The Japanese dwarf eggplant looks original and attractive. According to the characteristics of farmers, this variety is quite productive - many neatly shaped fruits set and ripen on small bushes.
Origin | Landing location | Ripening period | Fruit color | Fruit weight | Fruit shape |
Variety | Greenhouse | Early ripening | Violet | 240-310 g. | Round |
Description of the Japanese dwarf eggplant variety, its characteristics and yield
Anyone who has ever encountered the Japanese dwarf eggplant variety knows very well that growing it is not particularly difficult and allows you to get a good harvest.
Even cold and uncomfortable climatic conditions are not an obstacle to planting crops - the plants will reward you with fruits for your efforts. Japanese dwarf is an early ripening variety recommended for growing indoors or directly in the beds. From the day the planting material is planted in the soil until the first wave of harvest is obtained, about 3 months pass.
The bushes of the variety are low, compact, rarely exceed 40 centimeters in greenhouse conditions. The leaves are large, semicircular. The stems are powerful and easily support the weight of the crop. The fruits are shaped a little like a pear and reach 20 centimeters in length. The weight is not impressive - only 300 grams.
The color of ripened fruits is dark purple, almost black. The pulp is light, pleasant to the taste, and does not have the bitterness characteristic of this culture. The fruits are used for various purposes - canned, frozen, used for main courses, salads.
Japanese dwarf is recommended for growing in regions with temperate and even cool climates. In warm regions, seedlings are planted in beds; in cool regions, you will have to use a greenhouse, otherwise you will not be able to get a harvest.
The peculiarity of the variety is the duration of flowering. If the weather permits, the fruits are harvested until the coldest weather. In winter heated greenhouses, you can get fresh eggplants to the table even on frosty days. Productivity – up to 3 kilograms per bush.
The value of the Japanese dwarf is its taste, small amount of seeds, and tender pulp.
To grow the Japanese dwarf variety and get a good harvest, regardless of the planting location (in a greenhouse or in the beds), you will need to first obtain seedlings. It is recommended to purchase seed material in the store - homemade seeds have low germination.
Before landing, make preparations:
- Prepare a solution of potassium permanganate (several grains of the drug per 200 milliliters of water).
- Dip the planting material into the solution, soaking time is a quarter of an hour.
- Remove any seeds floating on the surface.
- Dry the planting material that has sunk to the bottom on a napkin.
There is no need to germinate - it is recommended to start planting immediately. Do not make the holes too deep - 1.5 centimeters is enough. Irrigate the soil surface with water and build a polyethylene greenhouse.
It is recommended to use ready-made soil. Suitable substrate for growing seedlings or tomatoes. If you need to prepare the soil mixture yourself, mix turf (4 handfuls), sand (1 handful), humus (2 handfuls).
It is recommended to start growing seedlings of the Japanese dwarf variety in March (from the 1st to the 15th). For gardeners in warm regions, the timing is slightly shifted - it is better to start germinating planting material in February (from the 20th to the 28th).
The first shoots appear during the second week after planting the seeds. Place the container on a light windowsill, be sure to create an artificial shadow - use a newspaper or a thin curtain.
Ventilation should be carried out daily - high humidity in the greenhouse will be detrimental to tender sprouts. Blooming of the substrate surface will lead to the development of bacterial and fungal diseases, and it will no longer be possible to save the plants.
There will not be any particular difficulties in obtaining young bushes ready for transplanting into garden beds. The main thing is to follow the rules of agricultural technology:
- carry out frequent but meager irrigation of the surface of the substrate with warm water;
- once a week, turn the container with plants on different sides to the sun (this will avoid stretching the sprouts);
- alternate watering with the addition of nutrients (use an infusion of ash - 50 grams of the substance per half liter of water).
Another important rule for growing is to monitor the temperature; the temperature in the room should be at least 27 degrees.
Beds for eggplant Japanese dwarf is recommended to be prepared in the fall. When digging, add humus and sprinkle the soil generously with wood ash. Blues like light soils, so you can add a small amount of sand.
The recommended pattern for planting the variety is 60 by 40 centimeters. Start moving young plants to the beds in early summer. For indoor soils, the desired transplant time is the 20th of May.
Water the holes generously and irrigate the soil in which the seedlings are grown in advance. Replant plants without shaking the substrate from the root system. After planting, water again and apply a thick mulch layer (sawdust, bark).
If planting was done in beds, you need to monitor the air temperature for the first few days. At night it is better to cover the plants with mats or film. Only after the bushes begin to grow and take root should you stop using coverings.
