Eggplant variety Khalif: features of cultivation and care

Eggplant Khalif is a mid-season variety; it has gained enormous popularity due to the fact that it has large fruits, a pleasant taste, and is resistant to some pests and many diseases. However, in order to grow successful fruits, it is necessary to become familiar with the characteristics of the variety, its characteristics, growing conditions, and conditions of collection and storage.

Description and characteristics of the variety

The main characteristics of the variety are presented in the table:

Features of the fruits of the Khalif variety:

The fruits have no bitterness at all! Therefore, the variety is widely used in cooking and home canning.

Black opal

Black opal ripens 130 days after the first shoots appear. The height of the spreading bushes varies from 0.5 to 0.7 m. A ripe eggplant is cylindrical in shape, 0.2 m long and 0.07 m in diameter, weighs about 170 g. Productivity per 1 sq. m is 6 kg. The color of the glossy skin, covering the delicate white pulp of excellent taste, is as close to black as possible.

Black opal requires a garter. In regions with warm climates it is grown under the open sky, and in regions with cold climates it is grown under a film cover.

Hybrid value

Black opal is resistant to tomato mosaic and stolbur. It tolerates minor temperature changes well. Its fruits are harvested until the first frost.

Growing process

Khalifa eggplants are grown from seedlings, which can also be obtained at home if you adhere to the basic growing criteria.

Preparing and planting seeds

Work on planting seeds begins in March. To do this, planting material is processed in a certain way:

• Keep them in a solution of potassium humate for 3 days;
• for disinfection, place in a solution of the drug Fitosporin.

The soil is prepared in the fall. To do this, mix peat (6 parts), compost (2 parts) and garden soil (1 part). You can also use a purchased substrate, but you must check the presence of all the indicated components.

Before planting seeds in the soil, it is also disinfected with steam in a water bath. The soil itself can also be disinfected before planting. Read about how to do this correctly and safely here.

Planting material is planted in cassettes or cups, since the plants do not tolerate picking. It is buried 1 cm into moist soil. Containers with plantings are covered with film to obtain a greenhouse effect. Seeds germinate within 10-15 days.

Conditions for seedlings and care

After the first shoots emerge, the containers with the seedlings are taken to a well-lit place. Seedlings are provided with the following conditions:

• Clear temperature conditions. Daytime temperature is 20-24°C, and night temperature is not lower than 16°C.
• Timely watering. Produced when the top layer of soil dries, water with warm water.
• Lighting. If the daylight hours are not long enough, then backlighting is provided. To do this, use phytolamps or fluorescent devices that are turned on in the morning and evening.
• Timely transshipment. If the seedlings have 1-2 leaves, they are transplanted into larger containers. This is done by transshipment without damaging the earthen ball.
• Hardening. 14 days before planting in the ground, the plants are transferred to the balcony. Initially leave for a couple of hours, gradually increasing this time.

Landing in the ground

When the sprouts are 2-2.5 months old, they are planted in open ground or a greenhouse. At this point, the plants already have 8-10 leaves, the stem height reaches 25 cm.

The site is chosen in advance; it should not be blown by winds, but should be well lit by the sun. In the fall, during digging, the soil on the site is enriched with humus, and in the spring the soil is loosened. Khalifa eggplants grow well after cucumbers, carrots, onions, cabbage and legumes.

If peppers or potatoes were previously grown on the site, then it is better to choose another territory, but here eggplants can be planted only after 3 years!

Prepare holes for planting seedlings, add a handful of wood ash to each and sprinkle with a little earth. Water the hole generously and place the seedlings there. The roots are sprinkled with earth and compacted a little. The distance between rows is up to 60 cm, between holes - 35-40 cm.

Negus

The variety is characterized by long-term fruiting

The fruits of the Negus hybrid ripen 80 days after the first shoots appear. Under favorable conditions, the harvest is harvested within 65-70 days after emergence. The compact bush does not exceed 50 cm in height. The weight of ripened round fruits varies between 130-190 g. The average yield per 1 sq. m is 3-4 kg. The white, juicy pulp is covered with a dark purple skin.

Hybrid Negus is intended for growing under cover. In regions with warm climates, after the plant has grown stronger, the cover is removed. Stronger plants adapt well to the environment and tolerate small temperature changes well.

Hybrid value

The Negus hybrid has a long fruiting period. New fruits are formed within a week after harvesting.

