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Low-growing eggplant varieties are an ideal choice for those who want to grow this crop for the first time in their garden or greenhouse. The advantages of planting these eggplants are that the plant forms on its own, does not require pinching and tying, and it is many times easier to care for it than for ordinary varietal ones.
Choosing a low-growing variety
The selection criteria for seeds of low-growing eggplant varieties are not much different from the selection of conventional ones. The first thing to determine is whether the plant will be grown outdoors or in greenhouse conditions. The choice in favor of varieties that are resistant to temperature extremes, various diseases in open soil conditions, or, conversely, thermophilic plants adapted to artificial lighting, depends on this.
On the shelves of shops and agricultural markets, you can see seeds of low-growing eggplant with some marks on the package. Basically, they characterize the growing conditions and resistance to the most common diseases.
Meaning of symbols on eggplant seed packages:
- V - resistance to verticillary wilt;
- C - resistance to padosporiosis;
- TT - high resistance to the tobacco mosaic virus;
- N - resistance to nematode damage;
- D - prevention against fusarium wilting
- P - resistance to late blight.
Most often, not one, but several symbols are written on the package with seeds of low-growing eggplant hybrids. This suggests that the variety was bred by breeders with increased resistance to viruses and infections characteristic of a particular region. Also, on the package, it must be indicated that the eggplant variety is determinant (limited in growth).
Today there are many varieties and hybrids of low-growing eggplant. Complete information about the variety and advice from an experienced gardener will help you choose the variety that suits you.
Growing and care
If you grow eggplant seedlings from seed at home, pay attention to the fact that low-growing varieties sprout without picking within one and a half months, and those requiring picking - up to two months. When planting seeds, be sure to take this fact into account so as not to overexpose the seedlings in greenhouse conditions and transplant them into the soil in time.
Seedling care
Eggplant is one of the plants that does not tolerate transplanting well, therefore, seedlings must be grown in special planting peat pots. Low-growing varieties of eggplant sprout well at a temperature of 23-250C. As soon as the sprouts have appeared above the surface of the soil, the temperature is lowered to 19-200C, and the seedlings are kept in this mode for 2-3 days. After that, the temperature is raised again to 23-250FROM.
Two to three days before transplanting undersized eggplant in open ground, the seedlings are adapted to direct sunlight. To do this, planting containers with seedlings are daily taken out into the open sun, gradually increasing the hardening time from 15 minutes to 1 hour.
Landing in open ground
Low-growing varieties of eggplant are planted in open ground according to the following scheme:
- On the site, equip even beds with planting grooves and holes for eggplant;
- The distance between the beds should not be less than 50 cm;
- The distance between the holes is within 25-35 cm.
Before planting the seedlings, the holes are poured abundantly with warm, settled water, then the eggplants are dipped in them and sprinkled with a dry substrate. The next watering is carried out only for 2-3 days. This method will enable the undersized varieties to take root well.
Top dressing
For the first time, fertilization is applied to the soil 2-3 weeks after planting the seedlings, and then feeding is repeated every 3 weeks. Previously, fertilization is not recommended, since eggplant is a culture with weak roots and is not able to absorb large amounts of nutrients in the early stages of development. For the entire period of growth of undersized eggplant, it is necessary to make at least 5 dressings.
After the undersized eggplants begin to bear fruit, it is recommended to introduce a fertilizing containing nitrogen-phosphate elements. To do this, dilute 1 teaspoon of ammonium nitrate and 1 tablespoon of superphosphate in 10 liters of warm water. Fertilizer is introduced into the soil with care, since phosphate fertilization actively affects the growth of the leaf and stem, but not the fruit itself.
From natural fertilizers for feeding low-growing eggplants, gardeners use the drug "Biud", one of the components of which is the mullein. It is necessary to dilute the product in compliance with the proportions indicated in the instructions. Today "Biud" is considered the best organic fertilizer for stimulating fruit growth.
