Step-by-step instructions on how to grow eggplant seedlings

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-12 17:37

To get a good eggplant harvest, it is important to know how to grow seedlings at home so that they can grow stronger and be ready for planting in open ground.

How to prepare eggplant seeds for sowing

First you need to decide on the variety. Seeds are chosen based on the color and shape of the crop. It is better to give preference to early varieties that can give a good harvest. Sowing material can be not only store-bought, but also collected independently from the fruits of last year's harvest.

In any case, before sowing eggplant seeds for seedlings, they must be processed in order to stimulate plant growth and prevent the occurrence of diseases. It is recommended to do this with special means.

The drug Fitosporin perfectly helps to neutralize pathogens and grow strong seedlings in the future. Sometimes gardeners use a solution of potassium permanganate, but this method cannot be classified as effective.

You also need to reject unsuitable seed, for this it is soaked in salted water for 5-7 minutes - low-quality seeds will float to the surface.

Store seeds are usually sold processed. They do not need to be soaked and treated with preparations against pests, so they are simply sown dry.

The next stage in seed preparation is soaking. Thanks to this, the first shoots will appear quickly and will be strong. The seeds are soaked in water about a day before planting.

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Step-by-step instructions for growing eggplant seedlings

It should take about 2 months to get an adult and ready-to-plant plant. Therefore, timing must be considered before sowing seeds.

The sowing time is calculated based on the climate so that the eggplant seedlings can take root and are resistant to temperature changes. Consider the main features that you need to pay attention to when growing a crop at home.

Sowing dates

Experienced vegetable growers recommend focusing on the first and second ten days of March. But it's better not to delay. You need to understand that for the full ripening of the crop, many warm days must remain in stock. It is best to check the dates of the sowing calendar with the work schedule, taking into account the crop and the month.

Soil selection

It is recommended to prepare the soil for the eggplant even before the onset of winter. This is a rather capricious and sensitive culture, so it is necessary that the substrate be neutral or slightly acidic. Before growing seedlings, the soil should be heated in the oven to get rid of pests and pathogens of various diseases.

Ready-made substrate can be bought in a specialized store, but do not hope that it will be of high quality and without "surprises". Therefore, it is better to cook it at home, choosing the most suitable option:

• sod land and humus in a ratio of 1: 3;
• humus and peat in a ratio of 1: 2;
• peat and sawdust at a rate of 3: 1;
• soil from the garden and vermiculite 1: 1.

Fertilizers can be added to the mixture in the form of granular superphosphate, urea, wood ash or potassium sulfate. The soil must be thoroughly mixed, and then filled with containers for planting seeds.

Sowing eggplant seeds for seedlings

You can sow seed into any container. These can be peat or plastic cups, glass or ceramic pots. Consider how to plant crop seeds in different containers.

In seedling boxes

The thickness of the soil in the box should be no more than 7-8 cm, before planting eggplant seeds, the soil must be moistened. Next, small depressions (grooves) are made and the seeds are positioned so that there is a distance of 3-4 cm between them.

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After that, the planted seeds must be sprinkled with dry soil. If desired, you can use a metal sieve, this will distribute the soil evenly, and there will be no large breasts. The box must be covered with foil and placed in a warm room.

Into the "snails"

This is a very unusual method of growing eggplant at home. The advantage of this method is that it is possible to grow seedlings without preparing the soil. The culture should be planted in open ground immediately after germination.

Any synthetic material is suitable for making a "snail": film for greenhouses or plastic bags. Place toilet paper or paper towels on top of the film. Seeds are sown on top of the wet paper, and then the structure is rolled up and placed in a special container for germination.

Seedlings grown in this way do not suffer from black leg or root rot. Also a definite plus is the ability to grow a large number of seeds.

The "snail" also has a minus, it is due to a lack of light, because of which the seedling sprouts can stretch out strongly, which is why they become weak.

Growing eggplant seedlings in peat tablets

With this option, you can get a strong plant with a strong root system. Eggplants grown in peat tablets or pots take root very quickly in the open field.

Planting seeds is done as follows:

1. You need to purchase ready-made tablets, and then lay them tightly to each other on a wooden pallet.
2. Pour peat tablets liberally. It is recommended to use settled and heated water. It is impossible to pour pills right away, the procedure must be done gradually over several hours. Thanks to this approach, nutrients are evenly distributed over the peat. If necessary, remove excess water from the sump.
3. You need to put 1-2 seeds in each tablet or pot. If the seed is too small, it can be spread using a match or a toothpick. Next, you need to sprinkle the seeds with a thin layer of substrate or humus.
4. The pallet must be covered with foil and placed in a warm place. The first shoots should be watered with water mixed with mineral fertilizers.

If, according to the plans, seed germination will be in the light, then there is no need to sprinkle the seeds with soil.

Care for eggplant seedlings before picking

Landings must be kept under film or glass. The main thing is that the seedlings germinate at a temperature of + 25-30 degrees. It will take 7-10 days before the first shoots of eggplant seedlings appear.

