How to grow eggplants outdoors in siberia?

Eggplant is a herbaceous perennial plant. His homeland is India, South Asia and the Middle East. The spread of the culture was facilitated by the Arabs. In the 9th century, they brought wild eggplants to Africa. And only six centuries later the plant got to Europe, in the XIX century the first varieties appeared. And today this southern vegetable, thanks to breeders, is also grown in Siberia.

What eggplants grow in Siberia

The growing season for eggplants is long, and the summer in Siberia is short. In the earliest varieties from germination to the first harvest, about 90-100 days pass, in late-ripening - up to 150. But the bush does not give the entire harvest in one harvest, flowering lasts all summer until autumn, therefore, the culture is grown even in the southern regions through seedlings and plant it in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

Eggplants in Siberia, as in all regions of Russia, are grown through seedlings

In Siberia, from the last spring frosts to the first autumn frosts, an average of 90 days pass. This means that early varieties need to be grown in this region, and if there is a greenhouse, mid-season ones.

Eggplant varieties for Siberia

Siberian vegetable growers have a large selection of eggplant varieties.

King of the north

The hybrid was bred specifically for regions with harsh climates. Differs in cold resistance. The bush develops a powerful one - 1 m in height. It begins to bear fruit on the 95-100th day.Fruit length - 25-30 cm, sometimes up to 40 cm, average weight - 300 g. In a greenhouse during the Siberian summer from one bush you can get up to 10 fruits, and from 1 m2 - 12-15 kg. Under the glossy purple skin lies a whitish, dense flesh. The lack of bitterness makes cooking easier, no need to pre-soak in salt water.

A characteristic feature of the King of the North eggplant is the purple color of the stem

Northerner

Despite the name, the Severyanin variety is recommended for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation. Eggplant bears fruit well in different weather conditions. Has shown excellent results at test sites in Western Siberia. Designed for growing in open ground and under a film shelter. The northerner belongs to the mid-season, gives the first fruits on the 110th day after germination. Sow for seedlings 60-70 days before planting in the ground. The bush grows compact - up to 50 cm in height. Fruits differ from the classic ones only in a pear-shaped form. The usual fruit weight for this variety is 165 g, but specimens grow up to 600 g. Experts estimate the taste as excellent. Outdoor yield - 6.4 kg / m².

Eggplant Severyanin, with good care, is hung with pear-shaped fruits with a glossy purple surface

Samurai sword

The fruits of eggplant look spectacular. Samurai sword: dark purple, glossy, lined, each about 200 g. But the variety is inferior to Severyanin in productivity. The bush is semi-sprawling, up to 60 cm high. The taste after cooking is good and excellent. Pulp without bitterness. In terms of ripening, it belongs to the mid-season, before harvesting you will have to wait 110-120 days.

Eggplant Samurai Sword bears beautiful club-shaped fruits, aligned in size

Irzhik

An early variety, the first eggplants can be harvested in 90-100 days. Their characteristic feature is a ribbed surface. The bush grows compact and tall - up to 70 cm. Outdoor yield in the southern regions of Siberia is 5.9 kg / m². Spherical fruits weighing 350 g are perfect for stuffing with different fillings.

Irzhik is a Czech and Slovak name. The inhabitants of the USSR know the tale "Goldilocks". Irzhik in it was the name of the main character, a cook who served with the grumpy king, understood the language of animals, birds, insects.

Eggplant Irzhik stands out among others with rather large spherical fruits with pronounced ribbing

Overseas minke

The bush of the Overseas minke whale is spreading, with large leaves, high - up to 120 cm, the corresponding fruits - 500–900 g each. Productivity under the film is about 9 kg / m². When grown outdoors in drought or rainy weather, the bush may not grow to the declared 120 cm, but the fruit sets large. As a result, vegetable growers get short plants with huge eggplants, 1-2 on each bush.

There are also striped eggplant varieties Matrosik, Striped flight, Marble.

Eggplant Overseas minke whale painted purple with white longitudinal stripes

Milkman

White is an unusual color for eggplants. The fruits of the Milkman make a contrast with greenery and earth, pleasing to the eye both in the garden and on the table. The bush grows up to 1 m in height. The first eggplants are ready for harvest in 105–115 days, weight - about 250 g. The flesh is white, tender, without bitterness. You can prepare delicious snacks and side dishes for meat. Productivity under a film cover - 8 kg / m². In the south of Siberia, it grows well in the open field.

From a series of white eggplants with fruits of about the same size and shape, you can try the varieties Pelican, White Prince, White Fairy, White Night.

Eggplant Milkman in the south of Siberia grows well in the open field

Medallion

Medallion - small-fruited eggplant. The advantages of these varieties: many fruits, decorative appearance, suitable for canning as a whole, convenient to stuff. The Medallion bush does not grow taller than 55 cm, is very compact, with small leaves. Early ripening variety - 90–95 days before harvest. Fruit weight - 80 g each.It is grown in open ground, in a greenhouse, a greenhouse, on a balcony and on a windowsill in a pot. The yield of this crumb is small - 3 kg / m² under a film cover.

Small-fruited eggplant Medallion grows well even in a pot

Ping pong

The bush is semi-spreading and high - up to 80 cm, requires pinching, according to the principle of tomatoes. Ripening period - 116 days after germination. Fruits are white, spherical, each 70–90 g. Productivity per bush is about 1 kg, from 1 m2 - 6–7 kg. Main advantages: few thorns, even fruits without bitterness, good keeping quality and transportability.

Ping Pong Eggplant Ideal for Whole Fruit Canning

Golden egg

This eggplant is called indoor, but no one forbids planting it in a greenhouse and open ground. Moreover, in the open field, the bush and fruits will be larger. The height of the plant is 50 cm. The size and shape of the fruits are similar to chicken eggs.

Compact bush, long flowering. At the time of fruiting, it is hung with multi-colored fruits, like Christmas decorations. During cultivation, the tip must be pinched to induce branching. Fruit without bitterness. You need to pick them still white, until the seeds are ripe.

Eggplant seeds are also on sale. White egg, the variety is also early, but the fruits are large - up to 200 g, the height of the bush is 70 cm, you need to grow it in the ground, and not in a pot.

In the eggplant Golden Egg, the fruits change their color as they ripen

Finger

On a bush of classical shape and size, multiple clusters of small elongated fruits are formed. The length of the eggplant reaches 16–27 cm with a diameter of 1.5–2 cm. It can be cooked, canned and eaten whole. The pulp is greenish, without bitterness. Productivity against the background of low fruit weight (30–40 g each) is impressive - 7 kg / m². Created for growing in open ground through seedlings, mid-season, undemanding to watering.

Finger eggplant got its name from the size and shape of the fruit.

How to grow eggplants in Siberia

Eggplant is a very capricious plant, it requires a lot of light, heat, timely watering. Even in a greenhouse, this culture is recommended to be kept alone, without neighbors, or to build a separate greenhouse to create a microclimate suitable only for eggplants. In addition, the most annoying and difficult to exterminate pests like to feast on the delicate leaves of this southerner: the Colorado potato beetle, aphids, spider mites. Prophylaxis should be started during the seedling period.

Sowing seedlings

Early and mid-maturing eggplants push their buds about 60–70 days after germination. At this age, they need to be planted in the ground, since the flowers will crumble on the windowsill in conditions of tightness, low light and ventilation.

The best planting time for early and mid-maturing varieties in Siberia is the first decade of March. Seeds germinate for at least 10 days, seedlings will be in mid-March, and buds in mid-late May. At this time, you can plant eggplants under a temporary shelter - in a greenhouse made of arches and film. If you sow later and plant in open ground in June, when frosts stop in Siberia, then you will not get enough in the harvest. Before the onset of cold weather, only the first fruits will have time to ripen. For cultivation in a greenhouse, sowing is carried out earlier - in the second half of February.

Eggplant seeds need about 10 days to germinate.

Having decided on the timing, you can start working with the seeds.

1. In eggplants, they are small, it is inconvenient to soak, dry or sow wet, so sow dry to a depth of 0.5-1 cm.
2. Buy soil special for tomatoes, eggplants and peppers or universal for seedlings.
3. Optimum temperature for eggplants: 22-28⁰C, at 15⁰C and below the seeds will not germinate.
4. Cover the seed box with glass or foil.
5. Open, ventilate and check soil moisture every day. If the top layer is dry, pour or sprinkle with water. Excess moisture is just as harmful as lack of moisture.

Seedling care

Place the sprouted seedlings on the lightest windowsill. In March, it is still cold in Siberia, there is snow, so the place should be not only bright, but also warm. Eggplants can get sick with a black leg from the temperature drop and die. Freshly emerged eggplants have small roots, so do not let even the top layer of soil dry out. Sprinkle or spoon regularly. The water should be at room temperature, separated.

If there is still a lot of snow outside, then melt it naturally, without heating, and water it with melt water.

When the first shoots appear, place the seedling box on a light windowsill

With luck, if everything is done correctly, your green pets will soon grow the first true leaves. It's time for a pick. Eggplants do not like to be disturbed by their roots, so the seedlings are grown with a minimum number of transplants. But it is not worth planting small plants immediately in liter pots. Their first individual containers can be simple disposable cups or pots of similar volume. There must be drain holes. Gently pry the seedlings with a spoon, step back from the stalk to take with a lump of earth, in which the root is entirely. Then the plants will not notice the transplant, they will quickly grow.