Caring for Japanese dwarf is not much different from growing other varieties of eggplant. The main rule is to create comfortable conditions for plants - provide them with regular watering, nutrients, and start combating diseases and pests in a timely manner.
The height of the bush reaches 40 cm. The fruits of the Japanese dwarf cannot be called miniature; they are large and pear-shaped, one vegetable weighs 300 g, and its length is 18 cm. The skin of the eggplant is thin, the flesh is light beige, tender, there are no voids or bitterness.
We suggest you read: What to plant with eggplants in the same bed
Rules for caring for crops
Caring for Japanese dwarf is not much different from growing other varieties of eggplant. The main rule is to create comfortable conditions for plants - provide them with regular watering, nutrients, and start combating diseases and pests in a timely manner.
How to water a plant
To irrigate the soil, use only warm liquid. Excess moisture is detrimental to bushes - it is better to water more often, but add little water. A mandatory rule is to irrigate the soil along the surface of the soil, especially during the period of plant development. After fruiting begins, it is allowed to water the leaves, but do this only in cool, cloudy weather.
How to feed correctly
Fertilizing should begin 2-4 weeks after planting young plants in the garden. Fresh organic matter is strictly prohibited - it is a source of diseases for the little blue ones. For the first application of fertilizers, use mineral compounds. The last feeding is carried out with mullein infusion. The regularity of applying nutritional compositions is once every 2-4 weeks.
Weed removal and hilling
A mulch layer, laid down when replanting plants, will save you from weeds. If mulch was not used, you will have to do weeding, which is best done frequently, trying to loosen the soil at the same time as removing weeds.
Hilling is not necessary - the bushes are compact and hold securely in the ground. If the stem is too bare and the roots are washed to the surface with water, it is recommended to sprinkle them with a small amount of soil and apply mulch.
Trimming
For full development of plants, pinching is recommended. Once the bush has reached 30 centimeters in height, remove the top of the main stem. Watch the side shoots - you only need to leave 3-5 powerful branches, remove the rest.
Agricultural technology
The Japanese Dwarf eggplant, reviews of which are mostly positive, is trouble-free in the growing process. It was originally bred for open ground. This variety responds well to frequent watering and mineral fertilizing.
Japanese Dwarf eggplant, the yield of which can be increased if you use drugs that accelerate seed germination, is often confused with another variety. We are talking about the “Korean Dwarf”. However, if you look at a photo of these two cultures, you can immediately see the difference.
And first of all, this concerns the size of the fruit. The “Japanese Dwarf” eggplant, which has much better reviews than its “Korean counterpart,” is much more common in domestic garden plots.
Photo
You can learn more about the Japanese dwarf eggplant variety using the following photos.
The Japanese dwarf eggplant variety is a high-yielding species that is not demanding in care, suitable for growing indoors and outdoors, and its fruits are tasty and without bitterness. It is suitable for beginner gardeners who are just beginning their journey in growing vegetables.
Japanese dwarf eggplant: description, cultivation, care, photo
Japanese dwarf eggplant is an early variety that is suitable for growing in a greenhouse and open ground. The variety is high-yielding, produces tasty fruits that are universal in terms of use: for canning, pickling or frying.
Description of the variety
The bushes of the Japanese dwarf variety are compact, so they can be planted denser than other varieties of eggplant:
- When planting plants, you can use a 60x40 cm pattern.
- Japanese dwarf is an early ripening variety that allows you to harvest within 4 months after sowing the seeds for seedlings.
- In terms of cultivation, the variety is not capricious, so it is suitable for planting in open ground.
- Responds positively to watering and mineral fertilizers.
- To increase productivity, it is necessary to use drugs that accelerate the germination of planting material and increase fruit set.
If you are interested in small vegetable fruits, then you will be interested in the Japanese dwarf tomato. In this article you can find out how the variety grows both in a greenhouse and in open ground.
Throughout the entire growing season of eggplants, it is necessary to loosen the soil so that it does not have time to compact.
Loosening and watering
Be sure to carry out these activities after rain. The plants will grow slowly for the first 2 weeks. To help them, shallow loosening will have to be done, thanks to which oxygen will flow to the root system.
Watering should be regular; it is better to use warm and settled water. Moisten the soil as its top layer dries.
Timely removal of weeds will prevent the development of diseases and the appearance of pests. Hilling is another useful procedure that will stimulate the development of adventitious roots and increase productivity. Carry it out 2-3 times during the entire growing season.
Trimming
In order for eggplant bushes to fully develop, it is necessary to remove the upper part of their main stem. Carry out similar activities when the crop reaches a height of 30 cm. After the formation of side shoots, 4-5 strong ones should be left and the rest removed.
