At school we were told about the potato riots during the time of Peter the Great, which arose due to attempts to force peasants to plant potatoes. Peasants tried to eat berries rather than tubers, and were poisoned with the alkaloid solanine. Solanine is found in greater or lesser quantities in all nightshades, to which eggplant belongs. The literal translation of the name of eggplant from Latin is: black nightshade.
Eggplant's relationship with solanine differs from other vegetables in the family. Today, after the development of varieties without berries, you can get poisoned by potatoes only by holding the tubers in the light until they turn green and eating them raw. Under normal conditions, modern potatoes do not produce poison.
In tomatoes, the maximum amount of solanine is contained in green fruits, which are not recommended for consumption without processing. The riper the fruit, the less solanine it contains.
With eggplant it's the opposite. The maximum amount of solanine is found in ripe fruits. For this reason, they are plucked at the stage of so-called technical maturity, that is, immature, but already quite large. At this stage they are quite edible after pre-processing.
Important! The main concentration of solanine in varieties with dark fruits is in the skin of the vegetable.
Solanine in eggplants is also unevenly distributed. Most of all it accumulates in the beautiful, shiny, black skin with a purple tint. The skin of the eggplant must be removed, regardless of its degree of hardness.
Because of solanine, it is impossible to use fresh eggplants in salads. At a minimum, chopped eggplant should be soaked in salt water for a day to remove bitterness. To be precise, solanine, which has a bitter taste. It’s long, tedious, and there’s no guarantee that you won’t get poisoned without preliminary heat treatment.
When cooked, eggplant will lose a significant portion of its vitamins. In addition, solanine cannot be completely removed and dishes with eggplant become bitter. Who, one might ask, could be satisfied with such a state of affairs in which a healthy dietary vegetable is almost impossible to use to its fullest. Certainly not the breeders who set themselves the goal of developing eggplant varieties that do not contain solanine.
Their efforts were successful and today there are many varieties of eggplant without solanine. True, along with solanine, the dark skin and colored pulp disappeared. Eggplants without solanine have white flesh (another sign of a lack of solanine) and can be pink, green, white, yellow, or even striped.
One such striped variety, bred in Russia, was named “Matrosik”. Apparently, by analogy with a vest. The “shirt” of the eggplant is striped. Pink stripes alternate with white ones, which is clearly visible in the photo.
Description and characteristics of the variety
The unusual eggplant Matrosik is a variety with average maturity, high yield, and excellent taste.
It is chosen due to the following unique features:
- Due to its high agrotechnical characteristics, it is cultivated in greenhouses and open ground.
- It withstands transportation well, maintaining its original appearance.
- It has delicate pulp, without a bitter aftertaste, and is used in many recipes for winter preservation.
- It has a certain resistance to many diseases, it is not susceptible to Verticillium wilt.
The selected variety has the following agrotechnical characteristics:
- Fruiting begins on day 100-105;
- the stems of the plant are quite strong and developed;
- its bushes are spreading and can grow up to 80 centimeters;
- The yield indicators of this variety are 8-10 kilograms per 1 square meter;
- the shape of ripe fruits is oval or pear-shaped, the surface is glossy, the color of the vegetable is dark purple stripes alternating with white;
- The pulp of the vegetable is of medium density, without voids, white, without visible bitterness.
Description of the variety
Eggplant “Matrosik” is a mid-season, high-yielding variety with excellent taste:
- It is perfect for growing both in open and closed ground, and in greenhouses. The variety has high agrotechnical properties.
- During transportation and long-term storage, the fruits retain their presentation well.
- The flesh of the Matrosik eggplant is tender, with excellent taste without bitterness. The vegetable is used for preparing a variety of culinary dishes, canning and pickles.
- Eggplant "Matrosik" is resistant to common diseases. Resistance to Verticillium wilt.
Before you start planting eggplant seedlings, you need to carefully select the place where they will grow. In this article you can find out where it is better to plant the Alekseevsky variety.