Video: the first eggplant pick

A week after transplanting and then every 10 days, feed the seedlings with special complex fertilizers: Fertika Lux (1 tbsp. Per 10 l of water), Agricola Forward (1-2 tbsp. L. Per 10 l).

It is no longer necessary to water constantly. Eggplants have developed strong roots and can draw moisture from the depths of the cups. This culture does not like dampness, which is why the germination stage is so dangerous for it, when it cannot be overdried or overmoistened. With grown seedlings, everything is much easier. Water only when the leaves begin to lose turgor, that is, they hang a little, lose their elasticity. Allow enough water to drain out of the drain holes. Pour the excess out of the pan and, if possible, if it's warm outside, open the window to ventilate the eggplant room.

Eggplant should be watered when the leaves begin to lose turgor.

When the above-ground part of the bushes in volume exceeds the cups or pots of soil, it's time to make a second pick. This time we need liter pots or buckets.

Actions for transshipment of seedlings without destroying the clod of earth:

1. Moisten the soil in pots so that it does not run off with dirt during transplantation, at the same time it does not crumble from dryness.
2. Pour enough soil into the new pots so that the old glass can be put inside, and their necks are at the same level.
3. Grasp the eggplant glass with one hand, and with the palm of your other hand, cover it on top, passing the stem between your fingers.
4. Turn it upside down with a glass, roll over the walls so that the earth moves away from them. The root should come out with a lump of earth and be in the palm of your hand.
5. Gently flip the roots upside down and place in a new pot. It is impossible to deepen, that is, the top layer from the old cup should remain the top layer in the new one.

The first day after transplanting, keep the eggplants in a shade, for example, on the floor. Then transfer to the light again, you can on the insulated balcony. Continue leaving: feeding, watering, airing.

Video: transshipment of seedlings using the example of cucumbers

Preparing a site for planting eggplants in open ground

In Siberia, the summer cottage season traditionally begins on the May holidays. Then start preparing the garden, but you can take care of this in the fall. Prepare the garden bed either in a greenhouse or in the sunniest place of the site, where you can build a greenhouse from arcs. Rows of eggplants for better lighting and warming up by the sun should be located from north to south.

The best precursors for eggplant are: cabbage, onion, melon, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, peas, beans, beans. Cannot be planted after tomatoes, peppers and potatoes.

The soil must be cleared of plant debris and dug up with fertilizers.Eggplants are very demanding on the composition and structure of the soil. It should be loose, breathable and fertile. On loamy and sandy loam soils on 1 m², add: a bucket of humus or compost and 300 g of wood ash, which can be replaced with superphosphate and potassium sulfate - 1 tbsp. l. everyone. If the soil is heavy, clayey, you can add peat, rotted sawdust, straw cutting, compost.

The planting scheme for each variety is different, indicated on the seed package.

Before digging, sprinkle humus on the ground, you cannot use fresh manure

If the bed is in open ground, install arcs and cover with a film, the ground will warm up faster and retain moisture. Sow beans and peas along both sides of the bed. In the summer, when you remove the film, the wings of these plants will protect the eggplants from the wind and create a favorable microclimate.

Planting eggplants in the garden and further care

Eggplants can be planted in a greenhouse in the last decade of May, and in a greenhouse 1–2 weeks earlier. If you plant in a greenhouse, which you will open for the day and close for the night, then in 7-10 days begin to accustom the seedlings to direct sunlight: open the window, put it on the balcony or take it out into the garden if you live in a country house. Increase the duration of your stay in the open air from one hour to a full day. Give the last dressing a week before planting, water well the day.

Transplanting:

1. To transplant to a garden bed, choose a cloudy day or evening hours.
2. According to the scheme for your variety, make holes the size of a seedling pot.
3. Transplant each eggplant by transshipment without disturbing the roots.
4. Water and mulch the soil with cut grass, old sawdust, or simply sprinkle with dry soil.
5. For better rooting in a new place, spray with vitamins for plants that help to cope with stressful situations: Epin, Energen Extra, Novosil.
6. Shade the eggplant for the first 1-2 days.

Video: planting eggplant with fertilization in the hole

Care rules after disembarkation:

• warmth is the main thing that needs to be provided for eggplants. On hot days, open and ventilate the greenhouse or greenhouse, close at night and in cloudy weather. After June 7–10, when frosts stop in Siberia, the temporary film shelter can be removed and re-installed at the end of August;
• watering should be the same as on the windowsill: 1–2 times a week at the first signs of wilting, water abundantly in order to wet the soil to the entire root depth - about 30 cm. Drip irrigation is welcome;
• start feeding one week after planting and repeat every 10 days. Do not feed with nitrogen fertilizers, manure and dung. Eggplants have entered the season of fruiting, they need phosphorus, potassium and trace elements. Now buy fertilizers not for seedlings, but for fruiting eggplants, for example, under the brands BioMaster, BioHumus, Agricola.
• the soil should be loose, without a surface crust. Mulch will help you with this;
• the formation of a bush for each variety individually. Growing in one stem, you can not touch or pinch the top at a height of 30 cm, and then leave 2-3 lateral shoots. Strongly branching varieties need to be pinned, like tomatoes, that is, before the first fork. In any case, in Siberia, leave 5-6 ovaries on one bush, pluck the rest, because they will not have time to ripen, and the juices from the bush will be taken away. Tie tall varieties to trellises or pegs;
• the use of insecticides against pests is possible only during the seedling period, when it is still far from harvesting. In the phase of flowering and growth of the ovaries, you will have to collect the larvae by hand, pick off the infected leaves, use folk remedies;
• Harvest selectively, pick the fruits in technical ripeness, until hard seeds have formed inside. If you want to get your own seeds, then keep in mind that hybrids do not have seeds, or they are undeveloped and empty.

Video: how eggplants are grown in Siberia

Reviews about growing eggplants in Siberia

Although eggplants are thermophilic plants, they can also be grown in Siberia. You need to choose an early ripe variety, take care of shelter, good feeding, timely watering. You also need to take into account that the cultivation of the culture begins long before the beginning of summer, since it is necessary to prepare the seedlings.

I live in Siberia, but this does not prevent me from growing on my site different varieties of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, ezemalins, grapes, currants, honeysuckle, cherries and cherries. I have apple trees, pears, apricots, sweet viburnum. I am gaining invaluable experience, I share it in my articles. Rate the article:

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Growing eggplants in Siberia until recently was considered a waste of time. Still, we are dealing with a rather thermophilic vegetable, it is quite difficult to care for the seedlings of which when it comes to the northern regions of the country. However, breeders do not stop there: now there are many varieties of this agricultural crop. Moreover, they perfectly take root not only in greenhouse conditions, but also in the garden. How to grow eggplants in Siberia, and what exactly needs to be taken into account by every gardener?

Variety selection

First of all, it is important to decide what varieties you are going to grow in your summer cottage. If we are talking about a greenhouse, there is no need to hesitate here for a long time, since under these conditions you will be able to harvest equally effectively both from early eggplant varieties and from medium or late ripening ones. But as for the garden, remember that the varieties of this agricultural crop, which ripen quite late, bear fruit in the fall. Accordingly, in the garden, they can simply freeze out, since frosts are frequent in the autumn.

What varieties should you give preference to? Representatives of the following types of eggplant are most suitable for Siberia:

• "Diamond". This variety belongs to the mid-season varieties. The bush can reach a height of up to half a meter, while the fruits are distinguished by a peculiar shape, which resembles a cylinder in appearance. They have a deep purple hue and form primarily on the underside of the plant. It is noteworthy that this is one of the few varieties of eggplant, the taste of the pulp of which lacks bitterness. It is also important that the yield indicators will not deteriorate if the seedlings of these eggplants are planted in the garden;
• "Nutcracker". This variety is a cross between early and mid-season eggplants. It will take approximately 45 days for the fruit to fully ripen. What is this type of eggplant characterized by? Their fruits are dark purple in color, while the shape is rounded. As a rule, many problems for farmers can arise not only during the cultivation of such a vegetable, but also at the stage of its storage. However, with a variety called The Nutcracker, nothing like this threatens you. Vegetables retain their properties for a long time, so it is not necessary to immediately process or preserve them;
• "Sailor". These early maturing eggplants are characterized by their cylindrical shape. The bush reaches a height of a little less than a meter. Remarkably, the green pulp has no bitterness in taste, which is always appreciated by gardeners.

All these varieties are considered fruitful and grow well even in such a seemingly not the most favorable region like Siberia.

Video "How to grow eggplants in Siberia"

From the video you will learn how to effectively grow eggplants in this region.

Land preparation

How to grow eggplants competently? After the varieties that are optimal for your region have been selected, it's time to start preparing the substrate for further planting of seedlings.

First, decide on the container in which you are going to grow the eggplant. This can be one large container or drawer, as well as small flower pots or disposable cups. If you sow the seeds separately, you do not have to resort to the process of picking the sprouts.

Special attention should be paid to the direct mixing of all the necessary components to obtain a substrate. Take turf and mix it with sand, peat, and humus. When the soil is ready to use, sprinkle it into your containers and pots, and top with a strong manganese solution. The purchase of a substrate in a specialized store is considered to be quite the best option, but this will cost you a pretty penny.

If you did everything correctly, after two weeks the first shoots will appear in your containers. Do not try to dig in places of sowing of eggplant seeds to check whether they are "alive": such a procedure can disrupt the process of development of the seed.

