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Eggplant has been known to man for more than 1.5 thousand years. Asia is considered his homeland, it was there that they first began to domesticate him. In botany, the plant itself is considered herbaceous, and its fruit is a berry, however, in cooking it is recognized as a vegetable. Eggplant is distinguished by its thermophilicity, therefore, in mid-latitudes it is more often grown in greenhouses, however, thanks to breeders and in open ground conditions, you can get a decent harvest. It should be noted that different varieties of eggplants are characterized not only by their adaptability to relatively harsh climatic conditions, but also by a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. The choice of a particular variety depends on the growing conditions and preferences of the gardener.
The best greenhouse varieties
When growing eggplants in a greenhouse, it is important to take into account the growth of the variety. So, the height of the bush can reach 2.5 m, which requires a larger planting area and careful plant care. Miniature bushes 40 cm high are much easier to grow, however, the short stature affects the eggplant yield. To select the optimal variety, options are given with the best taste, excellent yield and different heights of the bush.
Diamond
Low-growing variety of eggplant with a bush height of 45-55 cm. Recommended planting density in a greenhouse 3-4 pcs / m2... Sowing seeds for seedlings is preferably carried out in mid-March, diving into the ground no earlier than May 20. Ripening of a vegetable occurs 110-150 days after germination of seedlings.
Fetus Almaz varieties it is presented in a cylindrical shape with a dark purple skin, has a length of 14-18 cm, weight 120-160 g. The eggplant pulp is dense, greenish, does not contain bitterness, suitable for canning. You can visually evaluate this vegetable in the photo.
A distinctive feature of diamond eggplants is a guaranteed yield of 8 kg / m2.
Robin the Hood
Early ripening variety. The height of the bush is from 70 to 100 cm. The period from planting to fruiting is 90-120 days. The best time for sowing seed for seedlings is the beginning of March; it is recommended to dive into the greenhouse in late May - mid-June. The density of disembarkation in a greenhouse should not exceed 2.5-3 pcs / m2.
Lilac vegetable, up to 21 cm long, pear-shaped. The average weight of the fruit is 300 gr. The taste is high.
Goliath F1
A medium-early ripening hybrid with a bush height of 170 to 250 cm. It is grown exclusively in greenhouses. The frequency of picking seedlings should not exceed 2 bushes per 1 m2 soil. Fruiting occurs after 118-125 days from sowing.
The fruit of the Goliath F1 variety is pear-shaped and has a dark purple rind. Its length reaches 27 cm, diameter is up to 19 cm, the weight of such an eggplant is from 650 to 1100 grams. The flesh of the vegetable is dense, greenish. The yield is high and reaches 18 kg / m2... Goliath F1 is shown in the photo.
It is worth noting that all varieties are suitable for a greenhouse, since high humidity and temperature are the optimal environment for crop growth. At the same time, it is believed that hybrids are the most hardy, fruitful and have the best taste.
Planting conditions and rules for growing eggplants in a greenhouse are shown in the video:
Open ground varieties
Only adapted varieties that are resistant to possible unfavorable temperature conditions can successfully grow and bear fruit in the open field.
Bourgeois F1
An early ripe hybrid.From the day of seed germination to fruiting, 105 days pass. Despite the fact that the variety is intended for unprotected soil, it can be used to get a fairly early harvest. To do this, you can plant seedlings in mid-March and dive from the end of May to June. In case of early planting, the seedlings must be protected with a temporary film cover. The optimal planting scheme for this type of eggplant is 3-4 bushes per 1 m2.
Bourgeois F1 have a spherical shape, dark purple color of the peel (photo). The average fruit diameter is 10 cm, its weight is about 300 grams. The flesh of the vegetable is greenish, without a bitter aftertaste. Productivity reaches 5 kg / m2.
Marathon runner
An early ripe variety for planting in open ground. From the day of sowing the seeds to the day of harvesting, no more than 105 days pass. It is more often grown by the seedling method, with sowing seeds in mid-March and picking seedlings at the end of May.
Eggplant Marathon Runner represented by a cylindrical shape with a dark purple color of the peel. The length of such a vegetable reaches 35 cm, and its weight is about 400-600 g. The eggplant pulp is white, dense, does not contain bitterness. Crop yield up to 6 kg / m2... Below is a photo of the Marathon variety.
Epic F1
An early ripe hybrid of eggplant. It takes no more than 65 days to ripen. The bush of the plant is small, up to 90 cm high, little spreading, which allows planting a planting in the amount of 4 bush per 1 m2 soil.
Eggplants are very beautiful, purple-black, oval conical in shape (photo). The length of such fruits reaches 21 cm, the diameter is 10 cm. The average weight of one vegetable is 220-230 g. The flesh of the vegetable is white, dense. The yield of the variety does not exceed 6 kg / m2.