Features of cultivation
A feature of almost all eggplants is that they feel comfortable and bear fruit well in warm and humid conditions. Every gardener knows the following nuances of growing aromatic Matrosikov zucchini:
- Heat-loving annuals love heat much more than their counterparts - aromatic tomatoes and unpretentious peppers. A comfortable temperature for accelerating germination is 20-25 degrees, and for comfortable growth and development – 25-30 degrees. At the same time, remember that a sharp disruption in temperature conditions, a decrease in temperature, is detrimental to healthy eggplants.
- Yield indicators depend on the quality of watering; with a lack of life-giving moisture, beautiful flowers and the first ovaries slowly fade. Excess moisture provokes the development of destructive diseases.
- Eggplants grow and develop comfortably on nutritious black soil or light loamy soil. Annuals prefer feeding with organic matter or light nitrogen fertilizers.
See also
Description of the eggplant variety Ilya Muromets, its characteristics and yieldRead
Soil Features
The soil should be light and nutritious. Here is an approximate composition:
- Turf land;
- Humus;
- High peat;
- Sawdust, sand;
- Vermicompost.
The soil must be spilled with boiling water or a manganese solution. Eggplants are sensitive to picking, so it is better to immediately plant them in separate cassettes or individual pots. The depth of seed placement in moist soil is 5-10 mm. Then cover with film and place in a warm place. The optimal temperature for germination is +25-30 degrees. The first shoots should appear in about 10-14 days.
After this, the film is removed and the seedlings are placed in a bright place. Eggplants are light-loving, but they need short daylight hours (8-12 hours). And in cloudy weather you will have to illuminate it with a fluorescent lamp. Watering is moderate and always at the root so that water does not get on the leaves. This can cause fungal infections. Mineral complex fertilizers are suitable for feeding seedlings.
Experienced gardeners say that growing eggplants is not that difficult. Following the tips below is worth trying to plant these vegetables. How to sow seeds, how to care for seedlings and when to transplant into open ground - all this is described below.
Growing seedlings
The eggplant variety is cultivated by seedlings; in regions with a warm climate, the vegetable can be grown by sowing in open ground. The optimal predecessors for the demanding eggplant are carrots, melons, and legumes.
Selected eggplant seeds are sown in special pots or a ready-made nursery. High-quality soil, purchased in a store or made independently, is poured there.
High-quality nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are also added to the prepared mixture.
The following procedures will help increase germination rates:
- preliminary soaking of selected seeds in a growth stimulator for 3 hours or simply soaking in purified water until germination;
- in the prepared pot, make 4 holes 2 centimeters deep, put one selected seed there, sprinkle with earth, water generously;
- The optimal time for sowing seedlings is the end of February or the beginning of March. After germination, one strong specimen is left in the pot.
25 days before direct planting in open ground, the resulting seedlings are hardened, bringing the cultivation conditions closer to the most natural environment possible.
Eggplant Matrosik F1 - characteristics and description of the variety, reviews
Eggplant with the unusual name Matrosik is distinguished by high agrotechnical qualities. The vegetable has an unusual color, which is how the variety got its name: ripe fruits are painted in bright white and blue stripes, similar to a sailor’s vest. It is characterized by high productivity and unpretentiousness.
The vegetable has a fairly thin skin (it is not necessary to remove it before cooking).
Matrosik is also popular among raw foodists, because this eggplant can be consumed without heat treatment. The fruits have a pleasant taste without bitterness.
It is better to grow in seedlings, so the seedlings will become stronger and harden before planting in unprotected soil, in addition, this will shorten the ripening period.
The fruits are well stored and can withstand transportation.
Characteristics and description of the eggplant variety Matrosik f1
Matrosik is a mid-season variety of eggplant. It has high yields and excellent taste. The vegetable has the following features:
- It can be grown both in greenhouses and in open ground.
- Tolerates transportation well.
- It is distinguished by the most delicate pulp, devoid of even the slightest bitterness, and is suitable for canning for the winter.
- Resistant to many diseases.
Botanical characteristics
A description of the main characteristics of the plant and its fruits is presented in the table:
Characteristic Description
| Color | White-blue |
| Fruiting | On the 100-105th day |
| Stems | Strong, developed |
| Bushes | Compact, semi-spreading, up to 80 cm high |
| Productivity | 8-10 kg per sq. m |
| Fruit shape | Oval or pear-shaped |
| Pulp | Medium density, without voids and bitterness |
| Eggplant length | 15-18 cm |
| Fruit weight | 250-400 g |
Among the few shortcomings, some gardeners note the presence of thorn-like formations on the stem and pericarp of the plant; therefore, harvesting should only be done with special gloves.
