Eggplant King of the North f1: reviews, photos, characteristics and description of the variety, reviews, yield

Eggplant King of the North f1 reviews, photos, characteristics and description of the variety, which are presented in this article, are distinguished by cold resistance, ease of care and abundant fruiting even in unfavorable weather conditions.

F1 in the name of the variety means that the eggplant variety King of the North belongs to the first generation hybrids. This is the only disadvantage of this variety, since to grow it you need to buy seeds from the originator.

Description and characteristics of the variety

King of the North F1 is one of the new hybrids that has gained great popularity among Russian gardeners.

Early. Ripe fruits appear on the bush 90-100 days after seed germination.
Suitable for cultivation in open ground, greenhouses and greenhouses. The hybrid was bred specifically for cultivation in Siberia, the Urals, the Far East and other regions.
The bush grows up to 55-70 cm in height. The stem is powerful and does not require garter. However, when growing in a greenhouse, it is better to tie the bushes to supports or a trellis, as they can grow up to 1 m.
The stems are bright purple. The peduncle is without thorns.
The leaves are medium-sized with purple veins.
A lot of flowers of a soft lilac hue are tied.
Fruits within 60-75 days. Until the end of August in open ground and until the end of September - in a greenhouse or greenhouse.
Productivity is high. Even under unfavorable conditions, 1 sq. a meter of planting yields about 15 kg of vegetables. On 1 bush up to 12 fruits weighing about 0.3 kg are formed. With proper agricultural technology, the yield can be up to 22 kg per 1 sq. meters.
Resistant to flexible diseases, even in unfavorable weather conditions. Practically not susceptible to powdery mildew, late blight and rot.
Easy to care for. The bushes bear fruit well even in bad weather. The seedlings tolerate transplantation well and quickly adapt to new conditions.

Eggplant King of the North: reviews from gardeners

Alexandra Andreevna, Sverdlovsk region: “I grow the King of the North eggplant variety on the recommendation of a friend. I can say that the King eggplant is very unpretentious, but the harvest is excellent. And if you live in the northern regions of our country, then you simply must plant the King of the North eggplant varieties on your site. Believe me, it will bring you and your family a lot of fruits, benefits and pleasure.”
Evgeniya Viktorovna, Chelyabinsk region: “The fruit of one King of the North eggplant weighs about 200-300 grams, the flesh is quite dense, white in color with a wonderful aroma and taste. It should be noted that these plants do not have thorns, so harvesting the fruits is quite easy. As the first fruits of the King of the North eggplant ripen, the upper ones begin to ripen, so I have fresh vegetables throughout the summer season. The King of the North also did not find any serious problems in growing eggplant, so I confidently recommend this variety.”

Fruit characteristics

The fruits are highly elongated and cylindrical in shape.
They grow up to 20–30 cm in length and 6–7 cm in diameter. Some specimens grow up to 40–45 cm in length.
The average weight of 1 eggplant is 300–350 g.
The skin is glossy, dark purple, thin.
The pulp is white, tender, juicy, without streaks.
Great taste, no bitterness.
Contain a large amount of calcium, iron, phosphorus.
Stored for 30 days at a temperature of 1–2 degrees Celsius and relative air humidity of 85–90%.
Resistant to long-term transportation.

Description of the hybrid King of the North F1, its characteristics, growing region

Eggplant King of the North F1 appeared recently; it is still not included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements; the regions for its cultivation are not legally defined. However, all its known properties suggest that this hybrid can be planted wherever eggplants can, in principle, be grown. It is distinguished by its high yield of beautiful fruits and amazing resistance to cold weather.

King of the North F1 is an early ripening hybrid, suitable for cultivation both in greenhouse conditions and in unprotected soil. According to numerous observations by gardeners, the first fruits reach technical ripeness 110–120 days after sowing the seeds. It was bred for the northern regions of our country, which are part of the risky farming zone, but is grown everywhere.

The bushes are quite tall, 60–70 cm, but often, especially in greenhouses, they reach 1 meter. However, they are not always tied up: if there are not too many fruits set, the bush holds them on its own. This is all the more justified by the fact that the fruits are mainly located in the lower part of the bush, and even lie on the ground. The leaves are medium sized, green, with lighter veins. The flowers are small, purple with a lilac tint. The stalks are thornless, which makes harvesting easier.

