Salamander eggplant belongs to a group of varieties bred for cultivation in Siberia. The description of the variety contains the word "heat-resistant", which, at first glance, does not correspond to the region in which the cultivation of this eggplant variety is recommended. But we must remember that in summer in Yakutia there are temperatures up to + 40 degrees. And in the south of Siberia it is much warmer than in its northern part.
Description
It is a high-yielding, mid-early variety. A bush of medium height, closed. The plant enters the fruiting period in three months from the day of sowing the seeds. The variety is grown in greenhouses and outdoors. Begins to branch early, with a lot of side shoots. The yield of the variety is from seven and a half to ten kilograms per square meter.
Eggplant is medium in size. Weight up to two hundred grams. Length from fourteen to seventeen centimeters. The shape is cylindrical. The eggplants are dark purple with a glossy surface. On the calyx, the thorns are either completely absent or very rare. The pulp is not bitter, white, dense in consistency... Perfect for preserving and home cooking.
Agrotechnics
This eggplant variety loves loamy and sandy loamy soils with a lot of organic matter. It is better to plant eggplants after crops such as legumes, carrots, pumpkin, onions, melons and gourds. They are planted in a permanent place with seedlings previously germinated at home.
They are planted in a permanent place at the age of fifty-five days after a steady onset of warm weather. Density of seedlings per square meter up to five plants. During the growing season, it is necessary to loosen the soil and feed the eggplants with mineral fertilizers. Weeds are deleted without fail.
Official recommendation: in the northern and central regions of the Russian Federation, this variety of eggplants can only be grown in shelters: hotbeds, greenhouses. You can temporarily cover the beds with plastic wrap.
Unofficial recipe from Siberian eggplant growers
Eggplant is a southern vegetable, so it is usually recommended to grow it in greenhouses in Siberia. But Siberian gardeners complain that eggplant drives green mass in greenhouses instead of tying fruits. Like any other plant, eggplant begins to bear fruit "before death." After all, while it is warm, light and there is water, it makes no sense to leave offspring. You can live for your pleasure. As soon as conditions unfavorable for life come, the plant turns on the program of generating a new generation. For this reason, today Siberian gardeners are beginning to "drive" eggplants from greenhouses, growing them in the open field.
Eggplant is not afraid of cold air as much as cooling winds and drafts. For planting seedlings, you need to choose a place protected from strong winds.
You can plant them between berry bushes. It is better to prepare in advance a place for planting in the fall by abundantly mulching the beds. For mulch, you need to use fresh bedding manure.
Fresh goat or horse bedding is best. In extreme cases, cow. This mulch also eliminates the need for nitrogen fertilization. Plants get nitrogen from mulch.
Mulch is a good alternative to plastic wrap, under which excess moisture is created and favorable conditions for the development of fungal diseases. This filmless cultivation method under mulch inhibits the development of late blight. Fungi develop on the border of air and land. Mulch blocks their development. But the lower leaves of the eggplant bushes need to be cut off. Eggplant stems should be ventilated. You do not need to thicken the planting too much. Five plants per square meter is the maximum number for a variety.
Protects mulch and weeds.
Seedlings are grown at home. Seeds for seedlings are sown in mid-March, dive in mid-April. In June, with the onset of warm days, plants are planted directly into last year's mulch.
Move the mulch apart, place the sprout there and move the mulch again. After planting, water gently. Overcooking, the mulch will generate heat, warming the young eggplants.
The need for eggplant for further watering depends on the weather. With a rainy summer, there is no need for watering at all. When grown in an open bed, the plant does not need to be pinned.
Reviews about this variety are unanimous. Having bought varietal seeds last year, gardeners are going to buy them this year. Gardeners are more than satisfied with the yield and taste of the variety.