Productivity and growing conditions
The yield of the variety is up to 8 kg/m2. The most comfortable conditions for development and fruiting for Matrosik are warm and humid. There are some nuances that anyone who plans to grow this variety of eggplant should know:
- The most comfortable temperature for accelerating germination is considered to be 20-25 degrees, and for further successful growth and development - 25-30 degrees.
Sudden temperature changes, as well as a decrease in indicators, have a detrimental effect on eggplants. - It is important to adhere to the rules of watering, because the yield will directly depend on it. If there is not enough moisture, the flowers and ovary will fade. And, conversely, excess water can lead to the development of many diseases that are dangerous to the plant.
- It is worth paying attention to the composition of the soil. For eggplants of this variety, nutritious black soil or light loamy soil is best suited. As for fertilizing, it should be organic or light nitrogen.
Growing eggplant seedlings Matrosik
Before you start growing seedlings, you should prepare the seeds. And, of course, you should follow some simple rules for growing it.
Seed preparation and sowing
The seedling cultivation method is suitable for those regions where the climate is not too warm. Seedlings grown in advance will have time to grow stronger and will not freeze in the cold soil from the morning frosts.
Seeds for seedlings are sown in special pots filled with high-quality soil - you can prepare it yourself or purchase it at a specialized store.
The land also needs to be fertilized. Potassium, nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer is suitable for these purposes.
To increase the germination rate of eggplants, special procedures are carried out:
- soak the seeds in a growth stimulator or plain water for 3 hours;
- in a pot filled with soil, make 4 holes (2 cm deep), put a grain in each, cover with soil and water generously;
- The optimal time for sowing is the end of February - the beginning of March; after the shoots appear, you need to leave the strongest sprout and remove the rest.
Seedling care
As soon as the seedlings appear, they are exposed to bright light. It is important to reduce the air temperature in the room to 16 degrees.
This condition is necessary for the root system to develop successfully, and it will also temporarily limit the growth of seedlings. The reduced daytime temperature should be maintained for about a week, then it is raised to 22 degrees.
But at night the optimal temperature is 14 degrees. Thanks to this difference, the immunity of the seedlings is strengthened.
It is important to pay attention to such an issue as lighting. Young seedlings need bright light, but not too long daylight hours - from 8 to 18 hours. It is better to place the seedlings on the windowsill of a south window.
If it is cloudy outside, fluorescent lamps are used. But too much sun can also have a detrimental effect on seedlings - they may get burned. Therefore, the seedlings should be slightly shaded so that direct sunlight does not fall on them.
For uniform development, the container with seedlings is rotated every 2 days.
Watering is another important condition for care. It should be moderate. For convenience, use a fine-mesh watering can. Water directly under the root, but it is undesirable for water to get on the leaves, otherwise fungal diseases may develop.
It is best to water the seedlings in the early morning hours with warm water.
Hardening
25 days before planting, the seedling bushes are hardened off. To do this, their growing conditions are brought as close as possible to natural ones, reducing the temperature. Sometimes seedlings can be taken out into fresh air. But it is better to do this not abruptly, but gradually, increasing the time of such “walks”.
Features of growing varieties in a greenhouse and in open ground
When planting eggplants in open ground and a greenhouse, it is important to observe certain conditions and adhere to certain rules.
Planting seedlings
You need to select a site where eggplants will be grown. It should be well fertilized and warmed by the sun. The best predecessors for Matrosik are carrots, melons or legumes.
Seedlings are planted in open ground after preliminary hardening. It is better to do this after May 20, when frosts definitely will not return and the weather becomes warm and stable.
Planted at a distance of 40 cm between bushes.
The row spacing should not be less than 50 cm. When planting, organic matter and mineral fertilizer are added under each bush.
Temperature and lighting
Naturally, there must be a suitable temperature for eggplants. They feel most comfortable at a temperature of 23-26 degrees. Therefore, it is important to avoid hypothermia or excessive overheating. To protect the plants, they are covered with a special film.