Do not forget to provide optimal conditions for growth after sowing seeds in the ground. In particular, we are talking about the volume and frequency of watering. It is undesirable to oversaturate the soil with moisture, however, it is not worth keeping the substrate in drought either.

Seed preparation

When growing seedlings, you must understand that absolutely all stages of this multi-layer process have their own weight and will largely affect the yield and quality of fruits in the future. Therefore, pay due attention to all the components, for example, the stage of preparing the eggplant seeds. First of all, they need to be checked for "survivability". To do this, prepare a strong saline solution at the rate of 30 g of salt per liter of water and place part of the seed there, at least 10-15 grains. If half of them ended up at the bottom of the container with liquid, you can safely sow eggplant grains into the ground.

Experienced farmers quite often try to stimulate seeds to actively germinate even before they are sown in the substrate. To do this, they are placed on damp cotton pads or covered with napkins moistened with water. Thus, immediately before planting the seeds in the soil, you will see which ones have sprouted, which means that with proper care they will bring a good harvest. For those who want to prepare seedlings as competently as possible for "relocation", it is necessary to follow a certain sequence of actions. For example, immediately after sowing the seeds in the ground, the containers are placed in a warm room (you can put the pots with seeds right on the windowsill). At the same time, it is very important to provide additional artificial lighting at first. In the future, the seedlings can be transferred to the greenhouse and only after that they can be planted in open ground.

Transplanting

Planting sprouted grains in the garden is another significant step for any gardener. The first thing to take into account is that you need to be extremely careful when removing sprouts from the container. Their root system is not too strong, and by damaging it, you can destroy the entire process. Some farmers prefer to sow eggplant seeds in peat. In this case, it is not necessary to remove the seedlings from there, you can transplant it along with the nutrient substrate.

Greenhouse and outdoor care

Sowing homemade eggplant in Siberia is not an easy task. However, it is equally important to ensure optimal conditions for the growth of your seedlings. It is certainly much easier to grow eggplants in greenhouse conditions. The temperature regime is regulated there, and abrupt climatic changes will not affect the sprouts of agriculture. In the garden, many troubles lie in wait for them, and it's not just the weather, pests can cause special harm to the plant. It is recommended to deal with them with professional means if you want to harvest a good harvest.

Harvesting

Experienced farmers will certainly agree that shrubs can be damaged while harvesting ripe fruits. Therefore, in no case pluck the fruits.They must be carefully cut, and together with the stalk. As for the process of storing them, a lot depends on the variety you choose. Some fruits lose their characteristics rather quickly, so it is recommended to preserve them immediately. But there are also varieties that can be stored in cellars or back rooms for a long time.

Seed preparation

If earlier you, perhaps, preferred to buy eggplant seeds, then having collected a full harvest from your garden, you can find an alternative - harvesting seed at home. To do this, select a few of the largest fruits from the beds and leave them in a warm room for 5-10 days. Thus, the resulting seeds can be sown next season.

Of course, the process of growing eggplant in an area with rather harsh climatic features is a complicated matter. And here it will take a lot of effort on your part. In addition, not every experienced gardener will agree to spend efforts on such a process.

But if you adhere to the key recommendations from experts, the result will be good. Early or medium-sized, eggplants will become an indispensable ingredient in your meals, and they are also quite popular when canned. The main thing is to protect the seedlings from the effects of low Siberian temperatures and pests. In this case, you can grow eggplants in your garden and prepare your own seed for next spring.

Video "The best varieties of eggplant"

From the video you will learn the characteristics of the best varieties of eggplant.

Growing eggplants outdoors in Siberia now doesn't seem like a fantastic task.

Modern science offers many varieties that are resistant to harsh conditions.

How to grow eggplants in Siberia and all the difficulties and subtleties that you will have to face along the way - in our article.

…

When to plant eggplants for seedlings in Siberia?

Since the summer in Siberia is short, so the choice of eggplant for growing should be made in favor of early varieties or hybridsThis is the first rule, it will allow them to fully ripen and get a good harvest.

Second rule: you have to choose varieties that are resistant to temperature extremes and tolerate low temperatures well... There are many such seeds on the market now. Learn more about preparing seeds before sowing.

Suitable varieties for sowing eggplants for seedlings in Siberia: "Purple Miracle", "Nutcracker", "Sailor", "Robin Hood"... In a short Siberian summer, these varieties have time to fully ripen, in addition, they have a good yield and a number of other advantages.

REFERENCE! When growing seedlings, gardeners face many difficulties and this is perhaps the most difficult stage in growing this crop. Falling, stretching and yellowing of seedlings - this is not a complete list of the problems that one has to face when growing it.

To avoid problems at the very initial stage, the lighting regime should be strictly observed: seedlings loves light, temperature and irrigation.

You should also watch out for harmful insects that can cause irreparable harm to small shoots. A very important point will be the choice of containers for growing seedlings, they must be spacious and disinfected.

How to plant eggplants for seedlings in Siberia? Seedlings are grown only in heated greenhouses... Since another option is impossible not only in Siberia, but even in the southern regions. From the moment the seeds were planted in the ground and before their germination, 80-90 days pass.

Seedlings are planted at the end of May, even at the beginning of Junewhen the threat of frost has passed. Seeds for seedlings should be planted in late February, early March. It is not worth delaying the timing too much, since the plant has a long vegetative period and the eggplants will not have time to ripen, even early-ripening varieties.

Landing in open ground

IMPORTANT! The best time for planting eggplant seedlings in open ground is the beginning of June, when the threat of frost is guaranteed to pass. For planting in open ground, varieties of early ripening are recommended.

The harsh conditions can be compensated for by the composition of the soil. It should contain many organic substances and be neutral in composition. To lower the acidity, you can use chalk or dolomite flour, both are good and effective and, most importantly, safe, as they are completely natural.

By mechanical properties loose and loamy soils are more suitable than others... Therefore, it is better to prepare it before planting.

To do this, you need to take sand at the rate of one bucket per square meter. m. of land. Then dig everything up and loosen it up properly. Areas where potatoes grew last season are not recommended for planting eggplants.

For growing in unprotected soil you should choose an illuminated place, preferably without shade and drafts... To create optimal conditions, the following planting scheme is used: between seedlings 40-50 cm and 50-60 cm between rows.

This method of planting does not thicken and all plants will have enough light, this is especially important in the conditions of the Siberian summer. After planting in open ground, young shoots at first should be protected at night with covering material.

For this, gardeners use non-woven "Agrotex" or "Spanboard". After the bushes have finally hardened, the protection can be removed.

Features of care for seedlings

ATTENTION! It takes a lot of work to get a good eggplant harvest in Siberian conditions. In addition to harsh weather conditions, another danger lies in wait for gardeners: these are harmful insects.

Eggplant can be attacked by spider mites, Colorado potato beetles and other pests that eat nightshade crops. You can fight against aphids, mites and thrips by washing them off with soapy water, but it will be more effective to use the drug "Confidor" and "Barrier".

From the Colorado potato beetle, the Prestige remedy is effectively taken. Since the eggplant seedlings are still grown in greenhouses, they are also threatened by the greenhouse whitefly; the drug Confidor has been successfully used against it for many years.

Most modern varieties and hybrids of eggplant, especially for northern latitudes, have a very high resistance to diseases, including fungi. But this does not mean that gardeners can relax, no one canceled prevention.

Timely watering, abundant, but not frequent, good lighting and low planting density Is the first step towards healthy plants. But everything is found on the site. If your plantings are affected by root rot, you need to reduce watering.

Black leg is an incurable disease that threatens to spread to other plants. To avoid this, the affected bushes are removed, and the places where they grew are treated with a disinfecting solution. Unfortunately, only such drastic measures can prevent the spread of the disease to the rest of the bushes.

REFERENCE! It should be watered with lukewarm water every 10-12 days, but abundantly. Water should be passed through a filter or defended during the day.

Top dressing

should be carried out 3-4 times per season. It is better to use complex fertilizers. For this, such means as "Zdraven", "Kemira-hydro" and "Kemira-kombi" are suitable.

In addition, to provide the eggplant bushes with microelements, once every 25-30 days, fertilizing with such preparations as "Zircon +" and "Tsitovit" should be carried out. This will fully meet the plant's need for all the necessary substances.

Eggplant bushes need a garter, and its branches must be strengthened with props, since the fruits are quite large, which can cause them to break off.

When the plant reaches 30-45 cm in growth, it can be pinched, leaving no more than 6 ovaries.

Growing a good harvest of this capricious nightshade crop in Siberian conditions is no more difficult than in the south, if you take the right variety.Following our instructions and advice, you will succeed, good luck.

So, we found out when to sow eggplants for seedlings in Siberia, gave the approximate dates for sowing seeds, and gave advice on how to properly grow eggplants in Siberia?

Useful materials

Read other articles on growing and caring for eggplant seedlings:

• Different growing methods: in peat tablets, in a snail and even on toilet paper.
• All the features of sowing according to the lunar calendar.
• The golden rules for growing from seeds.
• Features of cultivation in various regions of Russia: in the Urals and in the Moscow region.
• Dive tips.

Useful video

Practical advice from a gardener on the successful cultivation of eggplant in Siberia:

Eggplant is a herbaceous perennial plant. His homeland is India, South Asia and the Middle East. The spread of the culture was facilitated by the Arabs. In the 9th century, they brought wild eggplants to Africa. And only six centuries later the plant got to Europe, in the XIX century the first varieties appeared. And today this southern vegetable, thanks to breeders, is also grown in Siberia.