In addition to the listed varieties, Ermin F1, Berinda, Vera, Giselle, Lilac Mist and some others. Recommendations on how to properly plant eggplants in open ground are given in the video:
Popular varieties
In addition to those described above, other fruitful varieties of eggplant are also popular, the taste of which is appreciated by consumers:
King of the North F1
Early ripening hybrid (ripening period 100 days). It has good adaptability to low temperatures and is excellent for mid and northern latitudes. The bush is up to 40 cm high, while it has a good yield up to 15 kg / m2.
The eggplants are elongated-cylindrical, bright purple in color (below is a photo). The average fruit length is 25-30 cm, however, there are vegetables up to 40 cm long. The pulp of this variety is white, very tasty and absolutely does not contain bitterness, perfect for cooking and canning.
Marzipan F1
A mid-season hybrid that is particularly resistant to drought, high and low temperatures, suitable for growing in northern regions. Can be grown in greenhouses, hotbeds, in open areas. The first eggplant harvest of this variety will delight the owner within 120 days after the seeds are sown.
Fruit Marzipan F1 are pear-shaped with a deep purple rind. Their length is no more than 15 cm, diameter is 7-8 cm. Eggplants are quite massive, their weight sometimes exceeds 1 kg. A distinctive feature of the variety is the amazingly tasty pulp with a sweetish aftertaste of creamy white color.
Dolphin
A mid-early eggplant variety that takes 120-130 days to ripen. The bush is vigorous, up to 2 meters high, requires a mandatory garter. The culture is grown exclusively in a greenhouse with a planting scheme of no more than 3 bushes per meter.
The fruits of the Dolphin variety are saber-shaped, lilac-white in color. The length of such eggplants reaches 45 cm, weight is about 450 g. The flesh is greenish, tasty, quite dense. Productivity reaches 9 kg / m2.
The popularity of the varieties is primarily due to the excellent taste and the success of gardeners in growing crops. You can get acquainted with other popular eggplants in the video:
High-yielding varieties
Productivity is the main parameter when choosing a variety for many gardeners.This is especially true for the choice of eggplants, which are grown for harvesting for the winter. So, judging by the reviews of gardeners, the most productive include:
Beyonce F1
The hybrid has a high yield and early ripening. It is grown outdoors and in greenhouses. The period from the moment of sowing seeds to fruiting is 105 days. Sowing seeds is recommended in May. The plant is medium bushy and can be planted at 4-6 pcs / m2.
The fruit is pear-shaped, purple in color. The average weight of an eggplant is 300 g. Its flesh is white with a pleasant, sweetish taste. The peculiarity of the variety is a record yield - up to 27 kg / m2.
Thelma F1
The hybrid is an early maturing representative of the Dutch selection. Ripens in 102-105 days after sowing the seeds. The plant is quite tall, bushy. Can be planted in open or protected ground with a frequency of 4-6 pcs / m2... The best time to sow seeds is May.
The fruits are pear-shaped, with a dark purple rind. Their length reaches 25 cm, weight is about 260g. The pulp is dense, greenish. The yield of the Thelma F1 variety reaches 20 kg / m2.
Amazing varieties
Not every gardener knows what amazing eggplant varieties are offered by modern breeding. They are not only tasty and very healthy, but also extremely cute:
Swan
Mid-season eggplant, suitable for growing in open areas and greenhouses. The bush is compact, relatively undersized up to 70 cm, therefore 1 m2 soil it is recommended to plant 4-6 plants. The ripening period of the vegetable is 100-105 days after sowing the seed. The variety has a good yield up to 18 kg / m2.
Swan eggplants have a cylindrical shape and white (sometimes yellow) color. The length of the vegetable reaches 22 cm, weight 200-240 g. The pulp is very white, tender, without a bitter taste. You can evaluate the external qualities of the variety in the photo below.
Piglet
Mid-season variety, ripens 108 days after sowing seeds. Grown exclusively in a greenhouse. Low yield - up to 6 kg / m2.
Piglet eggplants are spherical and light purple in color. The weight of one fruit reaches 350 g. The flesh of the vegetable is white.
Sailor
Mid-season eggplant with original color. Ripens in 102-105 days after sowing the seeds. Suitable for open and protected ground. The plant is compact, up to 75 cm high.The crop yield reaches 10 kg / m2.
Eggplant Matrosik white with longitudinal lilac stripes. The shape of the vegetable is oval-pear-shaped. Fruit length up to 17 cm, weight 250-400g.
Conclusion
It is worth noting that eggplant is represented by such a wide selection of varieties that you can choose a crop that will even be adapted to growing in a pot, which allows it to be grown indoors. An example of such "apartment" varieties are Stripe and Medallion.
To get an early, rich harvest of eggplants, it is necessary to sow seeds in a timely and correct manner and follow the rules for growing a crop, which can be found in detail in the video:
Eggplant in domestic latitudes is not as popular as, for example, tomato or cucumber. However, the culture deserves special attention, since it is a natural source of potassium salts and other vitamins that have a beneficial effect on the human body. No wonder this unique vegetable is called "the source of longevity", which can be successfully grown in your own garden.
