How to grow eggplants in a greenhouse

Eggplant is a heat-loving plant. Of course, it can also grow outdoors, but in this case, the yield depends on the weather. But eggplants in a greenhouse at the right temperature always produce a large harvest. Eggplant, like other plants, has its own nuances for growing it. First, you need to start with the fact that the greenhouse must be correctly and correctly installed. And the eggplant variety is selected correctly, taking into account the climate in your region. By the way, it should be borne in mind that experienced gardeners recommend planting only undersized varieties in greenhouses.

Eggplant in a greenhouse: proper cultivation of seedlings

eggplant in the greenhouse

You need to grow eggplant seedlings correctly and on time. Seeds are sown at the end of February. In order to plant the seedlings in the greenhouse on the 20th of May. Just by this time the earth will have time to warm up well.

If your greenhouse is heated additionally, then you can plant seedlings even in April. The most important thing is that the earth warms up to a temperature of at least 15 degrees.

Sow seeds for seedlings already in fertilized soil. You need a nutrient mixture of earth, humus, peat, wood ash and superphosphate.

For sowing, you need to take a container with prepared soil, make grooves up to 1.5 cm deep and spill them with water. The distance between the grooves should be at least 2 cm.

You can also sow seedlings in separate cups, preferably peat cups. With this sowing, a huge plus is that it will not need to be planted.

After sowing the seeds, cover the container with foil and put it in a warm place. Every day, the container must be opened and sprayed with a spray bottle. When the seedlings sprout, the film must be removed and the seedlings placed on the windowsill.

But it must be borne in mind that the optimum temperature for growing seedlings is + 20 ... + 25 degrees. Also, you should always remember that the earth should never dry out. And you can water the seedlings only with warm water.

Also, seedlings on the windowsill need a lot of light. If there is not enough sunlight, then additional lighting lamps should be placed above the seedlings. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the daylight hours for eggplant seedlings should be at least 10 hours.

In order for the seedlings not to stretch, the initial temperature after germination should be within 15 degrees, and then it is gradually increased.

If you nevertheless sowed eggplant seedlings not in different cups, but in one container, then transplanting in different cups is necessary when the seedlings have two real leaves. From the moment of planting seeds for seedlings to planting seedlings in the greenhouse, at least two months should pass.

Basically, at the time of planting, eggplant seedlings grow at least 20 cm in height, and the root system of plants is already fully developed. Sometimes at the time of planting, the eggplants already have buds.

Planting eggplant in the greenhouse

eggplant in the greenhouse

Before planting eggplants in the greenhouse, the ground must be prepared in advance. The site chosen for planting eggplant needs to be dug up in the fall. All vegetation must be completely removed from it and the earth must be well shed with water. It would also be desirable to disinfect the ground:

• You can spill the earth with boiling water.
• Spread a layer of bleach on the ground, and walk over this area with a rake.
• You can also water the ground with a solution of formalin diluted according to the instructions.

After the earth dries out, it must be re-dug up or loosened well.And with the onset of spring, organic fertilizers need to be applied to the ground and the plot prepared in the fall must be dug again.

As a spring organic fertilizer, ordinary manure is perfect. And if the soil on the site is too acidic, then it is best to add dolomite flour to it. But it is imperative to observe the dosage. For one square meter of land you need only 2 tbsp. tablespoons of this flour. This amount is quite enough.

For planting eggplant in a greenhouse, mostly gardeners choose a ribbon scheme. In this case, the distance between the bushes should be 40 cm, but between the rows there should be a distance of at least 60 cm.

If you plant eggplants in a greenhouse closer to each other, then there will be a thickening, and in this case the fruits will be small. Before planting the eggplant, the ground in the greenhouse must be watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Thus, disinfection is carried out.

To do this, it is not necessary to water the entire area allotted for eggplant, but it is enough to water each prepared hole, and it should not be deeper than 15 cm. After all, eggplant seedlings do not need to be planted too deep.

The main thing is that the transplant must be carried out very carefully so as not to damage the fragile roots of the plant, because eggplants are very sensitive to this. After the eggplants are planted, the ground needs to be lightly tamped and preferably mulched with peat or humus, and then water the seedlings again.

Proper care of eggplants in the greenhouse

Since eggplant is very sensitive to any changes, it must be properly cared for. The humidity of the earth and air, as well as the temperature, must always be stable. And the lighting must be constant.

Eggplant growing in a greenhouse is a must tie up... If the garter is done correctly, then the bushes will be strong, well-developed and, accordingly, will give a rich harvest.

Plants need to be tied up almost immediately after transplanting seedlings. Because in the greenhouse, eggplants generally grow very tall and very fragile.

When they grow to a height of 30 cm, the top of the plant must be pinched. And also carry out pinching, removing weak lateral processes from the bush. And this is done so that the bush does not waste its energy on unnecessary side branches, and blooms better and develops fruits.