Watering
It is important not to overdo it in this matter. The frequency of watering is determined individually; it is important that the soil is not waterlogged or dry. Young seedlings are watered no more than once a week.
When flowering, the amount of water is reduced, and when the fruits ripen, it is increased again. It is important to adhere to a certain amount of watering - 10-15 liters per m².
You should not water in the scorching sun, this can lead to thermal burns of plants; the best time for this is early morning or after sunset.
Fertilizer
Eggplants are fed three times per season. For these purposes, use high-quality complex store-bought fertilizers. You can prepare them yourself, but you need to know exactly the proportions.
Mineral fertilizers are perfect as the first bait. To prepare the mixture, you need to add 20 g of the complex product to a 10-liter bucket of water. The chemicals need to be completely dissolved; to do this, they must be thoroughly mixed. Approximately half a liter of fertilizer is poured under each bush.
For the second feeding, you can use organic fertilizers. A bucket of water requires a kilogram of cow dung. The solution is infused for 10 days, after which the plants are watered with it (0.5 l each).
For the third feeding, you can choose any fertilizer. Urea is perfect: dilute a tablespoon of it in 10 liters of water and water (1 liter) each plant.
Soil care
The soil also requires special care, because if it is not weeded periodically, weeds will appear that will interfere with the development of the bushes. In addition, sometimes a dry crust may form under the plants. In this case, the soil must be loosened, otherwise it will not allow the oxygen needed by the eggplant horse system to pass through.
Formation
To increase productivity, eggplant bushes are formed into 1, 2, 3 or more stems. One stem must be formed under the following conditions:
- the bush is weak, did not tolerate transplantation well, does not develop;
- plants are planted too densely and do not have enough space;
- shading by other plants occurs.
Bush formation scheme
To form a bush into one stem, remove some of the lower shoots and flowers. When forming into two stems, they pinch off the top, and in order for the side shoots to grow, the two most developed stems are left, the rest are removed. After 15 days, formation can continue. To form three or more stems, a similar procedure is performed.
Diseases and pests
The Matrosik variety has excellent disease resistance and resistance, especially Verticillium wilt. Diseases develop extremely rarely. And yet, if this happens, the bush must be completely removed from the garden bed along with part of the soil underneath it. After which the soil is disinfected using special means.
Colorado potato beetles pose a real threat to Matrosik. They feed on eggplant bushes and love them even more than potatoes. Therefore, if you do not use effective methods to combat the beetle, it will soon destroy the grown bushes.
If the area is small, you can collect pests and their eggs by hand. With large-scale cultivation, it is impossible to do without treatment with chemicals. But more gentle folk remedies are also suitable, for example, dusting with wood ash and spraying with wormwood infusion.
Aphids can also live on eggplant leaves.
Small insects drink the sap of plants, causing them to become twisted, wither and eventually dry out. In the fight against aphids, such drugs as Decis, Arrivo, Strela have proven themselves to be excellent.
Reviews on the cultivation and productivity of eggplant Matrosik
Reviews about this variety of eggplant are very positive:
Marina Babka: “I have been growing the Matrosik variety for several years at the dacha. I use the seedling method: I grow seedlings in the apartment, and then plant them in the garden under a film. I am very pleased with this variety. I get an excellent harvest, the eggplants are very tasty and without a hint of bitterness. And yes, they can really be consumed raw, which we do with pleasure.”
Sergey Bondar: “We grow eggplants both for ourselves and for sale. Last year we decided to try the Matrosik variety; we liked the reviews about the eggplant and were also attracted by its appearance. My wife and I decided to conduct an experiment: we planted some in a greenhouse, and some in open ground.
The conclusion is simple - it is still better to grow this variety in a greenhouse. “Matrosik” had excellent yields, the fruits were large and plump. But outside there was less harvest, and the fruits turned out to be somewhat small. As for taste, they are excellent in both cases.”
Valentina: “I bought the seeds at the market. There were no special preferences. The seller highly praised the Matrosik variety: the eggplant yield is good, the appearance is beautiful, and the taste is excellent, without bitterness.