Growing the variety
Transplanting
Seedlings do not tolerate transplantation well, so gardeners refuse to pick. Growing seeds is best done in individual pots measuring 10x10 cm.
Preparing the soil and seedlings
To plant seedlings in the ground you should:
- Plant seeds in different containers to minimize damage during transplantation.
- Plant seedlings in moist soil, no more than 1-1.5 cm, in a place illuminated and warmed by the sun. At night, the seedlings are taken out to a cool place to strengthen the immune system.
- Before planting, it is necessary to apply organic fertilizers to nourish the seedlings. For example, mix 1 kg of mullein with a bucket of water).
Loamy soils with humus are suitable for planting; peat and peat-bog soils are not suitable. Seedlings should be planted in moist soil, after applying organic fertilizers.
Formation of bushes
As soon as the young bush reaches a height of 25-30 cm, the upper part of the main stem is removed. This allows the side shoots to develop and strengthen. After formation, the eggplant needs rest for 15 days so that the plant takes root in the new place. During this period, no plant care procedures are carried out and the greenhouse is not opened. Yellowed leaves, dead fruits and non-fruiting shoots are periodically removed from the bushes.
For stability, the bush is tied with a cloth to a support, which forms the desired shape and size.
Greenhouse cultivation
The optimal greenhouse temperature is considered to be 25-28°C. Despite its adaptability to various conditions, ventilation of the greenhouse is required. Drafts should not be allowed. It is recommended to always close the door to the greenhouse at night.
Features of growing seeds
Today, many vegetable growers grow eggplants in their garden plots. Planting seedlings begins around the end of March. Seeds pre-selected by calibration should be processed. For this purpose, disinfection, stimulation, bubbling, etc. are carried out.
It must be said that all eggplants need a similar approach. Planting seedlings is carried out in pots filled with fertile soil or a specially treated substrate. For this purpose, you can also use peat tablets designed specifically for a crop such as eggplant. They are sold in all specialized agricultural stores.
It is also necessary to take into account the required acidity of the substrate: it should be in the range from six and a half to seven. Only in this case will the seeds germinate normally, and as a result, healthy bushes of a plant such as eggplant will soon appear in the garden.
It should be borne in mind that the seeds are sown approximately two or three months before transplanting the seedlings to their permanent place. Germination is uneven. Sprouts can appear either on the fifth or twenty-fifth day.
Grilled eggplant recipe
Japanese eggplants are easy to grill. Because they are much softer and softer than regular eggplants, their cooked filling produces a mushy effect.
Fried eggplants can be topped with tahini sauce to give them a creamy texture, or they can be eaten with soy sauce for a traditional Japanese taste.
A small amount can serve as a snack for a heavy meal, but cooked on the grill. Eggplant with Miso (full recipe here!) The rice on its own can be used as a three-course meal.
Ingredients:
It is the sauces that add flavor to fried eggplants. A detailed list of all ingredients for two people is given below:
- Four regular-sized Japanese eggplants (total weight almost 700 grams)
- Three tablespoons of sesame seeds
- Three teaspoons olive oil
- Three teaspoons soy sauce Two tablespoons squeezed lemon juice
- Salt and pepper for taste
- Basil leaves for decoration
Directions:
- Slice the eggplants vertically from the center.
- Preheat the grill with charcoal or gas.
- In the meantime, place the sliced eggplants on a large, narrow baking sheet and add a little salt and pepper to taste. Also brush the cut side with olive oil. Leave for two to three minutes.
- Place the eggplants on the grill. Make sure the cut side is facing down towards the heat source. Add lemon juice and olive oil to eggplants regularly to give them a juicy essence and prevent them from burning. Grill for about five minutes.
- Keep turning them until they are completely charred.
- Once grilled, garnish with basil leaves, sesame seeds and soy sauce.
Note. The amount of oil you need may vary depending on how long you grill. Give the eggplant a knife pattern to make it look fried. Eggplants contain a lot of moisture, but you can dry them with salt first to make them less mushy and soggy.
But if the eggplant is red
For a vegetable grower, all plants are like children. It doesn’t matter at all what race they are, what color they are, or what genes they have. They all need care and love. They may be weak from birth, strong in their genetic capabilities, or sickly due to poor acclimatization. Only the attention and love of their parents will make them healthy and happy in the future.
This is also the case with red eggplants, but this is Solanum aethiopicum. In other words, Ethiopian nightshade. These are the usual “blue” ones, but not eggplant-colored. Although nature created them red, they are the same eggplants, with all the nuances of their cultivation.