King of the North F1 bushes are compact, but the fruits often lie on the ground

The overall yield is above average, up to 10–12 kg/m2. You can get up to 12 fruits from one bush, but their setting and ripening is not simultaneous, it lasts for 2–2.5 months. In open ground, fruiting lasts until the end of summer; in greenhouses it extends into September.

The fruits are elongated, almost cylindrical, slightly curved, often growing in bunches, like bananas. Their length reaches 30 cm, but since they are thin (no thicker than 7 cm in diameter), the average weight does not exceed 200 g. Record holders grow to 40–45 cm in length and 300–350 g in weight. The color is dark purple, almost black, with a strong shine. The pulp is white, has an excellent but ordinary eggplant taste, without bitterness, but also without any interesting features.

The purpose of the crop is universal: the fruits are fried, stewed, canned, frozen, and made into caviar. At a temperature of 1–2 °C and a relative humidity of 85–90%, the fruits can be stored for up to a month, which is a very good indicator for eggplants. They are normal and transported over long distances.

Video: King of the North F1 at the dacha

Appearance

Both the hybrid bush and its ripe fruits look very elegant. Of course, this only happens in the case of conscientious care, when the bushes are formed correctly, watered and fed on time, and the fruits are allowed to ripen normally and are not left on the bushes.

The fruits of this eggplant sometimes look like bunches of bananas, but sometimes they grow singly

Advantages and disadvantages, features, differences from other varieties

King of the North F1 has not been known for very long, but has already earned a lot of positive reviews. True, sometimes they are contradictory: what some gardeners consider an advantage, others consider a disadvantage. So, you can read that the fruits of the hybrid have an excellent taste, but without frills or piquancy. Nearby, other lovers write something like: “Well, how great is it if it doesn’t differ in any way from the taste of other eggplants?”

Among its undoubted advantages are the following.

Highest cold resistance. It can grow and bear fruit in seasons that are cold throughout and characterized by sharp temperature fluctuations. At the same time, unlike most eggplant varieties, it does not tolerate heat well, which hinders its cultivation in the southern regions. But the conditions of the middle zone, Siberia, and the North-Western region are quite suitable for him. Even at temperatures close to 0 ° C, the hybrid bushes are not damaged.
Good seed ripening and, as a consequence, their subsequent high germination rate. It is believed that for eggplants the germination rate of prepared seeds is about 70% - very good. King of the North, unlike other varieties, shows these percentages for dry seeds.
Unpretentiousness to growing conditions. Some stages of agricultural technology when growing this hybrid can be skipped altogether. The bush does not require gartering or shaping. Its seedlings take root well both in greenhouses and in open ground.
Increased resistance to disease. Such dangerous diseases as powdery mildew, various types of rot, late blight are uncharacteristic for it even in cold and wet years.
Good taste and versatility of fruit use. It is often said that its aroma has too little mushroom notes, but it is not a mushroom! (Although, of course, Emerald F1 is also not a mushroom, but it tastes like mushroom caviar). But in general, the taste of the fruit is no worse than that of most other varieties.
High commercial quality, safety and transportability of fruits. These properties make the hybrid commercially profitable and allow it to be grown not only on private farms.
High yield. On the forums you can find messages that only 5 kg were obtained from 1 m2. Of course, 5 kg is not very little, but more often there are reports of 10–12 kg, or even higher. Such productivity is associated with long-term flowering and can, of course, be achieved only if a long summer regime is created.

Since nothing is without flaws, the King in the North also has them. True, these are mostly relative disadvantages.

Not everyone likes long fruits. This manifests itself both in cooking and in growing. Yes, for some dishes thick, barrel-shaped or pear-shaped fruits are more convenient. Well, what kind there are... In addition, because of their length, they often lie on the ground and get dirty. But you can combat this by placing a layer of dry mulch or even, as in the case of pumpkins, plywood or planks under the fruits.
Inability to reproduce independently. Yes, the King of the North is a hybrid, and there is no point in collecting seeds from it; you have to buy it annually. But, unfortunately, this misfortune befalls summer residents not only in the case of eggplants.
Not everyone likes a simple taste, without any frills. Indeed, this hybrid has a standard eggplant taste. But he is completely devoid of bitterness, which, in turn, is rather a virtue.