To be honest, it was hard to believe, but I still decided to try. And I was very pleased with the result. The seller really didn't deceive me. I collected a lot of fruits. And I preserved it and cooked it like that. A very tasty variety.
I’ve even tried raw blue ones, but the taste is not for everyone.”
Eggplants of the Matrosik variety are an excellent choice for those who still cannot decide what to grow in their garden plot. Eggplants do not require specific care, but will soon delight you with delicious fruits with interesting colors.
Source: https://sveklon.ru/baklazhan-matrosik
Sprout care
Caring for growing vegetables is quite simple; any novice gardener can handle it. It includes a number of the following activities:
- thorough weeding of annoying weeds;
- high-quality watering and soil loosening;
- periodic feeding;
- giving shape to the bush.
All these measures will help to grow strong and healthy striped eggplants.
Eggplant variety Matrosik: how to grow? Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Recently, eggplant Matrosik .
Summer residents appreciated this variety for its high agrotechnical properties, breeders for the unusual coloring of the fruits, and housewives loved this variety for its excellent taste.
Tender pulp, lack of bitterness and excess seeds in the fruits allow you to prepare dishes from eggplants of the highest quality.
Landing Features
Before planting, Matrosik eggplant seeds are disinfected for 30 minutes with a solution of potassium permanganate (5-6 crystals are diluted in a glass of warm water), then washed with clean water and kept in a universal nutrient solution (1 tablespoon of the preparation “Biohumus” or “Potassium Humate” per 1 liter of water) during the day.
Time to sow seeds for seedlings: late February – early March. Seeds germinate quickly - within 7-8 days. Time to plant eggplant seedlings in open ground: May 20th, when the threat of frost on the soil subsides and warm weather sets in.
Planting pattern: at least 40 cm between bushes and 50 cm between rows.
Watering
Watering the Matrosik eggplant is carried out 1-2 times a week with warm water at the root. The amount of water depends on the weather, on average about 10 liters per square meter.
How to care for eggplant
It is quite difficult for young shoots to take root in a new place, so they need to be provided with proper care. Blue eggplants feel comfortable at a temperature of 23-26 degrees, so the main task of the gardener is to prevent hypothermia or overheating. In order to protect against external destructive factors, a special film is used. When the shoot reaches a height of 30 centimeters, its top is pinched. Of the side shoots, only 5 strong ones are left, the rest are simply disposed of.
Weeding
Weeding the ridge of excess weeds is carried out regularly, since eggplants do not like it when something interferes with their development. In addition, weeds attract pests and provoke the development of destructive diseases. This is why weeding is needed. Do this procedure regularly, as needed.
See also
Description of the Long Purple eggplant, its characteristics, pros and consRead
Watering and loosening
High-quality watering is carried out with heated water 2 times a week before flowering begins. The main reference point for this is the current degree of soil moisture. During flowering and fruit formation, the annual is irrigated directly under the root. In severe drought, light shading is done so that fragile sprouts do not get severely burned.
Also, do not forget about periodically loosening the soil to avoid clumping and to ensure free access of oxygen to the roots of the plant.
Top dressing
When planting young shoots, high-quality humus, wood ash, and nitrophoska are added to the open soil under each hole. During the formation of the ovary, established plants also need support, then they are given a complex of minerals, for example, Agricola, beloved by all annuals. During the period of active fruiting, regular nutrition is added to the plants in the form of high-quality minerals and natural organic matter.
Bush formation
Forming a bush involves pinching the top of the bush; after it stretches up to 30 centimeters, as well as in pinching and removing excess branches.
Care
Basic types of eggplant care:
- Weeding
- Watering and loosening.
- Feeding.
- Bush formation.
Weeding
Weeds are periodically weeded when they appear in the row spaces and the rows themselves.
Watering and loosening
Eggplants need watering during active plant growth and fruit formation. If improper watering occurs, the flowers and ovaries fall off and the fruits do not ripen.
The dry crust that forms after the moisture dries must be loosened. It does not allow oxygen to pass to the roots of the plant, affecting the development of the bush.
You need to loosen the soil carefully so as not to damage the roots of the plant.
Top dressing
Fertilizing must be done 3 times per season using complex store-bought or folk remedies (organic fertilizers).