These plants are just as sissy as their purple counterparts. They love warmth, water and light in the same way. They love fertile soil and warm watering at the root. But they were not entirely successful in taste and yield. But how beautiful they are.
Important! Lovers of exotic plants who value the harvest for its aesthetic perception will appreciate red eggplants for their beauty and unusual shape. There will be something to surprise your friends and neighbors in the country.
Eggplant miso: cooking tips
If you want your eggplants to be extra soft and tender, soak them in water for a few minutes.
This process also removes the pungent or tart and often bitter taste. You may even want to remove some of the larger seeds because they taste bitter.
Did you know that there are male and female eggplants?
Males are better for the recipe because they contain fewer seeds and have a sweeter taste.
To test for male eggplant, look for slender, longer plants with a round notch at the bottom.
Favorite Asian Recipes x
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Favorite Asian Recipes
The traditional recipe calls for red miso or awase, a mixture of white and red miso. Has a strong spicy taste.
If you prefer a more subtle flavor, use white miso, which is also lower in sodium.
How to plant seedlings
The time for sowing seeds depends on the region. In warm areas it begins at the end of February; for regions with a cooler climate, planting should be postponed until the end of March or beginning of April. If the temperature conditions are observed, seedlings appear in 6-10 days. Some varieties germinate later, others sprout already on the 5th day.
peculiarities of cultivation in various regions of Russia: in the Urals, Siberia and the Moscow region.
When planting in the ground, such results cannot be achieved. At soil temperatures below 15 degrees, the seeds may not sprout at all; in warmer soil, seedlings will appear in 20 days or later. Germination suffers significantly, which is especially bad when growing expensive, valuable hybrids.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with: Hydrangea tree planting and care in open ground. Photo and video
If seedlings are picked, it is better to carry out the operation as early as possible, immediately after the cotyledon leaves unfold. After the first pair of true leaves appear, eggplants are fed with liquid complex fertilizer, including nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Another feeding is carried out before planting in the greenhouse.
Healthy seedlings should not be too tall. Ideal sprouts are strong, squat, with fairly thick, strong stems. The leaves are bright green, well developed.
In order for the sprouts to develop evenly, the containers must be rotated regularly, this will ensure uniform lighting.
For normal development, long daylight hours are required; with a lack of light, the plants become elongated and the leaves become smaller.
Timely watering once every 4-6 days is also important. The water should be soft and warm, the air around the plants can be scoured with a spray bottle. Hardening will help strengthen the sprouts.
At the age of 2 months, the seedlings are taken out into the open air, first for several hours, and then for the whole day.
NOTE! Find out what diseases eggplants are susceptible to: what to do if the seedlings fall, stretch out or completely die? Causes of white spots, yellowing and curling of leaves.
Japanese dwarf eggplant seeds should be planted in the substrate at a depth of one centimeter. Shoots may appear as early as the tenth to fifteenth day. Experts recommend sowing seeds in separate containers, since, as already mentioned, the culture has a negative attitude towards picking.
Eggplants of all varieties are considered heat lovers. The Japanese Dwarf is no exception. Therefore, to create optimal conditions for seed germination, experts recommend keeping the air temperature within twenty-five degrees.
Watering should not be excessive. It is necessary to constantly ensure that the soil is always moist, but without excess water. Otherwise, the roots of young shoots, suffocating without air, will begin to rot.
When growing Japanese Dwarf eggplant seeds, as well as other varieties, the substrate should never be allowed to dry out, especially if its composition contains a significant proportion of peat. Otherwise, lumps will form through which water will pass without stopping.
As a result, the plant, not yet fully grown, will dry out without receiving moisture. If for some reason it happens that the substrate has dried out, you should place the pots with peat in water for twenty to thirty minutes so that they get wet and the soil begins to hold water again.
Seedlings of this garden crop of the nightshade family should be placed in greenhouse soil in mid or late May. This variety is no exception. The Japanese Dwarf eggplant is transferred to the garden bed in the first ten days of June.
Ten to twelve days before transferring to its permanent place, it is recommended to harden the seedlings. For this purpose, in the room where the seeds grow in the substrate, it is necessary to reduce the daytime temperature, bringing it to eighteen degrees, and the night temperature to within fourteen.
The process of planting eggplant in the ground is as follows:
- According to the 40 x 50 cm pattern, holes should be dug in the bed;
- you need to fill them with a large amount of water;
- plant seedlings in the holes.
The soil around the seedlings should be compacted by pouring a layer of mulch on top - dry soil or peat.
Landing
Seeds for disinfection can be treated with different solutions:
- 1% potassium permanganate (exposure time 25-30 minutes);
- 1% Fitosporin (place for half an hour);
- aloe juice diluted with water 1 to 1 (duration up to 12-20 hours);
- 0.5% soda (0.5 g of powder is dissolved in 100 ml and quenched at a temperature of 60 degrees).