Advantages and disadvantages

The hybrid has many advantages, including the following:

Frost-resistant. The hybrid withstands temperature changes and light frosts, which occur even at the beginning of summer. At the same time, productivity indicators are maintained.
Good seed germination. Even without preliminary preparation, 70% of planting material germinates.
Easy to care for. The bush does not require shaping and does not need to be tied up in open ground. The seedlings tolerate transplantation into soil well and quickly adapt to a new location.
Resistant to fungal diseases that often affect eggplants.
Great taste. The pulp of the hybrid is tender, without bitterness.
Good keeping quality.
Beautiful presentation.
High yield.

Some gardeners consider the elongated shape of the fruit to be a disadvantage of the variety. Also, due to their length, eggplants often get dirty when they fall to the ground.

The main disadvantage is the impossibility of growing these eggplants from independently collected seeds, since they do not retain varietal qualities.

How to grow your own

To obtain high-quality seedlings and large yields, seeds are prepared, seedlings are planted correctly in the ground, fertilized, and disease prevention is carried out.

It can be useful:
Why do eggplants turn green instead of blue and how to prevent it?
What are white eggplants and how are they different from regular ones?

Preparing seeds and growing seedlings

The King of the North has a high germination rate, on average up to 70%. Additionally, it is increased by seed treatment. Preparation consists of warming up, disinfecting and then drying the planting material :

When heated, the seeds are placed in gauze, which is immersed in warm water (up to +40 °C). If the water is hotter, the grains will cook.
Disinfection - treating seeds with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After this, they are washed in running water and dried at room temperature on a paper napkin or towel.
Hardening of planting material is popular, in which it is placed in the refrigerator overnight for a week, and in the warmest place for the day.
The treated seeds are wrapped in a wet, warm cloth and waited until they hatch. To do this, the fabric is placed on a saucer, and it is placed next to the battery.

Seeds are planted in peat pots or boxes filled with soil. You can purchase soil in the store (for example, one intended for tomatoes: it is light and well-permeable to air) or prepare it yourself. For eggplants, take 2 parts of humus, 2 parts of peat, add 1 part of sand and earth to them.

Important! To prevent diseases, crushed activated carbon, ash, and chalk are added to the soil.

The soil mixture is additionally calcined in the oven, frozen in the freezer, and treated with steam. Immediately before sowing, moisten moderately.

The seeds are distributed over the surface of the earth, without deepening them, and sprinkled with soil on top. The boxes are covered with film and placed in a warm place. It is advisable to heat them from below.

When the first shoots appear, the temperature is lowered to +16...+18 °C (further maintained at +23...+25 °C), but the lighting level is increased with phytolamps. Caring for seedlings consists of moderate watering, applying complex fertilizers and hardening off the seedlings before planting in the ground.

Transfer

Seedlings are ready for planting into the ground at the age of 60–65 days , when the soil warms up to +15 °C. For this purpose, the soil is dug up and loosened in advance. In the northern regions, beds are “insulated” by introducing humus into the ground or creating an additional layer of sawdust or straw above it.

For landing, choose a place protected from the wind. The King of the North does not like excess humidity and drafts.

The bushes of the hybrid are compact - they are planted at a distance of 50 cm from each other .

Further care

In the first weeks after transplantation, plants are protected from cold and wind by covering them with protective material. In the future, the King of the North does not need additional protection.

The hybrid loves moisture, but not in excess . If there is no heat and heat, it is enough to moisten the plantings once every 3 days. After irrigation, the soil is weeded and weeds are removed. Mulching the beds will retain moisture and slow down the growth of weeds.

After picking, eggplants are fed with organic fertilizers, and in the second half of summer - with ash, superphosphate and potassium sulfate.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Long fruits often reach the ground. To prevent them from getting dirty and rotting, the beds are mulched and boards are placed .

To obtain a rich harvest when grown in infertile soils, the crop is fed once every 2 weeks with potassium phosphates and sulfates . After fertilizing, water the bushes so as not to burn the roots.

