Eggplant variety "Almaz" can rightfully be considered the most popular for cultivation not only in Russia, but also in the regions of Ukraine and Moldova. As a rule, it is planted in closed ground, for which it is intended. Among the seeds in the store, it is "Almaz" that is chosen most often, and on many websites of agricultural firms it is presented as the best-selling product for many years. We will characterize the variety, describe its advantages and disadvantages, show real photos of the harvest.
Short description
Almaz is an eggplant variety, which means that the seeds of overripe fruits can be harvested and planted again.
Outwardly, it looks standard, the fruits are medium in size, elongated, dark in color. The fruit is sometimes referred to as a black diamond. The variety is considered medium early, the yield period largely depends on the region of growth and cultivation. Below is a table describing the variety. The characteristic allows you to decide in advance on the choice.
Table
Description of characteristics | Description |
|---|---|
Ripening period | Mid-season variety, 110-150 days from the moment of emergence of the first shoots to technical maturity. |
Taste and commercial qualities | Excellent, long-term storage, excellent transport from place to place, used as a universal product. |
Resistance to viruses and diseases | Resistant to cucumber and tobacco mosaic virus, pillar and wilting. |
Fruit size | The length is 15-17 centimeters, the weight of the fruit ranges from 100 to 180 grams. |
Fruit and pulp color | The fruit is dark purple, almost black, the flesh is slightly greenish. |
Description of the bush | Low, height up to 55 centimeters, compact. |
Care requirements | Weeding, loosening the soil, additional fertilizing is required. |
Sowing scheme description | 60x30, can be a little wider; there are no more than 6 plants per 1 square meter |
Features of growing varieties | It is more often grown in greenhouses both in heated and unheated ones; it can be planted in open ground only in the south of Russia, where cold snaps are excluded. |
Productivity from 1 sq. meters | up to 8 kilograms. |
Harvesting is simplified due to the fact that the "Diamond" bush has no thorns. It is very comfortable.
Sowing
In our country, it is more customary to plant various varieties of eggplant in a greenhouse. Even if the conditions allow it to be done outdoors, preference is given to a method consisting of two stages:
- Sowing seeds for seedlings.
- Growing seedlings.
A month after sowing the seeds, it will become clear which of them will give a rich harvest, and which will not. For cultivation, it will be necessary to correlate the requirements for the soil with the possibilities that are available at the moment.
- the soil should be neutral or slightly acidic;
- if the soils are acidic, lime is added every three years;
- when preparing the soil, organic matter must be introduced (about a week in advance, as soon as possible);
- you can plant eggplant after carrots, onions, cabbage, pumpkin and zucchini.
On the packaging, the description of the variety is always extremely scarce, so many gardeners have to contact other sources for information, read the reviews, which we will discuss below.
The seeds of "Almaz" are small, they are preferred to be soaked before sowing, although this is not necessary. You can prepare seeds sequentially by going through several stages:
- calibration;
- disinfection;
- stimulation to growth.
To correctly determine the sowing time for the region, it is necessary to count 50-70 days to the day when the eggplant can be planted in a greenhouse or in open ground.
Below we present a description of comprehensive care. The Almaz variety is unpretentious, but certain requirements still have to be met.
You need to plant seeds in separate outlets. The plant does not tolerate a pick. The photo below shows how Almaz eggplants should look like.
Care
This variety has been cultivated since 1983, during which time it was not only liked by gardeners, but also liked by professionals who grow eggplant in large batches.
Plant care is carried out in accordance with certain rules:
- do not plant plants close to each other (maximum 6 bushes per square meter);
- when planting seedlings, it is not necessary to deepen it;
- all care comes down to loosening, watering and feeding.
Loosening must be done carefully, because the rhizomes of eggplants are weak. As for the feeding, it must be both organic and mineral.
The feeding scheme is as follows:
- before planting eggplants in the ground, add 10 kilograms of organic matter per 1 square meter;
- in the spring it is better to add nitrogen, and potassium and phosphorus in the fall before planting;
- after planting during the flowering and fruiting period, the Almaz variety is fed with the mineral complex up to three times.
An overview of the variety is shown in the video.
Testimonials
Black Diamond among all varietal eggplant is the very name that comes to mind after reading reviews. The fruits have a glossy thin skin. Among the absolute advantages in the characteristic, gardeners call the following:
- low price of seeds;
- each bush has at least 5 ovaries;
- the variety bears fruit for a long time;
- the fruit is glossy, beautiful black;
- pulp without bitterness;
- resistant to both temperature extremes and common viruses.
Among the shortcomings there is only one, which must be said about: the formation of flowers and fruits occurs in the lower part of the plant, therefore, the fruits are carefully monitored. If they are ripe, they are cut immediately so that bacteria from the soil do not spoil the eggplants.
The basis was taken only by the reviews of gardeners who independently grew Almaz eggplant in their beds.
Once you plant this variety, it will become your favorite. Most summer residents consider it a classic and plant it every year, knowing well the characteristics of the variety. This allows you to be guaranteed a large harvest of eggplant from your beds. The experience of many for beginners will serve as an example.
Can I plant next to peppers and tomatoes
Good afternoon, Love!
You can plant eggplants next to the pepper, they are well adjacent to each other. But you cannot plant eggplants next to the tomatoes. Firstly, both plants belong to the same family (nightshade), and they are affected by the same pests and diseases. If a tomato gets sick, eggplants will certainly get sick. Secondly, eggplants need to be watered more often, while tomatoes can easily tolerate a short-term drought. It is especially important to follow this recommendation when growing eggplants in greenhouses and hotbeds.
We wish you high yields!