At the same time, the soil mixture should be disinfected. To do this, you can bake it in the oven, pour boiling water on it, or spray it with a biological product. After treatment, the soil can be used no earlier than 4-5 days. During this time, beneficial bacteria will appear in the soil mixture.
Seeds are planted in the ground to a depth of 1.5-1.9 cm. They are placed in small grooves in increments of 3-4 cm. To create optimal conditions for germination, containers with seedlings are watered with warm water once every 2-3 days, and the top is covered film. The temperature is maintained at 22-27 degrees.
The bushes are planted in larger cups (at least 250 ml) when 2 leaves appear.
58-64 day old seedlings can be planted in permanent beds. The ground is dug in advance, compost and phosphorus-potassium additives are added for plowing.
Preparing beds and transferring them to open ground
Most gardeners know that plants planted close to each other later begin to shade each other, and this affects the yield and quality of the fruit.
At the first shoots, the film is removed from the seedlings and the plant is exposed to light. To prevent seedlings from stretching, the temperature should be about 19 degrees. in the daytime and about 17 degrees. at night.
After a week, when the first leaves hatch, the temperature should be increased during the day to 23 or 25 degrees, at night to 18 degrees. At temperatures above 25 degrees. ventilation of plants is required.
To prevent plants from getting temperature stress, they need to be hardened off. To do this, plants are gradually accustomed to lower temperatures.
The place for eggplants should be sheltered from the wind, sunny and free from weeds. It is very good when the site has light loamy or sandy loam soil. She is very fond of the Japanese Dwarf eggplant.
If the site has heavier soil, then it is necessary to add peat and humus to the soil during the autumn digging. Adding river sand, sawdust or straw cuttings also helps to make the soil lighter.
Japanese Dwarf eggplant, the taste of which largely depends on the composition of the soil, can only be grown in open ground together with the indicated vegetables, but in no case after them. Moreover, after representatives of the nightshade family, including those described, this crop can be planted only after at least three years.
At the same time, all other vegetable plants are quite suitable predecessors. The Japanese Dwarf eggplant feels good after onions, carrots, early cabbage, cucumbers, legumes and all melons.
Reviews from summer residents and gardeners
Why the variety was called a dwarf becomes clear if you look at the height of the bush, barely reaching forty centimeters.
But why Japanese? This is probably known only to its creator. Especially if you remember that the variety is not even foreign, but belongs to the Siberian Garden line of frost-resistant eggplant varieties.
The compactness of the bushes allows them to be planted more densely than other eggplant varieties. In quantities from five to seven bushes per square meter. Planting pattern sixty centimeters by forty.
The fruits of the Japanese dwarf variety cannot be called dwarf. These are fairly large pear-shaped eggplants, growing up to eighteen centimeters in length and weighing up to three hundred grams.
Moreover, this variety of eggplant is early ripening; the harvest can be harvested within four months after sowing the seeds for seedlings.
Eggplant is easy to grow. Developed for open garden beds. Responds well to watering and mineral fertilizing. The yield will be higher if you use drugs that accelerate seed germination and increase fruit set.
Agricultural technology
Japanese dwarf is planted for seedlings, like other eggplants, at the end of March. Seeds treated with a stimulant are planted in pots filled with fertile soil or a specially treated substrate. You can choose peat tablets specifically for eggplants. Taking into account the required acidity of the substrate from 6.5 to 7.0.
When planting in the ground, eggplant seeds are lightly sprinkled with soil, watered, covered with non-woven material and placed in a warm place.
Eggplants love heat, so an air temperature of twenty-five degrees is required to germinate the seeds. It is necessary to ensure that the soil in the seedling pots is always moist, but there is no excess water.
Attention! The substrate must not be allowed to dry out if it contains a significant proportion of peat.
Dried peat clumps into a lump through which water passes without stopping. As a result, the plants dry out without receiving water. If it happens that the substrate has dried out, the pots must be placed in water for twenty to thirty minutes so that the peat soaks and begins to retain moisture again.
After the seventieth day, at the end of May, the Japanese dwarf can be planted in the ground. By that time, the return frosts will have ended. Eggplant grows better in the open air, but if spring has dragged on and the air temperature is still low, it is better to plant it under a film on arches. As the weather warms up, the film can be removed.
During the growing season, eggplant must be fed with potassium and phosphorus. To maximize the provision of eggplant with nutrients, a significant amount of organic matter must be added to the soil even before planting seedlings: humus, compost. After planting seedlings, it is better to mulch the beds. This will help get rid of weeds.