Mineral fertilizers are well suited for first feeding:
- To do this, add 20 g of the complex product to 10 liters of water.
- Mix well until the chemicals are completely dissolved.
- Water the plants with the resulting mixture in a volume of 500 ml for each plant.
Organic fertilizers are ideal for a second feeding. Add 1 kg of cow dung to a bucket of water. The resulting solution is infused for 7-10 days, after which 0.5 liters are watered under each bush.
The third time, the eggplants are fed with organic or mineral fertilizers, at the choice of the gardener. Urea works well for this purpose. Dissolve a tablespoon of fertilizer in 10 liters of water and water 1 liter for each plant.
Bush formation
In order to increase the yield, eggplant bushes are formed into one, two or three (or more) stems.
A plant is formed into one stem if:
- The bush did not tolerate planting well, is weakened and poorly developed.
- The garden bed allows for dense planting and little space for plants.
- There is not enough sunlight for the plants to not shade the others.
The formation of the plant begins on the 14th day after planting the seedlings in a permanent place, when the bush reaches a height of 30-35 cm.
Formation into one stem is carried out by removing part of the lower shoots and flowers (ovaries), gradually enlarging them and pinching them to the top of the plant. In this way, the crown of the bush is formed and the ovary is laid.
When forming into two stems, pinch the top of the plant to allow side shoots to grow:
- The two most developed side stems are left, all the stepsons below them are removed.
- After 15-20 days, the formation process continues, part of the stepsons and ovaries on these two stems are removed, with a gradual increase in shoots and pinching them to the top of the plant to form a crown and ovary.
- Formation into three (or more) stems is similar to the development of a bush into two stems, except that after the formation of two stems, the development of skeletal branches begins after 10-14 days.
- One shoot is left on the stems, and the rest are pinched after 2 leaves, preserving the ovary.
Expert opinion
Filatov Ivan Yurievich, private farmer for more than 30 years
If the plant branches further, the process of preserving one stem and pinching is repeated. This is done to form the crown of the bush, and conditions are created for the development of fruits. Before harvesting, the stems are pinched to stop the development of the plant crown and direct nutrients to the fruits.
Diseases and pests
When cultivating perennials, it is necessary to take into account the fact that annuals literally attract dangerous pests. The first enemy of the little blue ones is the Colorado potato beetle. Having settled on the escape, in a matter of days he gnaws it to the end. Spraying with chemicals and infusion of beneficial wormwood will help you cope with it.
Spider mites and bugs can cause damage to the crop. For preventive purposes, the plant is sprayed with infusion of onion or regular dandelion.
How and when to harvest
When determining the maturity of an eggplant fruit, the permissible growing season of the selected variety is taken into account. The ripening time is directly influenced by: the agricultural technology used, weather conditions, and careful adherence to the specified planting dates. Eggplant has no visible signs of maturity; the main emphasis here is on the length of the fruit.
Simply pressing on the fruit will help determine ripeness - if the skin bends slightly and quickly returns to its original shape, then the fruit can be picked.
When and how to plant seedlings?
Eggplants are heat-loving plants; they are planted earlier than peppers and tomatoes. The timing of planting eggplants depends on the variety and climatic conditions of the region. Early varieties are planted 70-75 days before planting in open ground, mid-season 75-80 days, late ripening 80-90 days. That is, it takes 2.5-3 months from planting seedlings.
In the southern regions, seeds are sown in February, and planted in a permanent place from the end of April. In central Russia, sowing begins at the end of February, beginning of March, and the garden is planted at the end of May. In the Urals since March, and transplantation in early June.
Eggplants are sown with dry or sprouted seeds in boxes or containers. It should be borne in mind that this vegetable does not like transplanting, so you can plant it immediately in separate glasses or peat tablets. Then you won't have to dive. Soil for eggplants requires neutral acidity and loose composition; it is better to buy ready-made soil. Seeds are placed in the grooves, to a depth of 0.5-1 cm, 2 cm apart from each other.
Cover with soil and compact slightly. Water by spraying from a spray bottle. Cover the crops with glass or polyethylene to maintain humidity and place in a warm place until sprouts appear. Temperature 22-25 degrees. The emerging sprouts are gradually accustomed to a room temperature of at least 20 degrees.
