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Eggplant is traditionally considered a southern vegetable that loves a warm climate. But through the efforts of breeders, this plant has become universal - now it can be planted not only in the south, but also in central Russia. The seeds of the hybrids undergo a special hardening, they are perfectly prepared for the "surprises" of the weather and various diseases. Varietal crops are weaker and require warmth, frequent watering and protection from disease.
To determine the best varieties of eggplant and figure out which seeds are preferable to buy, you need to familiarize yourself with all types of these mysterious plants and read reviews of experienced gardeners.
What are the modern "blue"
Before buying eggplant seeds, you need to decide where they will be planted, for what purposes they will be used, and answer a few more important questions. Generally, varieties eggplants are divided according to these criteria:
- Ripening terms: early ripening, mid-ripening and late varieties. In addition to them, the early ripening subspecies is separately distinguished - these are vegetables that ripen in an extremely short time. The date of planting of seeds depends on the timing of ripening.
- Growing method: heated greenhouse, greenhouse, open ground.
- Yield - the number of fruits harvested from one square meter of soil.
- Sustainability - to diseases, temperature extremes, transplantation and other unfavorable conditions.
- Fruit type... This category includes the color of the eggplants, their size, weight, shape, taste.
- Type of bushes... For example, undersized, but branched varieties are more suitable for outdoor cultivation. They do not need to be tied up, they are not afraid of the wind, and quite a decent harvest can be harvested from the side branches. For greenhouses, you can buy seeds of tall varieties - they are very productive.
- Varieties or hybrids... Like all vegetable crops, eggplants are divided into varietal and hybrid ones.
More recently, in Russia, they did not know about the existence of any other types of eggplants, except for the purple fruits of an oblong shape, which have a bitter taste. Modern varieties and hybrids are so diverse that it is almost impossible to choose the best varieties of eggplant. At least in each of the listed categories there are favorites, it is worth talking about them in more detail.
Greenhouse varieties
For high yields, eggplants are best grown in a heifer or greenhouse. Still, this way you can get the earliest vegetables and more effectively protect plants from diseases and rot.
A heat-loving vegetable in a greenhouse feels much more comfortable. Indoors, early maturing and medium varieties and hybrids are often grown. It is better for beginners to prefer seeds of low-growing eggplants, they do not need to be tied up and formed into bushes. Experienced gardeners can choose taller varieties that need to be able to pinch and tie.
"Bagheera"
This variety does not require a lot of space - the seeds can be planted in small greenhouses, choosing shallow containers for the substrate. Eggplant bushes "Bagheera" are low, compact, have dense foliage.
The fruits are oval, dark purple in color and have a glossy rind. The eggplants of this variety do not taste at all bitter, they have a delicate flesh. The fruits are suitable for sale and transportation as they have a long shelf life. The mass of one vegetable reaches 330 grams, and the yield is up to 12 kg per square meter. Another plus of the Bagheera variety is its resistance to most diseases characteristic of this culture.
"Baikal F1"
The representative of hybrids is excellent for growing indoors. The shrubs of the plant reach a height of 1.2 meters and give good yields (up to 8 kgm²). Ripe fruits are dark purple in color and pear-shaped, their surface is glossy.
The eggplant pulp has a greenish tint and a slightly increased density. This variety is excellent for canning, pickling and cooking. Especially tasty eggplant caviar "Baikal F1".
The hybrid is absolutely unpretentious - the plant does not require special care, except for watering and feeding, the vegetable does not need anything. In addition, eggplant is disease resistant and has a medium ripening time (about 110 days).
"Fabina F1"
The hybrid belongs to the ultra-early, so it is perfect for growing in a heated greenhouse or greenhouse. The plant grows medium in height, the bushes are semi-spreading. Fruits are medium-sized (180-210 grams) and dark purple in color, with a glossy sheen.
The pulp of this variety has a mild mushroom taste and aroma, which allows you to cook interesting dishes from eggplants, including those according to foreign recipes.
Vegetables are distinguished by good keeping quality, they tolerate transportation very well, therefore they can be successfully grown for sale. The plant is resistant to the most dangerous diseases of eggplants - spider mites and verticilliosis. The yield of the hybrid reaches 7 kg per square meter, and ripening occurs already on the 70th day after planting.
Open field eggplants
Numerous reviews of experienced gardeners indicate that eggplants can be successfully grown outdoors. For good yields, it is necessary to choose varieties that are resistant to temperature fluctuations and diseases.
Therefore, it is better to prefer, albeit less productive, but more early ripening varieties with short ripening periods. An important factor when choosing seeds for the soil is the spreading of the bushes, many ovaries appear on the side branches, which increases the yield. And the bushes should be small in height - up to 65 cm.
"Gribovsky"
One of the early maturing varieties is the open field eggplant "Gribovsky". It is famous for its excellent taste - the flesh of the vegetable is white, without bitterness, with a rich eggplant aroma. The first fruits can be obtained already on the 100th day after planting the seeds in the ground.
The eggplants of this variety are slightly pear-shaped and have a traditional dark purple hue. Bushes, as needed, of medium height and good spreading. A nuance of this species is considered to be thin twigs - ripe vegetables must be plucked without delay, otherwise they can break the shoots.