What eggplants grow in Siberia

The growing season for eggplants is long, and the summer in Siberia is short. In the earliest varieties from germination to the first harvest, about 90-100 days pass, in late-ripening - up to 150. But the bush does not give the entire harvest in one harvest, flowering lasts all summer until autumn, therefore, the culture is grown even in the southern regions through seedlings and plant it in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

Eggplants in Siberia, as in all regions of Russia, are grown through seedlings

In Siberia, from the last spring frosts to the first autumn frosts, an average of 90 days pass. This means that early varieties need to be grown in this region, and if there is a greenhouse, mid-season ones.

Eggplant varieties for Siberia

Siberian vegetable growers have a large selection of eggplant varieties.

King of the north

The hybrid was bred specifically for regions with harsh climates. Differs in cold resistance. The bush develops a powerful one - 1 m in height. It begins to bear fruit on the 95-100th day. Fruit length - 25-30 cm, sometimes up to 40 cm, average weight - 300 g. In a greenhouse during the Siberian summer from one bush you can get up to 10 fruits, and from 1 m2 - 12-15 kg. Under the glossy purple skin lies a whitish, dense flesh. The lack of bitterness makes cooking easier, no need to pre-soak in salt water.

A characteristic feature of the King of the North eggplant is the purple color of the stem

Northerner

Despite the name, the Severyanin variety is recommended for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation. Eggplant bears fruit well in different weather conditions. Has shown excellent results at test sites in Western Siberia. Designed for growing in open ground and under a film shelter. The northerner belongs to the mid-season, gives the first fruits on the 110th day after germination. Sow for seedlings 60-70 days before planting in the ground. The bush grows compact - up to 50 cm in height. Fruits differ from the classic ones only in a pear-shaped form. The usual fruit weight for this variety is 165 g, but specimens grow up to 600 g. Experts estimate the taste as excellent. Outdoor yield - 6.4 kg / m².

Eggplant Severyanin, with good care, is hung with pear-shaped fruits with a glossy purple surface

Samurai sword

The fruits of eggplant look spectacular. Samurai sword: dark purple, glossy, lined, each about 200 g. But the variety is inferior to Severyanin in productivity. The bush is semi-sprawling, up to 60 cm high. The taste after cooking is good and excellent. Pulp without bitterness. In terms of ripening, it belongs to the mid-season, before harvesting you will have to wait 110-120 days.

Eggplant Samurai Sword bears beautiful club-shaped fruits, aligned in size

Irzhik

An early variety, the first eggplants can be harvested in 90-100 days. Their characteristic feature is a ribbed surface. The bush grows compact and tall - up to 70 cm. Outdoor yield in the southern regions of Siberia is 5.9 kg / m².Spherical fruits weighing 350 g are perfect for stuffing with various fillings.

Irzhik is a Czech and Slovak name. The inhabitants of the USSR know the tale "Goldilocks". Irzhik in it was the name of the main character, a cook who served under the grumpy king, understood the language of animals, birds, insects.

Eggplant Irzhik stands out among others with rather large spherical fruits with pronounced ribbing

Overseas minke

The bush of the Overseas minke whale is spreading, with large leaves, high - up to 120 cm, the corresponding fruits - 500–900 g each. Productivity under the film is about 9 kg / m². When grown outdoors in drought or rainy weather, the bush may not grow to the declared 120 cm, but the fruit sets large. As a result, vegetable growers get short plants with huge eggplants, 1-2 on each bush.

There are also striped eggplant varieties Matrosik, Striped flight, Marble.

Eggplant Overseas minke whale painted purple with white longitudinal stripes

Milkman

White is an unusual color for eggplants. The fruits of the Milkman make a contrast with greenery and earth, pleasing to the eye both in the garden and on the table. The bush grows up to 1 m in height. The first eggplants are ready for harvest in 105-115 days, weight - about 250 g. The flesh is white, tender, without bitterness. You can prepare delicious snacks and side dishes for meat. Productivity under a film cover - 8 kg / m². In the south of Siberia, it grows well in the open field.

From a series of white eggplants with fruits of about the same size and shape, you can try the varieties Pelican, White Prince, White Fairy, White Night.

Eggplant Milkman in the south of Siberia grows well in the open field

Medallion

Medallion - small-fruited eggplant. The advantages of these varieties: many fruits, decorative appearance, suitable for canning as a whole, convenient to stuff. The Medallion bush does not grow taller than 55 cm, is very compact, with small leaves. Early ripening variety - 90–95 days before harvest. Fruit weight - 80 g each. It is grown in open ground, in a greenhouse, a greenhouse, on a balcony and on a windowsill in a pot. The yield of this crumb is small - 3 kg / m² under a film cover.

Small-fruited eggplant Medallion grows well even in a pot

Ping pong

The bush is semi-spreading and high - up to 80 cm, requires pinching, according to the principle of tomatoes. Ripening period - 116 days after germination. Fruits are white, spherical, each for 70–90 g. Productivity per bush is about 1 kg, from 1 m2 - 6–7 kg. Main advantages: few thorns, even fruits without bitterness, good keeping quality and transportability.

Ping Pong Eggplant Ideal for Whole Fruit Canning

Golden egg

This eggplant is called indoor, but no one forbids planting it in a greenhouse and open ground. Moreover, in the open field, the bush and fruits will be larger. The height of the plant is 50 cm. The size and shape of the fruits are similar to chicken eggs.

Compact bush, long flowering. At the time of fruiting, it is hung with multi-colored fruits, like Christmas decorations. During cultivation, the tip must be pinched to induce branching. Fruit without bitterness. You need to pick them still white, until the seeds are ripe.

Eggplant seeds are also on sale. White egg, the variety is also early, but the fruits are large - up to 200 g, the height of the bush is 70 cm, you need to grow it in the ground, and not in a pot.

In the eggplant Golden Egg, the fruits change their color as they ripen

Finger

On a bush of classical shape and size, multiple clusters of small elongated fruits are formed. The length of the eggplant reaches 16–27 cm with a diameter of 1.5–2 cm. It can be cooked, canned and eaten whole. The pulp is greenish, without bitterness. Productivity against the background of low fruit weight (30–40 g each) is impressive - 7 kg / m². Created for growing in open ground through seedlings, mid-season, undemanding to watering.

Finger eggplant got its name from the size and shape of the fruit.

How to grow eggplants in Siberia

Eggplant is a very capricious plant, it requires a lot of light, heat, timely watering. Even in a greenhouse, this culture is recommended to be kept alone, without neighbors, or to build a separate greenhouse to create a microclimate suitable only for eggplants. In addition, the most annoying and difficult to exterminate pests like to feast on the delicate leaves of this southerner: the Colorado potato beetle, aphids, spider mites. Prevention should be started during the seedling period.

Sowing seedlings

Early and mid-maturing eggplants push their buds about 60–70 days after germination. At this age, they need to be planted in the ground, since flowers will crumble on the windowsill in conditions of tightness, low light and ventilation.

The best planting time for early and mid-maturing varieties in Siberia is the first decade of March. Seeds germinate for at least 10 days, seedlings will be in mid-March, and buds in mid-late May. At this time, you can plant eggplants under a temporary shelter - in a greenhouse made of arches and film. If you sow later and plant in open ground in June, when frosts stop in Siberia, you will not get enough in the harvest. Before the onset of cold weather, only the first fruits will have time to ripen. For cultivation in a greenhouse, sowing is carried out earlier - in the second half of February.

Eggplant seeds need about 10 days to germinate.

Having decided on the timing, you can start working with the seeds.

1. In eggplants, they are small, it is inconvenient to soak, dry or sow wet, so sow dry to a depth of 0.5–1 cm.
2. Buy soil special for tomatoes, eggplants and peppers or universal for seedlings.
3. Optimum temperature for eggplants: 22-28⁰C, at 15⁰C and below the seeds will not germinate.
4. Cover the seed box with glass or foil.
5. Open, ventilate and check soil moisture every day. If the top layer is dry, pour or sprinkle with water. Excess moisture is just as harmful as lack of moisture.

Seedling care

Place the sprouted seedlings on the lightest windowsill. In March, it is still cold in Siberia, there is snow, so the place should be not only bright, but also warm. Eggplants can get sick with a black leg from the temperature drop and die. Freshly emerged eggplants have small roots, so do not let even the top layer of soil dry out. Sprinkle or spoon regularly. The water should be at room temperature, separated.

If there is still a lot of snow outside, then melt it naturally, without heating, and water it with melt water.

When the first shoots appear, place the seedling box on a light windowsill

With luck, if everything is done correctly, your green pets will soon grow the first true leaves. It's time for a pick. Eggplants do not like to be disturbed by their roots, so the seedlings are grown with a minimum number of transplants. But it is not worth planting small plants immediately in liter pots. Their first individual containers can be simple disposable cups or pots of similar volume. There must be drain holes. Pry the seedlings gently with a spoon, step back from the stem to take with a lump of earth, in which the root is entirely. Then the plants will not notice the transplant, they will quickly grow.

Video: the first eggplant pick

A week after transplanting and then every 10 days, feed the seedlings with special complex fertilizers: Fertika Lux (1 tbsp. Per 10 l of water), Agricola Forward (1-2 tbsp. L. Per 10 l).