Instead of applying complex fertilizers, use cow manure or bird droppings diluted in water.

Typical diseases and pests

The King of the North is resistant to major crop diseases due to its hybrid qualities and seed treatment before planting. In case of frequent rains, the plants are additionally sprinkled with wood ash and crushed chalk, and treated with fungicides.

With excess moisture or extreme heat, the bushes are affected:

black bacterial spot;
tobacco mosaic;
late blight;
gray rot.

Biofungicides (for example, Fitosporin) or Bordeaux mixture are used against diseases

Eggplants are attacked by pests:

aphids;
slugs;
mole cricket;
spider mites.

If there are a large number of insects, the bushes are treated with chemicals (karbofos, Strela, Fitoverm).

About other varieties and hybrids of eggplant:
Growing eggplant “Taste of mushrooms”
What is good about eggplant “Ilya Muromets”
Unpretentious variety of eggplant "Robin Hood"

Features of cultivation

The hybrid King of the North is grown by seedlings.

When and how to plant eggplant seedlings

It is better to sow the seeds in peat pots, so as not to have to pick them later. They operate according to the following algorithm:

Seeds and soil are disinfected (the soil is steamed in a water bath or frozen).
The seeds are hardened and treated with a growth stimulant (Epin, Zircon, Potassium Humate).
Sowing seeds in peat pots.
After emergence of seedlings, the air temperature in the room is lowered to 16–18 degrees for 7 days.
Next, the temperature is kept within 23-25 degrees.
Water with moderately warm, settled water.
Seedlings are hardened off for 10-14 days before planting in a permanent location. Plants are kept on the balcony for several hours, this period is gradually increased. This way the seedlings will get used to temperature changes and direct sunlight.

Feeding seedlings

Fertilizers are applied 2-3 times.

For fertilizer you can use the following products:

Dilute 30 grams of potassium nitrate in 10 liters of water. This feeding option is universal; it is suitable for open soil and greenhouses.
Fertilizer "Kemira-Lux". For 10 liters of water you need 20-30 grams of fertilizer.
5 grams of ammonium nitrate, 15 grams of superphosphate and 10 grams of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water.

Landing in the ground

Seedlings are ready for planting in the ground at the age of 60–70 days. The beds are prepared in advance. The soil is dug up well and humus and ash are added to the holes, as well as some mineral fertilizers. It is necessary to plant eggplants in open and closed ground when the soil warms up to 15 degrees. If the average daily air temperature has not warmed up to 18–20 degrees, the crops are covered with film. The seedlings are transferred to the holes without deepening them, so as not to disturb the root system. Planting pattern: 40*60 cm, no more than 5-6 bushes per 1 m2.

For more information on how to grow eggplant seedlings, read the article: When and how to plant eggplant seedlings: step-by-step instructions

Growing seedlings

The King of the North is a cold-resistant eggplant hybrid, however, in most of Russia it can be grown exclusively by seedlings, otherwise the fruits will not have time to ripen. The optimal time for planting seeds is early or mid-March.

Hybrid seeds can be purchased without any problems at any specialized store. Those collected independently are guaranteed not to retain the varietal characteristics of the “parent”. The King of the North demonstrates very good germination, but pre-planting preparation helps awaken the seeds from “hibernation” and speed up the emergence of seedlings.

As a rule, gardeners do not have problems purchasing seeds

The easiest and fastest way is warming up. The seeds are wrapped in gauze or placed in a linen bag and immersed in hot (40–45ºC) water for 3–4 minutes. You can’t keep them there longer, otherwise the seeds will cook. Next, they are left in a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection for 20–30 minutes. The seeds treated in this way are thoroughly washed in cool running water and dried well, spread out on paper napkins or towels.

If instead of potassium permanganate you take any biofungicide (Trichodermin, Alirin-B, Maxim, Bayleton), they do not need to be washed. In this case, the processing time increases to 10–12 hours.

Warming up the seeds helps start the processes of converting complex organic substances into simple ones, which the embryo uses for nutrition

Another popular method among gardeners is “shock therapy.” For a week, the seeds are kept in the refrigerator at night, and during the day they are placed in the warmest and brightest place in the apartment, for example, on the windowsill of a south window.