On the remaining strong branches, the fruits will be larger and juicier, and the taste will be better. But it must be borne in mind that pinching and removing shoots is stress for the plant, so if you are not satisfied with large fruits, then you can simply not do this.

Eggplant in the greenhouse: watering

When eggplants grow in a greenhouse, then watering should be regular and moderate. During watering, it must be borne in mind that this plant has very delicate and tremulous roots. Therefore, if you pour it, you can harm the bush.

Yes, and you plant seedlings initially in moist soil, so you need to water a little for the first time. The first full watering should be carried out only a week after planting. You must also always remember that you need to water the eggplants only with warm water and strictly under the root of the plant.

In no case should moisture get on the leaves, otherwise it threatens the development of a fungus in the greenhouse. An adult plant in the heat needs to be watered every other day. And if the weather is cloudy and rainy, then watering should be no more than 1 time per week.

And only during active fruiting, the frequency of watering should be doubled. But at the same time, everyone needs to ensure that the ground should be no deeper than 20 cm. To keep the ground wet as long as possible, it is mulched with straw, sawdust or whatever.

An increase in the temperature in the greenhouse is not critical for eggplants, but they no longer like a decrease. Therefore, it is best that the temperature is always regular and that there is no draft when airing the greenhouse. During the day, the greenhouse should be +25 degrees, and at least +18 at night.

If the eggplants are overcooled, the flowers and ovaries begin to dry out and fall off, and sometimes the plant may die altogether. But when the plants have little light, they begin to grow slower, develop worse, and the fruits become much smaller.

In order for oxygen to get to the roots better, and moisture from the ground does not evaporate longer, you need it regularly loosen... Another plus of loosening is that the weeds practically stop growing. It is best to loosen the soil after each watering, gradually increasing the depth of loosening.

Only this must be done carefully and no deeper than 10 cm, otherwise the roots can be damaged. Also, in addition to loosening, eggplants need spud several times per season. This is mainly done after feeding and watering so that new roots form and the overall development of the root system proceeds correctly.

After the seedlings have been planted in the greenhouse and until the end of the season, 4 feeding.

Moreover the first carried out 2 weeks after planting, and any complex fertilizer can be applied. At this time, the seedlings will have time to take root and the fertilization will benefit them.

Second once the feeding is carried out already during the appearance of the buds. At this time, you need to add potassium and phosphorus. For example, you can pour 1 teaspoon of superphosphate under each bush and pour 1 tbsp. spoon of potassium sulfate and a solution of ammonium nitrate in the ratio of 1.5 tbsp. spoons for 10 liters of warm water.

But when the fruits appear, then nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers are needed as top dressing. For example, 1.5 tbsp. Ammophoska spoons are diluted in 10 liters of warm water. Also, at a time when the eggplants begin to bloom, and then bear fruit, additional fertilizing can be made in them.

To do this, take solutions of mullein, chicken droppings or wood ash without impurities. But you need to remember that everything should be in moderation, so you should not get carried away with too frequent and abundant fertilization.

After all, when there is too much fertilizer, the bush grows beautiful and fluffy, but the fruits at this time stop developing. Experienced gardeners recommend watering each bush with a solution of 1 tbsp a month before harvesting. spoon of superphosphate, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium salt and dilute everything in 10 liters of warm water.

But again, you need to observe the dosage, and pour no more than 1 glass of solution into each well. Mostly eggplants begin to bear fruit as early as late spring and before the first frost. Although it certainly depends on the variety.

Growing eggplants in a greenhouse. Harvesting

You need to harvest the crop as the fruits ripen. Moreover, the collection should be carried out regularly, about 1 time per week. The collection must also be carried out correctly, the fruits are cut from the bush together with the stalk, using a sharp pruner.

If you simply pick off the eggplant from the bush, you will most likely just damage the plant. It is easy to understand that the eggplant is fully ripe. Ripe fruits become dark purple and glossy.

You can gently press on the fruit with your finger and it will quickly return to its original shape. But if a dent does not appear, it means that the eggplant is not yet ripe. If the dent does not disappear, then the fruit is overripe. In overripe eggplant, the flesh turns brown, it is very coarse and not tasty.

And overripe and unripe eggplants are not worth eating. Not only are they simply not tasty, but also a poisonous substance appears in overripe eggplants - corned beef. It tastes very bitter and it is very easy for them to get poisoned.

By themselves, ripe eggplants, which are properly cut from the bush, can easily be stored in the refrigerator for almost a month. And before eating, eggplant should be soaked in very salty water for several hours. When soaked in salt, all the bitterness will come out of the eggplant.

In general, it is very easy to grow eggplants, while you do not need to have extensive experience. Simple adherence to the timing of planting seedlings, then correct planting, watering, loosening and competent feeding will help you get a decent harvest.