Eggplant
Eggplant (synonyms: eggplant, aubergine) is a vegetable plant, the edible part of which is a fruit with a purple-colored skin. It contains large amounts of mineral salts, mainly phosphorus and calcium, and also quite a lot of sugars; it has a very good taste.
Eggplant is grown from seedlings. It requires medium-firm soils, rich in humus and warming up well. It is grown in the first year after manure, preferably after peas, beans, cucumbers or onions. More manure is available for growing this plant (5 kg/m2), and well distributed, digging it in the fall. Mineral fertilization is applied on 1 m2: 50-60 g superphosphate, 40-50 g of potassium sulphate or potassium salt and 30 g of calcium ammonium nitrate. Eggplant has high climatic requirements; grows best, when the summer is long. The optimal temperature for it is 18-30 ° C. In low temperatures, flowers and buds may fall. Therefore, sheltered and sunny places should be allocated to it.
Eggplant can also be grown under foil covers. For field cultivation, eggplant is sown in a box in mid-March. The temperature during the seed germination period should be high (25-30°C). After the appearance of the first leaf, the plants are squeezed into pots with a diameter 6-10 cm and sets in the inspection. In order to produce seedlings on 50 m2 (150-200 pieces) is sown approx 3 g nasion. After the seedlings have taken root, they are fed twice, co 2 weeks, giving on 10 pieces, for the first time 3 g of calcium nitrate, and the second time – 5 g of potassium sulfate i 3 g superphosphate. One week before planting into the ground, the seedlings must be hardened by removing the window and reducing watering.
We plant the plants into the ground, spaced 50X50 cm, not earlier than the end of May, and even in early June, a little deeper, than they have grown so far. When growing eggplants in the inspection, they are planted under one window 6-8 plants. After planting, the plants should be weeded, feed with mineral fertilizers and water fairly abundantly, because water shortage causes flowers and fruit buds to fall. Also, nitrogen fertilization during flowering can cause flowers to drop.
Eggplants should be harvested several times in the phase of use, i.e.. before they reach physiological maturity and harden. The fruit is cut along with the length of the stalk 2-3 cm. We can get from one plant 1-2 fruit.
We have two varieties for cultivation: Rodo and Nr 12 X Delikates. Rodo is a variety bred in Poland. It is very early, with a long harvest period, can even give up to 5 fruit from the bush. Suitable for cultivation in the ground (suitable for cultivation under foil and glass). The plant is quite branched, heights 50-60 cm (under covers up to 100 cm), with a stiff stem. The fruit is cylindrical, pear-shaped elongated, the color of the skin is purple, white-green flesh, medium strict, no bitterness. Average fruit weight 200-250 g.
Nr 12 X Delikates is a hybrid variety, Bulgarian, very good cultivation in open ground and under covers. The plant is highly branched, heights 40-60 cm. On the plant 3-5 elongated fruit, cylindrical, slightly ribbed, with a smooth surface. The ripe fruit is purple, violet-olive at the end. White-greenish flesh, medium strict, no bitterness. The weight of the fruit 200-300 g.