Plant care

The main attention in caring for young plants is paid to weeding and loosening the soil. Also, since the fruits grow quite heavy, the bushes are tied to metal or wooden slats. On each bush, 5-6 powerful ovaries are left, the rest are cut off. Eggplants are not planted, but yellow leaves and deformed fruits are removed in a timely manner.

Organizing proper watering

Khalif eggplants require constant watering. But the frequency of watering depends on the stage of plant development. So, for example, while eggplants have not yet begun to bloom, they are watered about once a week. If the season is dry, then the frequency of watering is increased to 1 time every 3-4 days. To retain moisture in the soil, its surface is sprinkled with peat.

Lack of moisture leads to disastrous consequences - shedding of ovaries and falling leaves.

For irrigation, use settled water at a temperature not lower than 25°C. It is poured under the root of the plant, being careful not to damage the leaves and stems.

Loosening and hilling

After the watering procedure, the soil is loosened to prevent crust formation. Around young plants - to a depth of 4-5 cm, when buds and flowers appear - to 5-6 cm, and after fruit set - to 7-8 cm. Since eggplants have a superficial root system, it is not recommended to loosen deeper than 8 cm. After loosening, the bushes are hilled up to 5-7 cm.

Is it necessary to fertilize?

Many people believe that Khalifa eggplants do not require fertilizing or fertilizing, but this is not entirely true. After all, regular fertilizing not only increases the plant’s resistance to diseases and pests, but also increases productivity. Before the plants begin to flower, fertilizers enriched with nitrogen are introduced. At this stage of development, it will be successful to introduce cow manure under the root. It is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15. Diammophoska is used as a mineral fertilizer, diluted 20 g per 10 liters of water.

After flowering, eggplants are watered with solutions based on phosphorus and potassium. Dilute 30 g of potassium sulfate and superphosphate in 10 liters of water.

Diseases and pests

Khalif eggplants are susceptible to attack by spider mites and the Colorado potato beetle. These insects can carry various diseases, so it is important to protect your plants from pests. Pollination with wood ash or tobacco dust helps well in this case, and the chemicals Carbofos or Klant are also used.

The variety is resistant to verticillium and fusarium wilt. But, if the disease still affects the plant, then it will no longer be possible to save it. But the “neighbors” should be treated with Fitosporin or Baktofit.

To prevent diseases, seedlings and garden tools are disinfected. The greenhouse is regularly ventilated and the soil is moistened in a timely manner.

Harvesting

Harvest the crop about a month after the start of flowering, do not allow it to become overripe. The fact that a vegetable is overripe is recognized by the appearance of a green color. The fruits do not ripen at the same time, so they are collected selectively, checking every 2-3 days. The fact that the fruit is ripe is indicated by its color, size and glossy surface.

The ripeness of eggplants can be determined by simply pressing on the fruit; if the skin bends but quickly returns to its original position, then the vegetable is ripe.

They are cut with pruning shears along with the stalk; unscrewing or tearing of the fruit is not allowed. Up to 20 fruits or 3 kg of product are harvested from one bush.

Eggplants contain a dangerous substance called solanine, which, if harvested at the wrong time, can be harmful to health!

Harvest storage

In order to increase the shelf life of vegetables, adhere to the following rules:

• when cutting the fruits, leave at least 3 cm of the stalk, and be sure to ensure that it does not move away from the eggplant itself;
• the crop is harvested on warm, dry days;
• Never wash vegetables before storing them; use a cloth to wipe away dirt.

Vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator; they will not lose their taste for 3-4 weeks. If the harvest is large and does not fit in the refrigerator, you can leave the eggplants in the basement or room with a constant temperature of 3 to 10 ° C. Humidity level 75-85%. Under these conditions, vegetables will last for at least 2 weeks.

For storage, you can use a tightly sealed plastic bag or cardboard box with ventilation holes. Vegetables are placed in a box in one layer; it is recommended to wrap each copy in parchment.

Black Dragon F1

This hybrid is an early ripening one. It produces a harvest 110 days after germination. The height of the bush varies from 0.3 to 0.8 m. The weight of a ripe dark purple fruit averages 225 g. Productivity per 1 sq. m. - 4-5 kg. The skin covering the dense creamy-white flesh has a glossy sheen. The length of the fruit reaches 13-15 cm, and its diameter is about 5 cm. There are practically no seeds inside the fruit.

The hybrid is suitable for growing in greenhouses. If the greenhouse is unheated, it should be made of polycarbonate, not film. In unheated greenhouses and in the open air the bushes are short, but in heated ones they are tall and spreading. The hybrid can be grown outdoors only in regions with a warm climate and long summers.