Of all the nightshades, eggplant has the largest leaves. Much more water evaporates from their surface than from tomato or potato leaves. This is why eggplant needs regular and abundant watering.
The Japanese dwarf variety is often confused with another eggplant variety, the Korean dwarf. They are indeed similar in size to the bush. In the photo below is a Korean dwarf.
Most likely, even sellers confuse the varieties. It may happen that instead of a Japanese dwarf, a Korean dwarf will grow in the garden bed. This variety is also not bad, you shouldn’t be too upset.
The reputation of any eggplant can be much more damaged by the so-called over-grading. Re-sort is eggplant seeds of a different variety sold to you by an unscrupulous buyer. Probably, here we should also say “thank you” that these are eggplant seeds, and not pepper, for example.
Reviews from gardeners
Elena Madina, Smolensk region. Cowsheds
I bought Japanese dwarf seeds. In the picture it is purple, but I grew some lilac ones. Are they not ripe yet or is this not a Japanese dwarf? This is a blatant reboot.
Igor Neshveev, Solikamsk
Planted by a Japanese dwarf, it grew exactly like in the photo of a Korean dwarf. And here there may be an honest mistake by the seller, who did not understand that these are different varieties.
Those who bought real Japanese dwarf seeds leave other reviews.
Lydia Vostrova, Vakhrushi
I planted Japanese dwarf this year. I'm very pleased. Grew up with virtually no hassle. It was only necessary to water and loosen on time, and drive away the Colorado potato beetles. The bushes didn't hurt. The harvest was excellent. And they ate it themselves and wrapped it up for the winter.
Few gardeners decide to grow eggplants, since these vegetables are very demanding on temperature and lighting. However, today hybrid varieties have been bred that make it possible to grow vegetables even in the northern regions of the country.
The popular Japanese dwarf variety of eggplant, according to the description on the seed packaging and reviews from gardeners, is unpretentious to grow, however, as can be seen in the photo, it is distinguished by the high yield of each bush.
If agricultural techniques are followed, these eggplants can be grown both in open ground in the southern regions, and in heated and unheated greenhouses or in sheltered tunnels in areas with temperate and cold climates.
Japanese dwarf eggplant has what features:
- the bushes are low-growing and compact, which allows them to be planted at a distance of 40 cm, with a row spacing of 60 cm;
- early variety - the first harvest can be harvested 110-120 days after sowing the seeds in the ground (using the seedling method);
- the variety is resistant to minor changes in temperature, so it can be planted in unprotected soil;
- To increase productivity, you need to use fertilizers and growth stimulants that promote active seed germination and rapid growth of seedlings.
The growing season of this variety is from 115 to 120 days, so in areas with a mild climate and a lot of warm sunny days, seedlings can be planted in unprotected soil.
And for temperate or cool climates it is necessary to use greenhouses, since without creating comfortable conditions for the plant it is impossible to get a good harvest.
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After planting the seedlings in the ground, fruiting begins on the 60-70th day.
Eggplant fruits are pear-shaped, reach 16-18 cm in length, and can weigh up to 250-300 g. The average yield from 1 bush is 3 kg of fruit.
The fruits of the Japanese dwarf variety have the following qualities:
- light beige flesh color;
- the taste of the pulp is delicate without the presence of bitterness;
- there are no voids inside the pulp;
- you can use the fruits for pickling, freezing and canning;
- fruits can be subjected to any heat treatment - boiling, steaming, frying and stewing.
Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in accordance with climatic conditions - from the last ten days of February to the last ten days of March. Seeds are calibrated, stratified, growth stimulated and disinfected.
Seeds can be sown in boxes with substrate or individual containers in which the seedlings will develop until planted in the ground. The soil can be prepared from:
- 6 parts of turf land;
- 1 part river sand;
- 4 parts manure or humus.
You can also add a little wood ash to the substrate.
Seeds must be placed in the soil for germination no earlier than 2-2.5 months before the expected date of planting the seedlings in the garden.
To harden seeds before sowing, they must be placed in the refrigerator for 2 days, then kept at room temperature for a day, and then transferred to the refrigerator for another 2 days.
To disinfect, seeds are immersed in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30-40 minutes. You can add the growth stimulator Epin to potassium permanganate, which promotes rapid germination of planting material.
After sowing, the soil should be moistened with a spray bottle and covered with film for better germination of seedlings.
Shoots of this variety appear unevenly - sprouts appear from 5-25 days from the moment of sowing, therefore it is recommended to plant germinated seeds, which guarantee uniform germination.