After the emergence of seedlings, the temperature should be reduced to + 14 … 16 degrees. This rule cannot be neglected, since the seedlings will stretch, therefore, the root system may suffer.

You need to water the seedlings with warm water and carefully so that the soil is not washed out. The procedure is best done in the morning. Several times a week, the container with seedlings must be turned to prevent the seedlings from pulling out.

Do not allow the soil to dry out. Eggplant is a crop that reacts strongly to drought. But you shouldn't pour the seedlings either.

Picking seedlings into pots

Picking seedlings at home is essentially transplanting a plant to a new place. You can, of course, grow eggplant seedlings without picking, but in this case there may be many weak plants.

With the help of picking, you can sort out low-quality seedlings, as well as transplant seedlings into another container, where the root system can fully develop. However, growing strong seedlings can only be done with the right actions.

Step-by-step instructions on how to pick eggplants at home:

1. Two hours before manipulation, you need to water the soil abundantly, this will facilitate the process of pulling the seedlings out of the container.
2. Larger dishes (pots, glasses, boxes) need to be filled three-quarters with a previously prepared substrate. The mixture must be tamped well.
3. Make a hole in each pot with a stick or finger. Its depth should correspond to the length of the seedling root system.
4. Together with the earthy clod, remove the plant from a small container, and then carefully transfer it to a new "place of residence".
5. In order to stimulate the growth of the root system, you can pinch off the longest root of the seedling.
6. After that, the transplanted plant must be sprinkled with soil and watered.
7. A few days after picking, the pots should be taken out to a warm place.

In order not to harm the seedling, it is better to keep it behind an earthen lump, but in no case by the stem.

Caring for cut seedlings

The first thing to look out for is that culture does not tolerate drafts. Therefore, after picking, it is important to transfer the eggplant seedlings to a warm and well-lit place.

Water the plants with warm water, gradually increasing the volume of liquid. You can fertilize two weeks after picking with drugs such as Kemira, potassium salt, superphosphate or Kornerost. For 10 liters of water, put no more than 2 grams of the product.

Possible problems with eggplant seedlings and how to solve them

In the process of growing seedlings at home, slight difficulties may appear. Let's consider the most common ones.

Why eggplant seedlings stopped developing after diving

The main reason is non-observance of the picking rules. Check the root system, it may be bent and on the surface.

When picking, the roots may be poorly tamped, it is important that the soil is tightly laid. In addition, the root system can be severely damaged, most often this is due to poorly moistened soil before the procedure.

Eggplant seedlings wither

First of all, you need to make sure that the soil is not over-acidified from frequent watering. The first sign is the musty smell of the soil. You can also remove one plant from the pot and examine the root system. In healthy seedlings, the root will be white and fluffy, but the yellowness and putrid shade indicate a problem.

The second reason that eggplant seedlings wilt is low soil temperature. You can grow it at home if the cold air does not affect the pots.

Blackleg

Blackening and decay of the root system is the first sign of the appearance of a black leg. As practice shows, this is due to the development of a fungus in the soil, an improperly transplanted plant, insufficient air circulation, an excess of moisture and non-observance of the temperature regime.

By correctly distributing the amount of watering, you can get rid of the problem. You also need to treat the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or re-pick. For the prevention of blackleg, it is recommended to use peat pots.

Hypothermia of the root system

Growing strong eggplant seedlings at home is possible only if the temperature regime is observed. Hypothermia can lead to the appearance of rot and yellowness of the leaves. Therefore, you need to ensure that the soil temperature is always +25 degrees.

Why do seedling leaves turn yellow

The first reason is fusarium. Infection occurs through soil, water or seeds. The disease primarily affects the leaves, and then the entire bush. It can also be due to a deficiency of nitrogen, this mineral is responsible for the growth and distribution of nutrients.

Lack of nutrition and moisture also leads to yellowing of the foliage. In this case, you need to apply mineral fertilizers and revise the irrigation schedule.

Yellow spots on the leaves

The main reason for the appearance of yellow spots is the "mosaic" virus. The leaves of all seedlings have a characteristic variegated pattern. The plant is infected through the soil, insects and their waste products.

To get rid of the problem, you need to use special drugs. The step-by-step instructions on the packaging will tell you how to use them.

Mechanical damage to leaves

In this case, there may be several reasons:

• improper watering;
• too dry air;
• damage by diseases and pests;
• bad light;
• pick damage.

To avoid any of the reasons, you need to follow the rules for caring for seedlings, especially during the picking period and after.

Dates for planting seedlings in a greenhouse and open ground

It is necessary to plant a culture in open ground in the case of fully formed leaves. There must be at least 8 of them. The plant should be about 15-20 cm tall.

It is important that there are no ovaries and buds on the seedlings, this indicates that it has outgrown. In general, the timing of planting depends on the varietal characteristics of the eggplant.

Summarize

1. Growing eggplant seedlings is quite simple, the main thing is to follow the recommendations.
2. Each gardener can choose the growing method independently.
3. You need to buy mineral fertilizers in specialized stores.
4. It is better to prepare the soil for seedlings yourself.
5. At the first manifestations of diseases, you need to immediately look for the cause and treat the planting material.