It is no longer necessary to water constantly. Eggplants have developed strong roots and can draw moisture from the depths of the cups. This culture does not like dampness, which is why the germination stage is so dangerous for it, when it can neither be overdried nor overmoistened. With grown seedlings, everything is much easier. Water only when the leaves begin to lose turgor, that is, they hang a little, lose their elasticity. Allow enough water to drain out of the drain holes.Pour the excess out of the pan and, if possible, if it's warm outside, open the window to ventilate the eggplant room.

Eggplant should be watered when the leaves begin to lose turgor.

When the above-ground part of the bushes in volume exceeds the cups or pots of soil, it's time to make a second pick. This time we need liter pots or buckets.

Actions for transshipment of seedlings without destroying the clod of earth:

1. Moisten the soil in pots so that it does not run off with dirt during transplantation, at the same time it does not crumble from dryness.
2. Pour enough soil into the new pots so that the old glass can be put inside, and their necks are at the same level.
3. Grasp the glass of eggplant with one hand, and with the palm of your other hand, cover it on top, passing the stem between your fingers.
4. Turn it upside down with a glass, roll over the walls so that the earth moves away from them. The root should come out with a lump of earth and be in the palm of your hand.
5. Gently flip the roots upside down and place in a new pot. It is impossible to deepen, that is, the top layer from the old cup should remain the top layer in the new one.

The first day after transplanting, keep the eggplants in a shade, for example, on the floor. Then transfer to the light again, you can on the insulated balcony. Continue leaving: feeding, watering, airing.

Video: transshipment of seedlings using the example of cucumbers

Preparing a site for planting eggplants in open ground

In Siberia, the summer cottage season traditionally begins on the May holidays. Then start preparing the garden, but you can take care of this in the fall. Prepare the garden either in a greenhouse or in the sunniest place of the site, where you can build a greenhouse from arcs. Rows of eggplants for better lighting and warming up by the sun should be located from north to south.

Best precursors for eggplant: cabbage, onion, melon, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, peas, beans, beans. Cannot be planted after tomatoes, peppers and potatoes.

The soil must be cleared of plant debris and dug up with fertilizers. Eggplants are very demanding on the composition and structure of the soil. It should be loose, breathable and fertile. On loamy and sandy loam soils on 1 m², add: a bucket of humus or compost and 300 g of wood ash, which can be replaced with superphosphate and potassium sulfate - 1 tbsp. l. everyone. If the soil is heavy, clayey, you can add peat, rotted sawdust, straw cutting, compost.

The planting scheme for each variety is different, indicated on the seed package.

Before digging, sprinkle humus on the ground, you cannot use fresh manure

If the bed is in open ground, install arcs and cover with a film, the ground will warm up faster and retain moisture. Sow beans and peas along both sides of the bed. In summer, when you remove the film, the wings of these plants will protect the eggplants from the wind and create a favorable microclimate.

Planting eggplants in the garden and further care

Eggplants can be planted in a greenhouse in the last decade of May, and in a greenhouse 1–2 weeks earlier. If you plant in a greenhouse, which you will open for the day and close for the night, then in 7-10 days begin to accustom the seedlings to direct sunlight: open the window, put it on the balcony or take it out into the garden if you live in a country house. Increase the duration of your stay in the open air from one hour to a full day. Give the last dressing a week before planting, water well the day.

Transplanting:

1. To transplant to a garden bed, choose a cloudy day or evening hours.
2. According to the scheme for your variety, make holes the size of a seedling pot.
3. Transplant each eggplant by transshipment without disturbing the roots.
4. Water and mulch the soil with cut grass, old sawdust, or simply sprinkle with dry soil.
5. For better rooting in a new place, spray with vitamins for plants that help to cope with stressful situations: Epin, Energen Extra, Novosil.
6. Shade the eggplant for the first 1-2 days.

Video: planting eggplant with fertilization in the hole

Care rules after disembarkation:

• warmth is the main thing that needs to be provided for eggplants. On hot days, open and ventilate the greenhouse or greenhouse, close at night and in cloudy weather. After June 7–10, when frosts stop in Siberia, the temporary film shelter can be removed and re-installed at the end of August;
• watering should be the same as on the windowsill: 1–2 times a week at the first signs of wilting, water abundantly in order to wet the soil to the entire root depth - about 30 cm. Drip irrigation is welcome;
• start feeding one week after planting and repeat every 10 days. Do not feed with nitrogen fertilizers, manure and dung. Eggplants have entered the season of fruiting, they need phosphorus, potassium and trace elements. Now buy fertilizers not for seedlings, but for fruiting eggplants, for example, under the brands BioMaster, BioHumus, Agricola.
• the soil should be loose, without a surface crust. Mulch will help you with this;
• the formation of a bush for each variety individually. Growing in one stem, you can not touch or pinch the top at a height of 30 cm, and then leave 2-3 lateral shoots. Strongly branching varieties need to be pinned, like tomatoes, that is, before the first fork. In any case, in Siberia, leave 5-6 ovaries on one bush, pluck the rest, because they will not have time to ripen, and the juices from the bush will be taken away. Tie tall varieties to trellises or pegs;
• the use of insecticides against pests is possible only during the seedling period, when it is still far from harvesting. In the phase of flowering and growth of the ovaries, you will have to collect the larvae by hand, pick off the infected leaves, use folk remedies;
• Harvest selectively, pick the fruits in technical ripeness, until hard seeds have formed inside. If you want to get your own seeds, then keep in mind that hybrids do not have seeds, or they are undeveloped and empty.

Video: how eggplants are grown in Siberia

Reviews about growing eggplants in Siberia

Although eggplants are thermophilic plants, they can also be grown in Siberia. You need to choose an early ripe variety, take care of shelter, good feeding, timely watering. You also need to take into account that the cultivation of the culture begins long before the beginning of summer, since it is necessary to prepare the seedlings.

My hobbies: plant growing, healthy lifestyle, Tibetan medicine, home winemaking. Merchandise expert by education.

Eggplant has always been considered a southern plant. During my childhood, I had never even heard of such a vegetable. Only when we went to visit relatives in Volgograd, I first saw an eggplant with my own eyes. Well, I saw and saw. Soon I forgot about him. And only much later, when my gardening grew into a favorite hobby, I again remembered about eggplants and began to look for information. Now a lot of early varieties have appeared, and it has become much easier to grow eggplants. But still, many do not risk planting them if there is no greenhouse. I took a chance and it worked out for me! I want to share my experience.

I grow seedlings as usual. I plant from 5 to 15 March, it's not worth it earlier, otherwise, due to a lack of light, the plants will stretch out, and we will not plant seedlings before May. Eggplants do not like transplanting, so I put them in small plastic cups, each seed separately. I feed them with soluble biohumus-based fertilizers for seedlings once every two weeks. And when they grow up, I do the transfer into liter buckets of mayonnaise.

For planting seedlings, I prepare a bed in advance. And I will start this procedure in May. I remove the top fertile layer of the earth and fold it on the side. I put a layer of manure or hay down, maybe last year's grass. I put strong stakes on the sides of the bed and enclose it with boards or a croaker about 50 cm high.

I try to make the structure strong and without gaps. If everything is done correctly, the garden bed will last for more than one year. Now I apply the soil that I removed from the ridge, add 9 buckets of humus or well-rotted compost to a ridge 1 m wide and 4 m long. I stir, level the earth and spill it with hot water from a watering can.

After that, from above, I close the garden bed with old plastic wrap, it can be full of holes, in several layers and leave it for several days so that the earth warms up better. When the weather gets warmer, I plant seedlings. I usually do this after May 15, because in Siberia, frosts can be until June 10.

I simply transfer the seedlings into the ridge without damaging the earthen lump, it is usually completely entwined with roots and does not fall apart. I spill the hole well with water, put eggplant seedlings and cover them with earth. I plant it at the same depth as the seedlings grew in a bucket, only I sprinkle the bare roots from above. I put arcs on the garden bed and cover them on top with covering material. If a cold snap is expected, I also cover it with plastic wrap on top. Seedlings usually take root well and start growing quickly.

I plant eggplants with buds, and soon they bloom. Further care consists in watering, feeding and weeding. When it's hot outside, the ridge is open, and if the temperature drops below 15 ° C, I again cover the plants with covering material. In July, I begin to collect the first fruits. When the seedlings grow, I raise the arcs. I feed it a couple of times with any complex water-soluble fertilizer for nightshade crops. I water as the topsoil dries out. Eggplants need regular watering even more than peppers.

At the end of August, I again cover the ridge with a film on top. And until mid-September I still have time to collect the fruits that have set. Despite slight frosts, those fruits that set at the end of summer grow, under the shelter they have enough warmth for growth, although the plants no longer bloom.

I plant different varieties, but always choose early maturing ones. So the harvest is guaranteed to have time to ripen.

Svetlana Shishkina, Tobolsk

When to plant eggplants for seedlings in Siberia?

Since the summer in Siberia is short, so the choice of eggplant for growing should be made in favor of early varieties or hybridsThis is the first rule, it will allow them to fully ripen and get a good harvest.

Second rule: you have to choose varieties that are resistant to temperature extremes and tolerate low temperatures well... There are many such seeds on the market now. Learn more about preparing seeds before sowing.

Suitable varieties for sowing eggplants for seedlings in Siberia: "Purple Miracle", "Nutcracker", "Sailor", "Robin Hood"... In a short Siberian summer, these varieties have time to fully ripen, in addition, they have a good yield and a number of other advantages.