Lighting
Eggplants are a long-day garden crop, so you won’t be able to get good seedlings without additional lighting. Daylight hours for eggplants should last 10-14 hours. You can add additional illumination to the seedlings using a phytolamp or ordinary fluorescent lamps. Lamps must be placed above containers with seedlings at a distance of 60-70 cm.
Eggplants are a moisture-loving crop, so when growing, special attention must be paid to watering. The soil should be kept moist all the time, but not waterlogged. Drainage holes should be made at the bottom of the containers to drain excess water. If there is an excess of moisture or lack of drainage, the roots will begin to rot, which can lead to the death of the plant.
Also, the soil should not be allowed to dry out, since the substrate will begin to clump around the roots of the plant, which can also destroy the seedlings. It is necessary to water the seedlings once every 2-3 days with warm water. The water temperature for irrigation should not be lower than 20-22 degrees.
It is necessary to plant Japanese dwarf seedlings in the greenhouse in the last days of April, and in the garden when the daytime air temperature is above 16 degrees. For different regions, the time for planting seedlings is different - from the second ten days of May to the first ten days of June.
Seedlings should be prepared for planting in open ground 15-20 days before planting. Seedlings must be gradually hardened off. In the room where the seedlings grew, the temperature is reduced to 16-18 degrees during the day and to 12-14 degrees at night.
It is also necessary to take the seedlings out into the air or open the windows and doors in the greenhouse.
In the first week, hardening should take place 2-3 hours a day, followed by keeping the seedlings in the open air for up to 10-12 hours.
Black
One of the simple combinations that requires little effort and will add style and luxury to your outfit.
To make the look sparkle, just complement it with a light accessory (silver, gold), shoes, bag or jewelry (bracelet, chain). A mysterious outfit, with the addition of a little shimmer, is good for an evening event.
- A black floor-length dress and an eggplant clutch, with nude high-heeled shoes.
- Anthracite leather pencil skirt, pumps, clutch plus chiffon blouse in a delicious tone.
- Eggplant color suit, black turtleneck (T-shirt, top) plus loafers.
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How to care for eggplant
During the summer months, the soil should be loosened regularly, without allowing the soil to become compacted, particularly after rain. The soil should always be slightly moist. Watering is best done with water slightly warmed in the sun.
You need to remove weeds in a timely manner and ensure that no pests or any diseases appear on the eggplants. Hilling is a mandatory process that stimulates the development of adventitious roots and leads to increased productivity.
In order for eggplant bushes to develop well, the upper part of their main stem should be removed. This should be done when the plant reaches a height of thirty centimeters. After the appearance of side shoots, you need to leave four or five of the strongest ones and remove the rest.
Then you will need to remove everything except the fruiting ones. Caring for eggplant also involves weeding and loosening the soil, and the latter should be shallow. The fact is that this plant’s roots are located quite close to the surface.
Pickled eggplant recipe
Eggplant pickles are very strong in flavor and are often used as a side dish for a three-course meal. They add a delicious flavor to food, which is why native Japanese people love them, as well as many foreigners!
This recipe is a simple guide to making delicious homemade Japanese-style pickled eggplant that will enhance any dish with its flavor and texture.
Here is a detailed list of all the ingredients needed.
Ingredients:
- Six to eight regular-sized Japanese eggplants (about one kilogram)
- Half a jar of olive oil to cover
- One tablespoon Japanese Cayenne pepper powder
- Three teaspoons of salt
Directions:
- Simmer the eggplants in boiling water until they are soft. This usually takes five to ten minutes.
- Trim the top and bottom edges of the eggplant so that only the middle part is used for pickles.
- Mix salt and cayenne powder with a little oil to create a paste-like consistency and apply it to each eggplant. Pour the mixture completely over the eggplants.
- Place the eggplants in a container and leave in this state for about half a day. After this time, remove excess salted water.
- Place pickled cucumbers lengthwise in a jar and pour olive oil over them. Make sure the pickles are completely submerged in the oil.
- Close the lid and refrigerate for a whole week.
- After a week, enjoy it as a side dish with other dishes for a colorful and appetizing meal.
Note: Choose a regular or large size jar that can hold the amount of eggplant and oil. Giving the cayenne salted eggplant more time will help the mixture penetrate completely into the core of the eggplant, adding flavor to the center.
To maintain freshness, store them away from high temperatures.
Fertilizers
The first two weeks the eggplants will grow very slowly. You can help them by shallowly loosening the bed so that more air gets to the roots. It is recommended to hold off on watering at this time; it is better to spray the plants with water with the addition of urea.
