When it comes to summer, the most common vegetable is eggplant! As a common vegetable on our table, it is delicious, nutritious and suitable for all ages. Its also delicious simply grilled as grilled eggplant.
Did you actually know that eggplants can even be grown in balcony gardens? As long as there is a place to place a planting trough, you can plant it. What knowledge do novices in eggplant cultivation need? What are the choices for soil, environment and seeds? Let’s learn with the editor of the production department!
Basic information about eggplant
| Chinese name | Eggplant |
|---|---|
| Difficulty in cultivation | Simple |
| Growth cycle | About 40 to 50 days |
| Main diseases | Beta disease, powdery mildew, brown spot, Botrytis (difficult to recover from: bacterial wilt/mosaic) |
| Main pests | Aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, ladybugs |
1. Space required for growing eggplants
Choose a planter that is easy to plant in!
When planting eggplants, it is recommended to use a planting trench about 30 cm deep. When planting eggplant seedlings, they need to be spaced 20 cm apart, so we choose a width of 60 cm which is more appropriate.
In addition, if you plant one plant in a trough, you can plant it in a large flower pot with a diameter of 30 cm x a depth of 30 cm.
For those who want to cultivate them more easily, it is best to choose an easy-to-grow planting tank.
In order to achieve better drainage, eggplant planting should use a mesh structure at the bottom or a planting trough with a drainage system.
2. Soil selection
Eggplant likes a hot and humid environment, but if the soil does not drain well, it is easy to get sick. For planting beginners, it is easier and more convenient to choose "vegetable cultivation soil" sold on the market. "Vegetable cultivation soil" is recommended. Even if it is ordinary soil, you can put some stones at the bottom of the planting tank to improve drainage. It should be noted that new soil should be planted every time seedlings are planted to avoid reuse of soil.
Since eggplants require rich nutrients during their growth period, it is recommended to use original soil containing fertilizer from the beginning.
3. Environment required for eggplant breeding
Planting time and suitable temperature
From late April to early May, it is the best time to sow eggplant, and the suitable temperature is 25 to 28°C. Eggplant has weak cold resistance, so it is best to keep the night temperature at 15°C.
Environment selection
Eggplant prefers a sunny location, so when there is insufficient sunlight, the growth becomes worse. Need to put it on a sunny balcony.
In addition, if the wind is strong, branches may break as the pillars collapse, so it is necessary to design some measures to eliminate strong winds.
4. Key points for purchasing eggplant seedlings
Beginners are advised to purchase seedlings rather than seeds. Purchase the following types of seedlings:
- Grafted seedlings
- With about 5 true leaves
- Futaba is not dead
- Rich soil for roots
- Thick stem
- Dark leaves, no pests
The above are the planting points compiled by the editor of the production department for novice eggplant growers. Those who want to eat home-grown eggplants, hurry up and enrich your balcony vegetable garden!
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