The birthplace of eggplant is India. This is a herbaceous heat-loving plant, the fruits of which have an elongated shape and purple color. In harsh climatic conditions, this representative of the flora is bred in seedlings, and then transplanted into a greenhouse. How to grow eggplant and get a great harvest will be discussed in this article. Not every gardener can successfully cultivate this crop. People call these vegetables "blue".
How to grow eggplant: seedlings
With the right approach, growing this vegetable is not at all difficult. For seedlings, seeds are sown in early February. Before doing this, they are checked for quality and germination. About a month before sowing, the seeds are placed in cloth bags and dipped in warm water for a day. Then they take it out, put it in a saucer and put it in a warm room. The bag is constantly moistened, trying to prevent it from drying out. After 5 days, sprouts should hatch. This will determine the most promising specimens (out of 10 seeds, asusually only half germinate). Many gardeners are interested in the question of how to grow eggplant in order to protect them from pests and diseases? Before planting, you must first soak the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes (for disinfection), and then rinse them with water. Next, you need to put the seeds in a cloth bag and lower them into a warm nutrient solution for one day. After that, the seeds are laid out on a plate and allowed to germinate even more. The soil for eggplant seedlings should consist of one part of soddy land and two parts of humus. Nutrient soil is poured into the box, seeds are sown. As soon as 2-3 leaves appear on the shoots, it is necessary to transplant them into peat cups. Seedlings should be regularly watered with warm water and protected from drafts. She will be ready for planting in the ground in 2 months.
How to grow an eggplant: planting in a greenhouse and care
The beds should be made from rich organic soil. Eggplants are planted in a greenhouse according to the 4050 pattern. After planting in the greenhouse for three days, the plant must be shaded and watered daily. In further care, you need to create a favorable atmosphere for the good development of the plant. To do this, water the plant only in the morning, immediately after watering the soil is loosened. Be sure to ventilate the greenhouse every day. This procedure allows you to protect eggplant from fungal diseases. Growing this crop in the country implies regular feeding. The first time it is done 20 days after planting. For the whole season it is necessary to feed the plants notless than 4 times. During the period of fruit formation, eggplants should be watered abundantly.
Useful properties
Eggplant is a low-calorie vegetable. It contains various vitamins, carotene and minerals: magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, etc. The fruits of the plant are very useful for the elderly. They are good to use as a preventive measure for atherosclerosis, heart disease and gastrointestinal diseases.
Varieties
The most famous varieties are such as Diamond, Black Beauty, Albatross, Purple Miracle and others. They have different characteristics and yield indicators. For example, the Almaz eggplant is a compact low bush 45-55 cm. It is a productive and early ripe variety. The fruits form at the bottom of the plant.