In the spring, after planting seedlings, it is allowed to apply only rotted manure, otherwise the Japanese Dwarf eggplant will devote all its efforts to forming its leaf mass, and the plant will be left without fruit.
In general, for the entire season, judging by the reviews, only three fertilizings with mineral fertilizer and slurry are enough for this crop. Sometimes gardeners also use bird droppings. The first feeding should be given on the tenth day after planting, the second - twenty to twenty-five days later, and the third - when the first Japanese Dwarf eggplant appears.
How to protect crops from diseases
The most dangerous diseases that can destroy adult Japanese dwarf plants are fusarium and blackleg. The use of drugs to combat diseases is not recommended. The only way to cope with diseases is to ensure the correct watering and temperature regime.
Excess moisture is completely eliminated - reduce the amount of water, carry out frequent loosening, remove diseased leaves and stems.
Preventive measures against Japanese dwarf diseases are regular treatments with Bordeaux mixture and copper sulfate. Be sure to ensure that the soil is moistened moderately - excess water is the main enemy of plants. It is also not recommended to thicken the bushes - this threatens the spread of diseases.
Eggplant "Japanese Dwarf": reviews, cultivation features, fruiting period, taste
More often than others in our country, gardeners prefer to grow early varieties. They ripen, as a rule, in one hundred and fifty days. Gardeners rarely choose late varieties, and even then more often in the presence of a heated greenhouse, since they have to wait almost six months for the harvest.
Unpretentious when grown, the Japanese Dwarf eggplant produces its first fruits within seventy days from the appearance of the first shoots. It forms small bushes forty-five centimeters high, with a lush rosette of leaves.
The harvest is harvested approximately a month after the start of flowering, when the “little blue” ones become glossy and acquire a color characteristic of this variety. Fruits that are brown in color are considered overripe for members of the nightshade family.
If there are still underdeveloped ovaries on the bushes before the onset of autumn cold, you need to dig up the plant with its roots and transplant it into a greenhouse. Eggplants should be cut with pruners or a knife along with the stalk, being careful not to harm the shoots. The collected fruits of the “Japanese dwarf” are best eaten within a week.
Further storage
To store the Japanese dwarf, use dark, cold rooms. The bottom shelf of the refrigerator or the cellar is suitable for these purposes. Place fruits in one layer in boxes.
Be sure to regularly check the condition of the eggplants. If rot or signs of spoilage appear on the blue ones, use them immediately for cooking, cutting out suspicious areas.
Japanese dwarf is a variety that has been recognized by many gardeners for its excellent taste and ease of cultivation. The only drawback of the crop is that the shelf life does not exceed 1 month, even if the required temperature conditions are provided, so it is better, after harvesting, to send the fruits for processing.
Yellow, orange, golden, green
If you plan to use a warm variation of eggplant in your clothes, then natural green will look beautiful and expensive paired with it. Its shades of jade, emerald, dark green, dark turquoise, khaki will harmoniously fit into such a set.
To make the image harmonious, it would be better to choose pink and soft purple shades for makeup. And you can play up the tandem with delicate, barely noticeable shoes or blue accessories.
If the green turns into mint or turquoise, then the appearance will acquire a more contrasting sound and will be filled with freshness and softness.
For example, a turquoise shirt, shoes, dark trousers.
In any case, a tandem of natural colors is always appropriate and attractive (eggplant, blue, green, yellow). No matter how much you mix them, everything will seem in moderation.
The combination of eggplant with yellow, orange, golden, and green looks bright and unusual. Feel free to combine them in any proportion, add white or metallic elements.
This design is suitable for modern design styles - loft, hi-tech. Considering the bright and rich color palette, avoid the abundance of decorative elements - otherwise the room will look overloaded.
Eggplant "Japanese Dwarf": reviews, cultivation features, fruiting period, taste
This variety is already well known to domestic gardeners. Many of them leave very laudatory reviews about this culture. Summer residents who do not have a greenhouse or a tall greenhouse need to plant low varieties, including “Japanese Dwarf”.
Judging by the reviews, many gardeners grow seedlings in cut-off plastic bottles. “Japanese dwarf” does not tolerate picking, so the seeds must be immediately placed in separate containers so that they can then be easily transferred to the ground.
The fact that this is the earliest variety is another factor in favor of choosing the “Japanese Dwarf”. The crop bears fruit in mid-July. The “blue ones” grow large and have excellent taste characteristics.
Many of our compatriots advise planting the “Japanese Dwarf” variety. This is a very productive species, resistant to diseases and grows without problems in open ground. Judging by the reviews, many people successfully preserve fruits.
Tags: eggplant, dwarf, description, Japanese
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