Eggplant is a thermophilic culture. In the Urals, it is successfully grown, but only in greenhouses. Summer in the Urals is rather short: it comes late and lasts only a couple of months. For the ripening of eggplants, this is extremely small. In addition, the weather can change quite unexpectedly, which negatively affects the yield. Let's talk in more detail about the varieties and growing conditions of this popular vegetable crop in the Urals.
Growing secrets
Every summer resident and gardener who at least once was engaged in the cultivation of eggplants knows well that this culture is quite demanding and capricious. In order for you to smile with success, you have to work hard and create the necessary conditions.
Another secret to success lies in the correct selection of the eggplant variety. Preference is given to early ripening, since there is very little time for ripening. Seeds are carefully selected, processed, then there is a difficult stage of growing seedlings. It is important that it is strong and healthy.
Cultivation is carried out in two ways:
- in a heated greenhouse;
- in an unheated greenhouse, where additional artificial heat sources are placed.
In June, in the Urals, nighttime cold snaps are still possible, up to frost. At this time, in the south, in the open field, you can see the first ovaries on seedlings. Only July can be considered warm, but cold snaps in mid-August are not uncommon.
Based on these conditions, it is necessary to arrange additional heating in the greenhouse specifically for the eggplant.
Seed selection
Few people sow eggplant seeds in open ground, in Russia it is customary to first grow seedlings in certain comfortable conditions, and only then transplant them into the ground.
You can buy seeds in early spring at any specialty store. The package must indicate that the variety:
- early maturity with technical ripeness from 85 to 120 days;
- mid-season with a maximum ripening period of up to 140 days.
There is no point in buying other varieties, since they will not have time to ripen. The most popular are the early ones. Today there are a lot of them on sale, new hybrids appear on the shelves every year, which, as the manufacturer assures, are resistant to cold weather. Don't trust advertisements enough to let your guard down. Of course, these hybrids will have resistance to small drops, but not a single variety of eggplant will tolerate the cold.
The best varieties
Consider eggplant varieties that are well suited for growing in the Urals. We will also give a comparative table, because many gardeners are interested in the issues of eggplant yield and the characteristics of its cultivation.
It is recommended to choose one of the following types of eggplant:
- Diamond;
- Donetsk fruitful;
- Joker;
- Vakula;
- Swan;
- Mowgli;
- Sailor;
- Snowy;
- Leader.
Each of these varieties is worthy of attention. For example, the Almaz variety ranks first in popularity in Russia. When choosing an eggplant variety, pay special attention to:
- maturation;
- yield;
- where it can be grown (in a greenhouse or open field);
- resistance to viruses.
| Variety / hybrid | Variety yield, in kg from 1 m2 | Ripening period, in days | Fruit weight, in grams | Disease resistance | Growing features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond | 8 | 110-150 | 100-170 | stolbur, cucumber and tobacco mosaic | Forms fruits together, seedlings are planted in early June, no more than 6 pieces per square meter |
| Donetsk fruitful | 3-5 | 120 | 120-135 | wilting diseases | up to 4 plants are planted in the greenhouse per 1 square meter |
| Joker | 6,8-7,2 | 85-100 | 50-130 | tobacco mosaic, wilting flowers | good for growing in greenhouses |
| Vakula | up to 12.2 | 95-110 | 450-600 | tobacco mosaic | designed specifically for greenhouses, the sowing pattern is standard (no more than 6 plants per 1 square meter) |
| Swan | from 12 to 18 | 100-110 | 200-250 | major diseases | standard care, can also be grown outdoors |
| Mowgli | 4,5 | 100 | up to 70 | aridity, high temperatures | ideal for heated greenhouses where it is difficult to maintain moderate air humidity |
| Sailor | not less than 10 | 102-106 | 250-400 | withering | no more than 5 plants need to be planted per 1 square |
| Snowy | 5,8 | 106 | 280-320 | major diseases | no spikes, standard fit |
| Leader | 8 | 90 | 400-600 | major diseases | eggplant of Chinese selection, ripens very quickly, not picky |
Below in the photo you can see what a beautiful color the eggplant varieties "Matrosik" and "Swan" are.