"Globular"
One of the most interesting varieties is the "Spherical" eggplant. It is large in size and round in shape. The mass of vegetables of this variety reaches 350-400 grams. Fruits are excellent for stuffing, have a firm pulp, and therefore require heat treatment. But the vegetable does not taste bitter at all and tolerates transportation very well.
The bushes of this eggplant branch strongly, but in order for the ovary to appear on them, the shoots must be regularly pinned.
"Simferopolsky"
Mid-season varieties are no less in demand for planting in open ground, one of which is the Simferopolsky eggplant.The first vegetables of this variety can be obtained on the 125th day after planting.
The shape of the fruit largely depends on the climatic characteristics of the region and the type of soil; eggplants can be oval or cylindrical. Ripe eggplants stand out clearly against the background of bright green foliage, they have a lilac hue, and their skin shines glossy in the sun.
The Simferopolsky variety is considered the most productive of the existing mid-season eggplants.
Harvest varieties
Yield is a very important factor for any owner. After all, it depends on this how many fruits will be obtained from the bush, and whether they will be enough for the needs of the family. It is believed that hybrids have the highest yields. But there are also several varieties that produce large and frequent fruits.
Sancho Panza
One of the most productive varieties is the mid-season “Sancho Panza”. These eggplant needs to be planted seedlings, not seeds. They are equally good for heated, conventional greenhouses and open ground.
Vegetables grow very large - up to 700 grams, and are spherical in shape. One such eggplant will be enough to feed an entire family. Canned fruits of this variety are especially tasty; after processing, the pulp retains excellent taste and aroma.
"Annette F1"
The worldwide known hybrid "Annette F1" has the highest yield. A feature of this eggplant is the continuous creation of ovaries - the fruits can be harvested until the first frost.
The hybrid belongs to the mid-season, so it should not be planted in open ground too early. Although Annette F1 eggplant is quite resistant to various diseases and even to some insects.
Vegetables grow large, their weight often reaches 400 grams, the color is standard - dark purple with a tint. For high yields, the hybrid needs proper care and constant watering.
"Bibo F1"
A hybrid with a funny name bears unusual fruits - an elongated oval shape and completely white in color. The size of eggplants is small - 200-230 grams, but they are tied in bunches, which allows you to get fairly high yields. The bushes do not grow low, often their height reaches 90 cm, so they need to be tied up.
The pulp of Bibo F1 eggplants is tender, without bitterness. Vegetables are great for preparing various dishes and salads, as well as for canning.
Fancy eggplant
Selection does not stand still, so today you can find not only the usual purple eggplants. They are white, red, green, yellow and even striped. All this casts doubt on the usual name of this vegetable - to call it "blue" now just won't turn your tongue.
These exotic shades are created not only to please the eye. Each of the multi-colored varieties has its own unique taste, which allows you to use vegetables for a variety of dishes and come up with new ones.
The most common after purple are considered varieties of white eggplants... They are perfectly acclimatized to local weather conditions, and are often found in the markets and gardens of the country.
"Taste of mushrooms"
An unusual variety was bred by domestic breeders and called it "The Taste of Mushrooms". This name is directly related to the taste characteristics of the vegetable, because when you eat it, it seems that it is champignons.
The pulp of this variety, like all white eggplants, has no seeds, it is very delicate and aromatic. The tenderness of eggplant does not prevent it from being one of the most “sedate” varieties, perfect for transportation and storage.
The fruits grow medium in size - 200-250 grams and have a milky white hue.
You can plant eggplants "Taste of Mushrooms" both in the greenhouse and in the open ground. The first fruits will appear already on the 95-100th day after planting, which puts the variety in the rank of early ripening.
"Icicle"
Another reason for the pride of Russian breeders is the Icicle eggplant. It belongs to the mid-season, and therefore is suitable for greenhouses and open garden plots.The first vegetables appear on the 110-116th day after sowing the seeds.
Vegetables have the shape of an icicle - elongated and oblong, and their color is snow-white.
The taste characteristics of this unusual eggplant are excellent, it is perfectly cooked, pickled and canned.
"Pink flamingo"
An unusual variety of lilac eggplant - "Pink Flamingo". The plant belongs to medium early and very tall. The length of its stem often reaches 180 cm. The ovaries are formed in bunches, each of which grows 3-5 eggplants.
The advantage of the variety is its exotic appearance - the fruits of its elongated shape, have a bright pink-lilac hue. Their flesh is white, without bitterness and seeds. The weight of one fruit can reach 400 grams.
"Emerald"
One of the most unusual shades for ripe eggplant is green. This is the color of the "Emerald" vegetable. It is considered to be early maturing, grown both in the greenhouse and in the open field.
The bushes of this variety are small, cold-resistant. The fruits grow in a cylindrical shape, their weight reaches 450 grams. The pulp is white with a creamy shade, has absolutely no bitterness.
The indisputable advantage of the Emerald variety is its high yield.
What seeds to choose after all
Absolutely all existing varieties and hybrids of eggplant have their own strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, it is impossible to answer unequivocally which of them are the best. In order not to be disappointed in the summer, already in the winter you need to understand why vegetables will be grown, where they can be planted and what kind of care can be provided.
It does not matter what varieties or hybrids the owner chooses for planting in the end, it is more important how he will grow them.
