (2 parts).
If you decide to use land from the garden for planting, keep in mind that cabbage and cucumbers are the best predecessors for eggplant. Take advantage of the land that previously grew these vegetables.
Ways of growing eggplant seedlings
Shoots appear 2 weeks after sowing the seeds. It is possible to grow them in two ways: with a pick and without a pick of seedlings. Let's consider each of them.
Growing with a pick
After pecking the first leaf, you should carefully, so as not to damage the delicate roots, remove the young seedling along with a lump of earth and transplant it into a separate peat pot.
Since the shoots of a young plant are fragile, it is undesirable to expose them to long-term exposure to sunlight, they should be periodically rearranged in a shaded place. If, on the contrary, the weather is cloudy, it is necessary to highlight the seedlings with a fluorescent lamp.
It is recommended to gradually harden young plants by exposing them to the street, subject to a favorable temperature regime.
When there are at least 6 leaves on the eggplant shoots, and their height is at least 20 cm, you can start planting plants in the ground.
Growing without picking
In order not to expose the weak root system of eggplants to injury during their further transplantation, it is recommended to sow seeds (2-3 pieces) directly into separate pots. After the emergence of shoots, the shoots must be pinched, in the future, choose one of the most healthy and strong.
We provide proper care for seedlings
Caring for the culture is quite simple: it is necessary to maintain the conditions necessary for its growth and observe the temperature regime.
After sprouting, keep the temperature between 15-16 ° C to maintain the root system for 1-2 weeks. Further, to adapt the plant, gradually increase it in the daytime and lower it at night.
It is necessary to adhere to the correct watering regime for the crop, avoiding dryness or waterlogging of the soil.
Water the sprouts of a young plant abundantly with water at room temperature once a week. Do this regularly.
We feed the plants
In order for the seedlings to grow well, it is necessary to support the immature plant with top dressing.
Usually two procedures are performed per season. The first feeding is applied 7-12 days after the emergence of shoots. The second procedure is needed to stimulate the growth and vegetation of the crop. As a fertilizer, you can use potassium nitrate (30 g), diluted in 10 liters of water, or prepare a solution of 3 tbsp. l. superphosphate, 1 tsp l. ammonium nitrate, 3 tsp l. potassium sulfate and 10 liters of water.
In order not to burn the roots of the culture, water the eggplant seedlings abundantly.
We plant seedlings in the ground
If the stems of eggplants are stretched and strengthened, their height is at least 20-25 cm, there are formed by 8-11 large leaves and several buds, the culture is ready for planting in a permanent place habitat.
In order to prevent fungal diseases 12-14 days before planting, the plants are sprayed with a solution of copper sulfate 0.5%. At about the same time, the seedlings begin to harden, gradually accustoming them to lowering the temperature regime.
Planting seedlings in greenhouses should be carried out not earlier than mid-May, and in open ground - in early-mid June.
To avoid plant death, make sure that a constant favorable temperature regime is established. Only after that carry out the transfer of eggplant seedlings to a permanent place of residence.
We hope that the above requirements and tips for growing eggplant seedlings will help you provide the culture with the right conditions and get a rich harvest of tasty and healthy vegetables.
Do you grow eggplant seedlings at home?
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