REFERENCE! When growing seedlings, gardeners face many difficulties and this is perhaps the most difficult stage in growing this crop. Falling, stretching and yellowing of seedlings - this is not a complete list of the problems that one has to face when growing it.

To avoid problems at the very initial stage, the lighting regime should be strictly observed: seedlings loves light, temperature and irrigation.

You should also watch out for harmful insects that can cause irreparable harm to small shoots. A very important point will be the choice of containers for growing seedlings, they must be spacious and disinfected.

How to plant eggplants for seedlings in Siberia? Seedlings are grown only in heated greenhouses... Since another option is impossible not only in Siberia, but even in the southern regions. From the moment the seeds were planted in the ground and before their germination, 80-90 days pass.

Seedlings are planted at the end of May, even at the beginning of Junewhen the threat of frost has passed. Seeds for seedlings should be planted in late February, early March.It is not worth delaying the timing too much, since the plant has a long vegetative period and the eggplants will not have time to ripen, even early-ripening varieties.

Landing in open ground

IMPORTANT! The best time for planting eggplant seedlings in open ground is the beginning of June, when the threat of frost is guaranteed to pass. For planting in open ground, varieties of early ripening are recommended.

The harsh conditions can be compensated for by the composition of the soil. It should contain many organic substances and be neutral in composition. To lower acidity, you can use chalk or dolomite flour, both are good and effective and most importantly safe, as they are completely natural.

By mechanical properties loose and loamy soils are more suitable than others... Therefore, it is better to prepare it before planting.

To do this, you need to take sand at the rate of one bucket per square meter. m. of land. Then dig up everything and loosen it properly. Areas where potatoes grew last season are not recommended for planting eggplants.

For growing in unprotected soil you should choose an illuminated place, preferably without shade and drafts... To create optimal conditions, the following planting scheme is used: between seedlings 40-50 cm and 50-60 cm between rows.

This method of planting does not give thickening and all plants will have enough light, this is especially important in the conditions of the Siberian summer. After planting in open ground, young shoots at first should be protected at night with covering material.

For this, gardeners use non-woven "Agrotex" or "Spanboard". After the bushes have finally hardened, the protection can be removed.

Features of care for seedlings

ATTENTION! It takes a lot of work to get a good eggplant harvest in Siberian conditions. In addition to harsh weather conditions, another danger lies in wait for gardeners: these are harmful insects.

Eggplant can be attacked by spider mites, Colorado potato beetles and other pests that eat nightshade crops. It is possible to fight against aphids, mites and thrips by washing them off with soapy water, but it will be more effective to use the drug "Confidor" and "Barrier".

From the Colorado potato beetle, the Prestige remedy is effectively taken. Since the eggplant seedlings are still grown in greenhouses, they are also threatened by the greenhouse whitefly; the drug Confidor has been successfully used against it for many years.

Most modern varieties and hybrids of eggplant, especially for northern latitudes, have a very high resistance to diseases, including fungi. But this does not mean that gardeners can relax, no one canceled prevention.

Timely watering, abundant, but not frequent, good lighting and low planting density Is the first step to healthy plants. But there are all kinds of things on the site. If your plantings are affected by root rot, you need to reduce watering.

Black leg is an incurable disease that threatens to spread to other plants. To avoid this, the affected bushes are removed, and the places where they grew are treated with a disinfecting solution. Unfortunately, only such drastic measures can prevent the spread of the disease to the rest of the bushes.

REFERENCE! It should be watered with lukewarm water every 10-12 days, but abundantly. Water should be passed through a filter or defended during the day.

Top dressing

should be carried out 3-4 times per season. It is better to use complex fertilizers. For this, such means as "Zdraven", "Kemira-hydro" and "Kemira-kombi" are suitable.

In addition, to provide the eggplant bushes with microelements, once every 25-30 days, fertilizing with such preparations as "Zircon +" and "Cytovit" should be carried out. This will fully meet the plant's need for all the necessary substances.

Eggplant bushes need a garter, and its branches must be strengthened with props, since the fruits are quite large, which can cause them to break off.

When the plant reaches 30-45 cm in growth, it can be pinched, leaving no more than 6 ovaries.

Growing a good harvest of this capricious nightshade crop in Siberian conditions is no more difficult than in the south, if you take the right variety. Following our instructions and advice, you will succeed, good luck.

So, we found out when to sow eggplants for seedlings in Siberia, gave the approximate dates for sowing seeds, and gave advice on how to properly grow eggplants in Siberia?

Useful materials

Read other articles on growing and caring for eggplant seedlings:

• Different growing methods: in peat tablets, in a snail and even on toilet paper.
• All the features of sowing according to the lunar calendar.
• The golden rules for growing from seeds.
• Features of cultivation in various regions of Russia: in the Urals and in the Moscow region.
• Dive tips.

Useful video

Practical advice from a gardener on the successful cultivation of eggplant in Siberia:

Eggplants and Siberia: seemingly incompatible concepts, but they are not. Of course, summer in Siberia can be very warm, but not for long, and eggplants need a long and hot summer. Therefore, until recently, this vegetable was exotic in the Trans-Ural regions. But the breeders have tried, and the enthusiasts have the opportunity to successfully grow this thermophilic crop in Siberia.

The best varieties for Siberia

Since eggplants have a long growing season, the choice for Siberia is obvious: only early or even super-early varieties can be grown here. Well, as a last resort, you can plant medium early ones, but they will already require more careful maintenance. Fortunately, there are now several dozen suitable varieties, and even the State Register of the Russian Federation recommends many varieties and hybrids of eggplant for cultivation in all climatic zones, without exception.

Open field eggplants

For eggplants that are not very simple in agricultural technology in the zone of risky farming, it is safer to use hybrids (F1), but some old varieties are not much inferior to them. Now there are a huge number of options, but in Siberia, if you want to grow eggplants in the open field, you must choose from early or even super early varieties and hybrids.

• Agate F1 is a high-yielding hybrid that has such a short growing season that sometimes you can do without seedlings: at the end of spring, you can try to sow prepared seeds under a film, and before the first frost some part of the crop will ripen. Fruits of the usual shape and color for eggplant, weighing 200-250 g, high yield. The hybrid is resistant to disease.Agate is one of the few eggplants that can bear fruit when directly sowing seeds in the garden
• Diamond is a mid-season well-deserved variety, cultivated since 1983. The time from germination to technical ripeness is 109-149 days, this period strongly depends on climatic conditions. The bush is undersized, 45–56 cm high. Fruits are cylindrical, dark purple in technical ripeness, brown-brown in biological ripeness. Fruit weight 100–150 g. The taste is excellent. Relatively resistant to disease.Diamond is one of the most famous varieties
• Bovine Heart F1 - mid-early hybrid, fruits are ready for consumption 4 months after sowing the seeds. Tall bushes, obligatory tying is required, oval-shaped fruits, weighing 300-400 g, shiny. Disease resistance is increased, fruiting is extended.
• Emerald F1 - eggplant with a strong aroma and taste of mushrooms, characterized by increased cold and disease resistance. From sowing the seeds to the readiness of the first fruits, it takes 100-110 days. Eggplants are green, oval, weighing up to 300 g. It is considered one of the easiest hybrids to grow, capable of bearing fruit in any climatic conditions.Emerald in appearance of the fruit lives up to its name
• Bourgeois F1 is a tall, early ripening hybrid. The bush requires obligatory formation, but at the same time its highest resistance to diseases is noted.Bears fruit for a long time. Fruits weighing up to 500 g, similar in shape to tomatoes, are well transported and stored.
• King of the North F1 is a hybrid with reviews ranging from enthusiastic to not very good. It is capable of producing crops even at very low temperatures, does not like extreme heat. The yield reaches 14 kg / m2. It takes about three months from germination to harvest. The fruits are large, very long and thin, often lying on the ground.The king of the north sometimes looks like black bananas: the bunch touches the ground
• Batayskiy is a mid-ripening variety, from mass shoots to the technical ripeness of fruits it takes 118-142 days. Bushes above average height (45–75 cm). Fruits are cylindrical, dark purple to black in color, shiny surface. The mass of the fruit is 140–220 g. The pulp is white, without bitterness. The quality of the canned food is good and excellent. Productivity and disease resistance are average.
• Vera - recommended for home cooking and canning, early maturing. The period from full germination to harvesting is 100–118 days. Fruits are pear-shaped, weighing 120-200 g. Productivity is stable, but low.Vera is one of the traditional varieties for Siberia
• Salamander is a variety designed specifically for the Siberian region. It is resistant to sudden changes in temperature from frost to hot weather, which is typical for some regions and edges of Siberia. Both a bush and fruits of medium size, early maturing. The fruit is cylindrical, purple, weighing about 250 g. Good taste.
• Siberian argument F1 - included in the State Register for growing in open ground and under film shelters, mid-season. The plant is tall, the fruits are club-shaped, weighing about 150 g. The taste of the products is excellent, the yield is at an average level.

Eggplant for the greenhouse

In principle, any eggplant can be planted in a modern greenhouse. But late-ripening varieties in Siberia may not ripen even in a greenhouse. In addition, saving space, vegetable growers try to grow tall and high-yielding varieties and hybrids in greenhouse conditions.

