Eggplant is a heat-loving crop. To grow strong plants and get a good harvest, it is important to follow the rules of agricultural technology. However, especially among inexperienced gardeners, it happens that eggplant leaves begin to wither. Now I will tell you why this happens and how to deal with it.
Why do eggplant leaves turn yellow?
Most often this happens for the following reasons:
- Wrong lighting.
- Acidic soil.
- Sharp fluctuations between day and night temperatures.
- The appearance of diseases.
- Seedling wilting after transplanting.
Let's look at each situation in more detail.
Wrong lighting
Eggplants prefer well-lit sunny areas. However, direct midday rays are best avoided, as they can cause burns to the plant, the leaves will begin to turn yellow and wither.
I recommend choosing places for culture that are in the shade at noon, and under the sun in the morning and evening. Then the plant will have enough light, it will grow healthy and give a high yield.
acidified soil
Eggplant grows well in soil with a neutral acidity index. Soil acidification occurs due to prolonged stagnation of moisture. This is often the cause of wilting bushes.
To avoid such a situation, I advise you to periodically loosen the soil and add a small amount of dolomite flour under each plant. Such an event not only reduces acidity, but also prevents the appearance and spread of rot and mold.
Sudden temperature changes
This factor most often affects seedlings that are transplanted too early into the ground. With large differences, more than 2 ° C, the plants wither, and with return frosts, especially prolonged ones, they die.
I recommend planting seedlings only when the air warms up to 15 ° C during the day. If there is a threat of frost, eggplants, even in a greenhouse, I cover with agrofibre.
The emergence and development of diseases
Yellowing and fading leaves can also indicate the appearance of diseases. Most often, eggplants are exposed to such as
- Verticillium wilt. Occurs as a result of an excess of nitrogen fertilizer in the soil. Leaf wilting starts at the edges and gradually moves towards the center.
- Fusarium. Leaves turn yellow, dry and die. The disease spreads rapidly throughout the plant and can spread to neighboring ones. There may be several reasons for which it occurs: high humidity, contaminated soil, increased soil acidity, temperatures over 25 ° C.
At the first signs of the disease, I recommend starting treatment immediately:
- Trim the affected areas with a sharp, disinfected instrument.
- Treat the landing with Bordeaux liquid 3%. Repeat the procedure after 10-12 days.
If the microclimate is observed, the risk of diseases is reduced.
Wilting seedlings immediately after transplanting
If the seedlings turned yellow immediately after transplanting to a permanent place, this means that the plant is under stress. The following will help you avoid this situation:
- I transplant seedlings in cloudy weather.
- 21 days before the event, young plants are hardened by placing them outdoors for a while. I increase the interval each time.
Withering eggplant in the greenhouse
Indoors, plants turn yellow and wither leaves for several reasons:
- Increased humidity. The optimal indicator is no more than 80%. Otherwise, I recommend organizing ventilation by opening the door on one side and the window on the other.
- Overmoistening of the soil. Eggplants prefer regular watering, but stagnation of moisture at the roots is detrimental to them. I water once every 3 days.
- Lack of oxygen. In closed ground, this situation is quite possible. Then I also organize airing.
So, the appearance of yellow leaves in eggplant indicates a violation of the rules of agricultural technology or the appearance of a disease. It is important to identify the cause and eliminate it in a timely manner.
Have you experienced the decline of this culture? Tell us in the comments about the reasons for its appearance.
Read also: Eggplants do not turn blue, but turn green. Main causes and features
Another related article: Gymnospermous pumpkin: description. My recommendations for growing and further care of the plant
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