White eggplants are famous for their spicy taste; you should definitely try to grow at least one of these varieties. Someone compares the taste with mushroom, someone with poultry meat. Among the varieties presented here, the most productive should be considered "Swan". Only "Vakula" can compete with him in this matter, although all other varieties are included in the group of high-yielding varieties. With proper care, you won't be left without eggplant in the fall.
You can also pay attention to the varieties:
- Snowball;
- Black Moon;
- Early maturing;
- Ping pong;
- Pelican.
They are also suitable for greenhouse cultivation in the Urals. See the video below for a good overview of the seeds. Each gardener determines the best varieties for himself.
Growing seedlings
In order to grow healthy seedlings from purchased seeds, you need to start work in February-March... At least 50 days must be counted until the moment you can plant the first seedlings in the greenhouse.
Before planting the seeds, you can process them. So, they do with those bought on the market, with those acquired abroad and with those whose manufacturers you do not trust. Verified agricultural firms carry out in advance:
- disinfection;
- hardening of seeds.
Today, there are a huge number of professional tools for processing seed. Any of them can be purchased at the store and used according to the instructions. The next step is germination. You can skip it, but plant the seeds directly into wet soil. In this case, some advice should be heeded:
- the seeds are not buried (the maximum depth is 2 centimeters);
- the soil should be wet, but do not be zealous in this;
- the growth of seedlings provides a bright, long-lasting sun (if it is not there, the sprouts will have to be artificially illuminated);
- eggplant seedlings sprout unevenly;
- when the first shoots appear, it is necessary to ensure the unevenness of day and night temperatures in order to create natural growth conditions from the very beginning (this is also important for greenhouses).
All these rules will allow you to grow beautiful and healthy seedlings.
Also, do not plant different varieties in one container. In the greenhouse, a separate sector is allocated for growing each variety.
When sowing eggplant seeds, you need to choose high-quality soil. This is one of the basic rules according to which you can grow the best eggplants in a greenhouse.
Care
Experienced gardeners do this: they grow several varieties of eggplant at the same time, the next year they replace those that did not suit their taste with new ones. It's comfortable. The requirements for growing eggplant are as follows:
- loose soils;
- timely moistening of the soil;
- the optimal temperature is about +28 degrees;
- area without shading (the greenhouse should be in a sunny place).
The soil is dug up and loosened before planting the plants. The pick is not worth making. When transplanting into a greenhouse, take into account that eggplants do not like to be buried, and also that their root system is very delicate.
In the fall, potassium and phosphorus are added to the soil. A week before transplanting, organic matter can be added to the soil.This will not only become a source of additional heat, but will also have a great effect on the yield of any variety. Up to 10 kilograms of organic fertilizer are applied per 1 square meter.
Carefully read the information on the seed package, do not throw it away immediately after sowing. The point is that care options may vary slightly. Some varieties of eggplant like pinching, but, for example, for the “Almaz” variety, it is not carried out at all.
Let's also talk about neighboring cultures. Eggplants of all varieties are treated with great attention to them, therefore, it is allowed to grow in a greenhouse next to only:
- bell pepper;
- tomatoes.
No other crops can be grown. Eggplant seedlings are ready if:
- it has at least 8 healthy leaves;
- she looks good;
- the plant reaches a length of up to 20 centimeters.
When transplanting, a plant with soil is lowered into a finished moistened hole and sprinkled with earth, and not pressed down. Seedlings are tied up, watered in a timely manner, and the greenhouse must be ventilated, preventing stagnation of air masses.
Beneficially affects the yield of each variety feeding... During the growth, flowering and fruiting of eggplant, it must be produced at least 2 times. To do this, you can use the following solution:
- 10 liters of water;
- 15 grams of ammonium nitrate;
- 15 grams potassium sulfate.
You can also purchase ready-made dry fertilizers for eggplant. The soil is loosened carefully, since the eggplant rhizomes are easy to damage. Watering cannot be done with very cold water, it is better to settle it in barrels.
Conclusion
Those who at least once started growing eggplants faced some problems, however, the yield and excellent qualities of the product make gardeners buy the seeds of this wonderful crop again and again. Residents of the Urals should also try to grow it.