• Giselle F1 is a hybrid, versatile in the use of fruits, can be grown both in greenhouses and in unprotected soil, but in good greenhouses the yield is much higher: up to 14 kg / m2. Fruits weighing up to 500 g, cylindrical, standard color for eggplants, are well stored. The first harvest is about 110 days after sowing the seeds.Giselle is popular in all climatic zones
• Romantic - an early ripe variety, differs from most varieties in the fruits of a pale lilac color, the shape of eggplants is oval. The bushes are about a meter tall, the yield is average. The variety cannot be considered easy to grow, it can only be planted in good greenhouses: at the slightest cold snaps, it easily gets sick with fungal diseases.
• Balagur is a very early ripening variety, after sowing the seeds, the fruits can be tasted after 90 days. The bushes are tall, literally like a Christmas tree, hung with purple small fruits weighing about 100 g: up to 100 of them can grow on one bush. The taste is excellent. The variety is characterized by increased resistance to cold and disease, but requires careful formation of the bush.Balagur differs in that there are always a lot of fruits
• Maria is a high-yielding mid-season variety; in Siberia, it can be grown in greenhouses and under the simplest shelters. The bushes grow up to 70–75 cm. Disease resistance is quite high, the same applies to temperature changes. Early ripe. Fruits are cylindrical, weighing about 200 g. Good taste, average yield.
• Early maturing 148 is an old, widely known variety. It can be used for both open ground and greenhouses. Bushes are undersized, compact. The fruits are ready to harvest in 110 days after sowing the seeds. Low yield, pear-shaped fruits weighing 100-200 g. Unpretentious to conditions, bears fruit before the start of frost.

Growing conditions

From sowing the seeds to the readiness of the harvest, eggplants take a very long time: the earliest varieties bear fruit only after three months or more. Unfortunately, this vegetable can be planted in the garden only at the beginning of summer: it needs real warmth. Even in the south, to obtain early production, eggplants are grown through seedlings, and in Siberia, the seedless method is practically inapplicable.

In principle, eggplants do not need anything supernatural: they need warmth, constantly moist and very fertile soil. Thermophilicity, as well as a long growing season, stopped the advancement of culture in harsh climatic regions for a long time. In Siberia, summer residents usually open their season on May holidays. At this time, the preparation of the eggplant beds begins, although it is better to do this in the fall.

If you have a good greenhouse, you can prepare a place for the eggplants in it. Although, of course, the best vegetables grow in the sun, and eggplant is no exception. But outside the greenhouse, they still have to prepare a temporary shelter: build a greenhouse from arcs, cover it with foil. Rows of eggplants should be arranged from north to south for better lighting and warming up by the sun. The best precursors for eggplant are cabbage, onions, pumpkins, and legumes. They should not be planted after tomatoes, peppers and potatoes. Eggplants definitely need space and good lighting.

In the fall, the garden bed must be cleaned of plant debris and dug up with fertilizers. Eggplants are very demanding on the composition of the soil. It must be loose, breathable and saturated with humus and mineral fertilizers. At least one and a half buckets of humus or compost and a liter can of wood ash, as well as a tablespoon of superphosphate and potassium sulfate, are applied per 1 m². If the soil is clay, be sure to add peat, rotted sawdust, sand, give a high dose of compost.

Growing seedlings

Growing eggplant seedlings begins very difficult, but when the seedlings grow up, the main difficulties will be over. Not every gardener takes up this business: eggplant seedlings require a lot of work and patience.

When to plant eggplants for seedlings

Eggplant seeds, especially unprepared seeds, germinate for a very long time, and prepared seeds do not germinate at the same time. The first shoots may appear in 6-8 days, and then the next couple of weeks may appear. Therefore, it is necessary to start preparing for sowing seeds even in winter, regardless of whether it is supposed to grow eggplants in a greenhouse or in open ground.

The best time for sowing seeds in Siberia is the first days of March. In this case, seedlings can be expected in mid-March, and the appearance of buds - at the end of May. Just after that, you can plant eggplants under the film shelters. With a later sowing, it will be possible to plant seedlings in open ground in June, when frosts have already ended in Siberia. Perhaps shelter is not required, but the harvest will be less: before the onset of cold weather, only the first fruits will have time to ripen.

If it is planned to transplant seedlings into a greenhouse, sowing is carried out a week and a half earlier, after February 20. Of course, you can plant seedlings in a heated greenhouse even in April, but it is difficult to cook it in winter, even in a city apartment: there is not enough sunlight, the plants will stretch, and it may be too cool on the windowsill.

Video: growing eggplant seedlings

Sowing preparation

Eggplants are best sown directly into medium sized peat pots. But for this, you immediately need to spend a lot of seeds (sow at least 3 pieces per pot so that the pots do not disappear due to poor germination). And they will take up a lot of space in the apartment for three whole months. Therefore, initially they are often sown in a small common box, and then they dive.However, this culture does not respond very well to picking, so many summer residents sow seeds in small cups, and then transfer them into larger pots without disturbing the root system.

Soil preparation for seedlings is of great importance. If there is peat and sand, you can make the mixture yourself by mixing good soil and peat in half and adding ten percent of the sand. On a bucket of the resulting mixture, you should immediately add about 50 g of any complete mineral fertilizer and a handful of wood ash. Such soil should be disinfected by watering it with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.

To grow a dozen bushes, it is much easier to buy ready-made soil in the store, choosing the one that says about eggplants.

Seeds are also disinfected before sowing by preparing a solution of dark-colored potassium permanganate. The seed dressing process lasts 20-30 minutes, after which rinsing with clean water is required. If you plan to grow eggplants in the open field, hardening the seeds in the refrigerator is also mandatory (in a wet cloth for 3-4 days).

On the day before sowing, it is worth treating the eggplant seeds with a growth stimulant, this well increases germination and strengthens future plants. The easiest way is to use Epin-Extra or Zircon, strictly according to the instructions. You can also take the juice of the agave, dilute it 5 times with water and hold the seeds in the solution for several hours. Some gardeners germinate the seeds before sowing, but this is not necessary: ​​after a few days of preparation, they have already swollen enough.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Small cups are filled with prepared soil, where 2-3 seeds are sown (it is possible one at a time, if there are few seeds, but it is possible that empty cups will remain). The sowing depth is about 1.5 cm. A layer of snow is placed on top of a few centimeters. Having melted, it will evenly saturate the soil and compact the soil as much as necessary. In addition, snow water activates growth processes.

The cups should be covered with glass or transparent foil and placed in a warm place, the optimum temperature until emergence is 25-28 ° C. Until that time, bright light is not necessary, but immediately after the formation of the first "loops" on the surface, the cups will have to be transferred to a lighted place, otherwise the seedlings will quickly stretch out. If, while waiting for seedlings, the soil surface dries up, it must be carefully moistened with water.

Seedling care

The first shoots will appear in seven days, but most likely there will be few of them. As the "loops" appear, the cups should be transferred to a well-lit cool windowsill with a temperature of 16-18 ° C. Such a regime requires five days, then the temperature is gradually raised to 23-25 ​​° C (at night a few degrees less) and kept so until the end of growing seedlings. When it is clear which shoots are lagging behind others, they are carefully removed, leaving the strongest in the glass.

Seedlings are watered with settled water with a temperature of about 30 ° C, they do it 1-2 times a week, but in moderation: from waterlogging of the soil, the risk for seedlings to get sick with a black leg increases. Two weeks after germination, top dressing is given: 1 tablespoon of urea in a bucket of water. The cups are periodically turned towards the light source so that the seedlings do not bend.

Seedlings grow unevenly and transfer to larger pots must be done selectively. They do this very carefully, trying to remove the plant from the glass with all the available soil. The most suitable volume of containers for transshipment is about a liter, the soil is the same as in the cups. They fill it up enough to remove all the voids, and then pour it with warm water. Further care is the same as before transshipment. Ready-made eggplant seedlings are not at all a tiny plant

15–20 days before planting the seedlings in the garden, they temper it, taking it out to the balcony, first for a short time, and then for several hours. At the same time, the outside temperature should not be too low: 12-14 ° C for seedlings is not enough.In the morning of the day of transplantation, the seedlings are well watered. Seedlings ready for planting should have a height of 20-25 cm and 5-8 large green leaves. She becomes like this at about the age of 2.5 months. If the buds have already begun, great.

Transplanting seedlings into the ground

Eggplants can be planted in a good greenhouse in Siberia already at the end of April, but this is usually done in mid-May. If there is a lack of heat, a covering nonwoven material is additionally used. In open ground without shelter, planting seedlings in Siberia can be breaded in mid-June, when the soil warms up well. It is possible a couple of weeks earlier, but in this case, they first put arcs, cover them with a film, then replace the film with a double layer of spunbond, by mid-June they remove the shelter only during the day.

Landing in open ground

It is desirable that by the time of disembarkation the average daily air temperature should be at least 20 ° C. And since this cannot be expected in Siberia, the beds are prepared for a long time, trying to make sure that by the time of planting the soil warms up to at least 15 ° C. Experienced gardeners prepare warm beds for eggplants. To do this, choose a well-lit place, closed from northern winds.

Even in the previous summer, they dig a hole 20–25 cm deep to fit the size of the future garden. A variety of organic waste is poured into it: sawdust, foliage, small twigs, grass, garbage, etc. If there is peat, all this is generously poured onto them. Periodically water the future bed with infusions of manure or bird droppings. Fall asleep with clean fertile soil.