Hybrid value

Black dragon F1 has a long fruiting period. All fruits ripen almost simultaneously. Eggplants have high taste and do not lose their presentation during transportation.

Reviews of eggplant Khalif

★★★★★
Evgenia Vasilievna, 52 years old, Saratov. Khalif is happy with the eggplants.
I planted the planting material in March and transplanted it into open ground around mid-May. The plantings came up very well, the seedlings also grew strong. The harvest was rich; we even had to send some of it for sale. ★★★★★
Sergey, 35 years old, Vologda. I decided to grow eggplants for the first time last year.
A neighbor at the dacha recommended the Khalif variety. I liked the germination and quality of the seedlings. We were pleased with the shape of the fruits; they are elongated, as promised by the seed producers. My wife was delighted, she made preserved eggplants, and now she will eat them all winter. ★★★★★
Larisa Viktorovna, 56 years old, Perm. If I plant eggplants, then only the Khalif variety.
They are very tasty, there is no bitterness. Stored in the refrigerator for a long time, you can delight with seven different salads and snacks. The variety does not require special care, everything is as always. I just fed it with slurry and wood ash. Hide

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Khalif eggplants are especially valued for their unpretentiousness, high yield and good taste without bitterness. Planting and growing require certain knowledge, and caring for the variety consists of timely watering, fertilizing and loosening the soil. If all recommendations are followed, the plants will enjoy a successful harvest.

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Other popular varieties

Every day, breeders from all countries work to develop new hybrids. Each variety of eggplant has its own advantages.

• Eggplant varieties such as Albatross, Epic, Black Beauty, Marzipan, Alekseevsky, Bourgeois, Sofya, Bull's Heart, Lilac Fog, and Flamingo are suitable for open ground. The peel of the fruits of the Lilac Fog and Flamingo varieties is colored in an unusual pink color.
• White eggplants such as Icicle, Pelican, White Swan, Snowball, White Night, and Thai White Ribbed have high taste qualities. White eggplants of the Swan and Gentle F1 varieties are especially popular. Swan is valued for its high yield, which reaches 18 kg per 1 sq. m. A Delicate F1 - for the excellent taste of juicy pulp. Of the blue hybrids, Eggplant for barbecue F1, Bagheera F1, Fat Barin, and Frigate have an excellent taste.
• High-yielding hybrids are Bull's forehead, Ilya Muromets, Caviar F1, Barbecue F1, Bombovoz, Black Raven F1, Nutcracker (up to 19 kg per 1 sq. m), Long Pop F1.
• The most suitable hybrids for indoor ground are Bernard, Farama F1, Arap, Maksik F1, Destan, Master-Master, Yatagan F1, Chernomor, Marquis F1, Matrosik, Galina, Mushroom Pleasure.
• The hybrids Orient Express, King of the North, Bibo, Early Dwarf 921, Early Maturing 148, Balagur, Bataysky, Orion F1, Black Diamond, and Gardener's Dream are cold-resistant hybrids. For the Altai region, the most suitable hybrids are Diamond and Dialogue.
• Popular early ripening varieties are Emerald, Ultra Early F1, Karatai F1, Anet F1, Korean Dwarf, Vakula, Dervish F1, Maria, Northern Blues, Sharapova F1, Boyarin, Mirval F1.
• Hybrids resistant to diseases are Astracom, Mowgli, Generalsky, Ural early ripening, Behemoth F1, Black Beauty, Gardener's Dream, Avan F1.
• Popular green varieties are Green, Kermit, Chinese Green, Louisiana Long Green, Cambodia Green Jain.
• For non-black earth regions, the hybrids Don Quixote, Madonna F1 and Ping Pong F1 are suitable.

The varieties that are cultivated in a particular region should be grown. They are adapted to climatic conditions and are less susceptible to diseases common in a particular area.

It is impossible to describe the characteristics of each variety. They have an average yield, but are resistant to stress, the cluster-type hybrid Samurai F1, varieties Murzik and Drakosha. Large-fruited eggplants are produced by hybrid varieties Giselle F1 and Almaz. The Russian size F1 hybrid is characterized by heat resistance, and the Epic F1 variety has high growth energy.

The highlight of the summer cottage will be the Thai eggplant, which contains a huge amount of useful substances. But it is difficult to care for, and in regions with cold climates it is grown only under cover. The absence of this leads to the rapid death of the plant.