Planting eggplant seeds

It is recommended to plant eggplant seeds directly in open ground only in the southern regions. In this case, the soil should warm up to at least +15 degrees. Sprouts should be expected in about 2-2.5 weeks.

To carry out planting work in the garden bed, you need to make trenches measuring 3-5 cm. The gap between them should be 30-40 cm. As 2-3 true leaves appear, the seedlings should be thinned out and the weakest bushes should be trimmed.

If the plantings are very dense, eggplants should be planted. It is advisable to leave at least 45-50 cm between bushes.

Further care

The King of the North is rightfully considered the most unpretentious of all eggplant varieties. Taking care of him will not be difficult. Nevertheless, the plant needs certain conditions both in the greenhouse and in the garden.

Watering

Like other varieties, King of the North loves moisture, but not excessive moisture.

When watering this crop, you need to remember the following:

frequency of watering: 1–2 times a week, if the weather is not hot; daily or every other day in hot weather (at temperatures +30°C and above);
amount of moisture: 2–3 l for 1 bush;
settled water, room temperature (+25°C);
the right time is early morning, when there is no bright sun yet;
The recommended method is drip irrigation.

Fertilizer application

This hybrid takes feeding well, but at different stages of the growing season it needs different chemical elements:

at the beginning of the growing season, nitrogen is needed (ammonium nitrate, 15 g per 1 bucket of water);
during flowering and fruiting - phosphorus and potassium (40 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water).

He loves “royal” eggplant and organic matter: compost, humus (2 kg per 1 bucket of water).

It is necessary to feed the crop about 6 times per season. The first feeding is carried out 2 weeks after transplantation, then every 2–3 weeks. Under each plant you need to pour 1.5 liters of liquid fertilizer.

Soil care

In caring for young eggplants, loosening and weeding are important procedures. These actions must be performed simultaneously. Each time after watering or rain, you should loosen the soil, breaking up the crust that has formed, and at the same time remove growing weeds.

However, you can save time and effort when caring for the garden bed if you mulch the ground under the plants immediately after planting the seedlings. The material for mulch can be humus, peat chips, sawdust, straw, etc.

Benefits of mulching:
retains moisture in the ground for a long time;
prevents weeds from germinating;
prevents rotting of long fruits that reach the ground.

Preventative treatment

The hybrid King of the North has a strong immune system and rarely suffers from common diseases. Prevention is often enough to protect plants.

Preventive measures include:

pre-sowing treatment of seeds with fungicidal agents;
sprinkling the bushes with wood ash, crushed chalk or colloidal sulfur (weekly when the summer is cold and damp);
spraying with fungicidal preparations (1 or 2 times throughout the entire season).

There is no effective preventative against harmful insects yet. Therefore, when plants are damaged by insects (aphids, spider mites, Colorado potato beetles, slugs), it is better not to waste time on folk remedies, but to immediately use special insecticides.

Growing and care

The beds are moistened once every 3–5 days (when cultivated under covering materials). In open areas, surface moisture is taken into account (checked at a depth of 10–11 cm). For 1 sq. m add up to 10 liters of settled water. The optimal time for moisturizing is the morning (before 11 pm). The beds are mulched with hay, straw, and dried grass. The rules of agricultural technology are standard.

Fertilizers are applied 3–4 times:

before the buds appear (organic infusion, Dobrivo, mullein in a ratio of 1:12);
during active flowering (superphosphate);
2 times during the fruiting period (potassium salt, ash, Agricola).

Up to 6 skeletal main branches are left on the bushes. Plants do not need to be fixed: strong stems hold their shape stably and do not fall apart.

Diseases and pests

At the moment, there are no complaints about the susceptibility of King of the North F1 eggplants to fungal or viral diseases. However, in damp and cool summers it is recommended to spray them several times with Fitosporin solution. To prevent the fruit spouts from rotting, the soil on the ridges must be mulched with sawdust.

Among the pests, aphids are dangerous. For prevention, the ridges are sprinkled with wood ash. If the plants cannot be saved, then spray with an infusion of laundry soap, onion peels or garlic feathers.