The sides of the resulting high bed are fenced off with boards, slate, etc. In the spring, the bed is sprinkled with wood ash and a week before the seedlings are planted, they are well spilled with warm water with the addition of mullein. After that, cover with a film for warming up. On the day before planting seedlings, the soil is loosened, and then holes are made according to the size of pots with seedlings. The planting scheme depends on the variety, but between the bushes should not be less than 35 cm, and between the rows - from 50 to 70 cm. They try to plant eggplants in the evening, when the sun is no longer baking. When planting seedlings, temporary shelter is required

When planting, the seedlings are almost not buried, the tilt of the eggplants is also not required. Peat pots are planted whole; from others, seedlings are transferred with all the contents of the pot. It is advisable to immediately provide for pegs if the variety requires a garter. Plants in the garden are watered with warm water, and the soil around the bushes is slightly mulched. Be sure to cover the landings with non-woven materials.

Video: a bed for Siberian eggplants

Greenhouse landing

Eggplants in Siberia can be planted in a greenhouse in the last days of May, and in a greenhouse 1–2 weeks earlier. In greenhouses, especially polycarbonate greenhouses, the required temperature conditions are created early for eggplants. When planting seedlings, you need to pay attention to the temperature of both the air in the greenhouse and the soil, it should not be colder than 14 ° C.

In advance, you need to carefully prepare the beds in the greenhouse. In the fall, all plant residues should be destroyed and the soil prepared. If plant diseases have been noted, it is better to change the soil completely. In the fall, it is worthwhile to form a bed by digging up the soil with fertilizers. A week before planting the seedlings, the garden bed is watered with a light blue solution of copper sulfate and covered with a film.

After a couple of days, the film is removed and the soil is allowed to reach the state where it will be possible to work with it. They loosen deeply, level them with a rake and plant seedlings. Landing patterns are the same as in the open field. For tall varieties, it is convenient to use a checkerboard planting. Planting technology is the same as outside the greenhouse.

Video: planting seedlings in a greenhouse

Sowing seeds in the garden

In the south, when growing eggplant, you can do without seedlings. But in Siberia, this can be done only at great risk, and choosing super-early varieties and hybrids for such cultivation. At the same time, there is not even a serious advantage over open ground in the use of greenhouses.

In order to have time to get the harvest of the earliest eggplants, they must be sown in the garden at the very beginning of May. At this time, in Siberia, it is only the first time they go to the dacha, so the garden bed must be prepared in the fall, and then a film shelter should be built. By the time of sowing, the soil at a depth of 10 cm should warm up to at least 15 ° C. You can pour hot water over the bed, then cover it with a film.

Seeds are sown very densely: their germination in Spartan conditions may be insufficient. In rows, which are arranged after 50-60 cm, seeds are sown every 5-6 cm. After the emergence of shoots, the planting is thinned several times, removing the weakest specimens. The film is removed only at the onset of real summer.

Planting care

At first, eggplants grow very slowly in the garden bed, growth resumes in two weeks, when the seedlings take root. At first, care is needed minimal: you just need to keep the soil slightly moist and loose. Throughout the summer, care includes watering, feeding, loosening and shaping the bushes.

Eggplant in the open field

The soil in the eggplant bed should be slightly damp at all times. Eggplants require a lot of water, but excessive waterlogging should be avoided. It is necessary to water only with water heated in the sun, at the root. In Siberia, they try to plant seedlings already with buds, and until they bloom, planting is watered once a week: in the morning or in the evening, spending about a bucket of water per 1 m2. As soon as the flowers have blossomed, it is necessary to water more often. Water temperature - not lower than 25 ° C.

Loosening is carried out after each watering or rain. Hilling of plants is not used in Siberia. Of course, weeds must be constantly controlled. Up to the setting of fruits, feeding is not needed, unless, of course, the bushes grow normally. But then the eggplants are fed often, twice a month. At the same time, at first, infusions of mullein or bird droppings are used, and during the period of mass growth of fruits, nitrogen should not be given, therefore, only superphosphate and potassium sulfate are used. You can replace this mixture with wood ash infusion.

Most varieties and hybrids of eggplant require bush formation, but outdoors in Siberia, eggplant is often allowed to grow naturally. Nevertheless, it is necessary at least to pinch off unnecessary stepchildren, while they have just appeared. Such an elementary operation allows the eggplants to save strength and direct them to the growth of fruits. The yellowing lower leaves are also removed. Some of the ovaries have to be sacrificed: in the short summer it is difficult to get more than 7–8 fruits on the bushes. What appears from the axils of the leaves should be removed as early as possible.

In Siberia, you have to constantly monitor the current weather. When it's hot outside, the beds are kept open, and if the temperature drops below 15 ° C, the bushes are covered with non-woven materials. At the end of August, the bed is again covered with foil. The most responsible growers also monitor the length of daylight hours: eggplants bear fruit better with a short day. Therefore, if possible, in the morning and in the evening they cover the planting from excess light.

Eggplant in a greenhouse

Eggplants in Siberia also require care in a greenhouse: in a damp, cloudy summer, you can hardly get more than two fruits from a bush, even in a greenhouse. This culture needs light and warmth. Sunlight should be maximal, and the temperature inside the greenhouse should be about 25-30 ° C, with almost no daily fluctuations. During the day in the greenhouse in the heat, you can easily maintain the temperature by simply opening the window and doors, but they must be closed at night. The containers with water placed in the greenhouse help.

It does not rain in the greenhouse, which means that watering is needed more often than outside. If, when growing in unprotected soil, it is possible not to come to the site in the middle of the week, you need to visit the greenhouse every day: without airing, in the hot season, the temperature can go off scale, and in the heat the eggplants are not tied.

The feeding regime does not differ from that when grown in the open field, and the formation of bushes is required. Indeed, in greenhouses they try to plant tall varieties, therefore, at least, the bushes should be tied to trellises or stakes. In greenhouses, a minimum of shoots are left on the bushes

When the bushes grow up to 30 cm, the top is pinched on the main stem, after which lateral shoots begin to grow. Ultimately, no more than five of them are left. If a sufficient number of fruits have formed on the shoot, and the growth of the shoot continues, the tip is also pinched to it. All shaping operations are stopped a month before the last harvest: now the plant's forces must be directed to ripening the fruits.

Diseases and pests

Most often, diseases lie in wait for eggplants in a greenhouse, where high humidity occurs. In the open field, pests are more annoying.

Major diseases

• Blackleg is a seedling disease; it rarely affects adult plants. This fungus darkens the neck of the eggplant root. No cure is possible. Diseased specimens are removed, the soil in their place is treated with bleach, in other places they are sprinkled with ash.Black leg destroys seedlings on the spot
• Mosaic is a viral disease, the leaves acquire a mosaic pattern, and the fruits are covered with yellow spots. It is difficult to cure such a disease; the plants have to be removed.Mosaic only outwardly looks harmless, it can destroy plants
• Gray rot is a fungal disease that manifests itself at first with dark spots, then with a gray bloom. The diseased parts of the plant are cut off, the rest can be spread with a paste containing Trichodermin.Gray mold can leave without a crop
• Late blight is a dangerous disease of any nightshade crops. The leaves are covered with brown spots, dry up and disappear. The fruits rot and become deformed. Sometimes drugs Zircon or Fitosporin help.Late blight often develops in cold weather.
• Powdery mildew is one of the most common fungi. First, white bloom appears on the lower leaves, then on the rest, passes to the fruit. Treatment - Fitosporin or Trichodermin.Powdery mildew is hard not to recognize: as if the whole plant is sprinkled with flour

The most dangerous pests

• The Colorado potato beetle - a well-known minke whale - harms eggplants no less than potatoes, nibbling the leaves cleanly. Beetles have to be collected by hand and destroyed.Colorado potato beetle: very beautiful, but no less harmful
• Aphids are a small insect that looks like small grayish dots at the bottom of the leaves, sucking juices from plants. You can use Fitoverm or Iskra-bio preparations for spraying.Aphids are able to suck all juices up to the death of plants
• Slugs - eat both leaves and fruits. Everyone knows these nasty creatures, it is possible to fight them, but it is difficult. These can be both baits (they willingly go for beer), and special preparations that are scattered on the ground, for example, Slug-Eater.Slugs are very unpleasant creatures, capable of destroying all plantings
• Whitefly is a butterfly that gnaws holes in leaves. In the open field, spraying with Confidor helps.Whitefly: The butterfly is small, and there is a lot of harm from it

Harvesting and storage

Eggplant fruits ripen in Siberia not earlier than August. By the end of summer, in the warm season, up to 5–7 fruits can be harvested on each bush in the open field. Eggplants are harvested at the stage of technical maturity: the fruits must grow to the required size, acquire a characteristic color for the variety, and gain juicy pulp. Seeds at this time are white, soft, unripe. The crop is harvested weekly, cutting off the fruit with a pruner along with the stalk. Overripe eggplants are not edible.

Eggplants are stored for no more than three weeks. They must be stored with stalks, the best storage temperature is 1–2 ° C, and the relative air humidity is 85–90%. Since it is difficult to store them, they try to process the fruits in the very first days after collection.

In Siberia, summer is warm, but short, which is not enough for successful eggplant cultivation. Nevertheless, using various tricks, gardeners get good harvests of this delicious vegetable here. They do this both in greenhouses and outside them, but mostly early-maturing varieties and hybrids are planted and very carefully looked after.

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