In the process of growth, mineral, nitrogen and organic fertilizers must be alternated, and during the period of fruit ripening, add a little ash to the soil.
The best varieties of low-growing eggplant
It is possible to grow a rich and high-quality eggplant harvest only if you have chosen the right variety, with the appropriate ripening dates and resistance to possible temperature extremes in your region. We remind you that the F1 symbol in the name of the variety indicates that it was bred by breeders by crossing two plants with a pronounced strong immunity.
Alekseevsky
The variety belongs to early maturing eggplants with increased productivity. Suitable for planting and growing both in greenhouses and hotbeds, and in the open field.
Full-ripe eggplants appear on the bush after 3-3.5 months from the day of the first germination of seedlings. The bushes of the plant during the period of full growth do not exceed a height of 50-60 cm. The fruits have an even cylindrical shape, the skin is smooth and shiny with a dark purple color, and the flesh has a dense white structure. The average weight of one fruit during the ripening period is 140-160g.
Albatross
The plant belongs to the mid-season category. Full ripening of fruits occurs 110-120 days after the seedlings emerge. The bush does not exceed 55-60 cm in height.
Eggplant has a light purple skin and white flesh. The average weight of one fruit during the period of full ripening can reach 350-400 grams.
Diamond
The peculiarities of this undersized variety include extraordinary fertility. From one bush, which rarely grows above 50 cm, up to 8-10 kg of vegetables are removed during the season.
Full ripe fruit weight - 150-170 gr. Novice gardeners planting "Almaz" in greenhouses and on open ground, note another unusual feature - all eggplants are "hidden" under the dense green foliage of the plant.
Bull heart F1
This hybrid belongs to the group of mid-season fruitful eggplants. Vegetation begins in the third month after transplanting seedlings into open ground. In a greenhouse climate, the first ripening is noted after 2-2.5 months. Features of the variety - strong and powerful bushes, up to 70 cm high. Eggplant fruits have a rounded, slightly elongated shape. The average weight of the fruit during ripening reaches 400-450 grams.The skin is shiny, smooth, dark purple in color. Typical flavoring features - eggplant is practically devoid of the bitterness inherent in this culture.
Bourgeois F1
The plant belongs to early maturing varieties of undersized hybrids. It is grown both in greenhouses and greenhouses, and in the open field. Of all the varieties, this is the highest - the bushes stretch up to 75-80 cm. The average weight of a full-ripe fruit is 500 grams. The color of eggplants is smooth, dark purple in some cases close to black. Bourgeois is one of those varieties that have excellent transport data. Even with long-term transportation, they do not lose their presentation.
Black Moon F1
This hybrid was created by breeders specifically for growing outdoors. The ovary can appear even when the temperature drops to 13-150C. Bushes reach a height of 65-70 cm. The first fruits ripen in the 3rd month after seedling emergence. Eggplants are small in size and have a slightly refined cylindrical shape. Fruit weight during full ripening is 200-250 grams.
And finally, the best eggplant from the stunted variety
Super-Yielding Robin Hood Hybrid
The plant is completely resistant to any extremes of temperature and humidity. It does not require regular additional dressings, and at the same time the growing season begins already at 70-80 days from the first shoots.
The bush reaches a height of 80-90 cm. The average fruit weight is 250-300 cm, the color is light lilac. Another important feature of the variety is that when planting, the bushes can be compacted up to 5 pcs per 1m2, which is important in small suburban areas.
Conclusion
Low-growing eggplants, which appeared in our gardens relatively recently, are quickly gaining popularity among gardeners. New varieties of hybrids appear on the shelves, bred and adapted for planting in central Russia. When buying seeds for seedlings, be sure to pay attention to the plant care instructions. Often, the manufacturer supplies the planting material for sale that has already been pretreated and disinfected.
The video provides interesting information and tips for growing undersized varieties of eggplant.
