10 reasons why eggplants turn yellow. How to prevent changes in the color of leaves, ovaries, and fruits?

Why do seedlings turn yellow?

Yellowing of leaves is common when growing eggplant seedlings. This is due to the sensitivity of the culture to growing conditions. In this way, seedlings react to various violations of agricultural technology.

Reasons for yellowing of leaves of small seedlings and how to avoid them:

1. Unsuitable soil. It is recommended to buy a ready-made balanced substrate. If you prepare the soil mixture yourself, it is important to observe its composition and proportions.
2. Poor nutrition. Seedlings react quickly to both deficiency and overdose of fertilizers.
3. Violation of the watering regime. There are no exact instructions regarding the frequency and norms of moisturizing. It is necessary to vigilantly monitor the condition of the soil, adjusting watering depending on the degree of drying.
4. Diseases and pests. Seedlings easily pick up fungal and viral diseases and are attacked by insects if preventive measures are not taken to disinfect the soil, seeds, and spraying.
5. Thickened plantings. Failure to maintain intervals between adjacent plants and rows leads to a lack of light, moisture and nutrition for individual specimens, which manifests itself in changes in foliage color.
6. Lack of natural light. Sometimes the apartment does not have a south-facing window. Then the seedlings do not receive the required amount of sunlight for the process of photosynthesis, and the leaves acquire a pale yellowish tint. If there is a lack of lighting, you need to install phytolamps.

Troubleshooting solutions

You should not make hasty conclusions about the fungal or viral cause of yellowing. Every problem has its own solution, and yellow leaves can be cured by doing the following:

• treatment of internal necrosis involves the use of special products that must be used to treat all eggplant bushes;
• if it is not possible to use special preparations, then it is enough to simply remove the diseased bush from the greenhouse, which will help prevent the spread of infection;
• in order to protect vegetable crops from late blight, you should regularly inspect the plants to detect lesions and maintain optimal temperature conditions inside the greenhouse, which should be supplemented by ventilation in order to normalize air circulation;
• The likelihood of eggplant becoming infected with infections can be reduced to zero by creating favorable conditions for growing and following the technology of cultivating vegetable crops;
• if the plants have been burned by lighting fixtures, then it is necessary to adjust the height of the lamps, and in order to protect the eggplants from sunburn, special ones should be used;
• Potassium deficiency is eliminated by applying special fertilizers containing an optimal set of all microelements.

Why do eggplants turn yellow indoors and outdoors?

Eggplants are able to react equally to completely different negative factors - from improper watering to pest attacks. To determine the cause of yellowing of the leaves, you need to carefully examine the plant and analyze all the nuances of agricultural technology.

Reaction to transplant

Transplantation is always a strong stress for eggplants, disrupting their usual rhythms and growth conditions. The main reason for yellowing leaves is damage to the roots. To prevent this from happening, the seedlings are moved from the glass to the ground along with a large lump of earth.

If everything is done correctly, within a week the plants will recover, take root, traces of stress will disappear, the leaves will become strong and green.

When transplanting eggplant seedlings to a permanent place, it is recommended to grow them in peat pots. In this case, the sprouts are planted together with the container, which can significantly reduce stress and avoid damage to the roots.

Wrong landing pattern

This problem is most acute in greenhouses, as gardeners strive to economically use the area of ​​closed soil. In fact, such savings “backfire.”

In dense plantings, the lower leaves have no way to get their share of light. They stop photosynthesizing, turn yellow, and the plant discards them.

A similar phenomenon is observed in open ground, when mature eggplants begin to grow and the tops of adjacent rows close together. Finding themselves unnecessary, the lower leaves turn yellow and fall to the ground.

To avoid such a problem, you should initially follow the planting pattern. If “trouble” has already happened, you need to thin out the beds as soon as possible.

Distance between adjacent bushes:

• low-growing varieties - from 60 cm;
• tall - 80–100 cm.

Eggplant bushes are formed regularly, removing 1-2 leaves and side shoots every week.

Unsuitable soil

Heavy soils with high acidity often cause yellowing of eggplant leaves. The nightshade crop tolerates peat soils worst of all.

Eggplant needs loose, fertile soil with good aeration. To improve the structure, sand, perlite, vermiculite, and coconut substrate are added to it.

If the soil type meets the requirements of the vegetable, but the leaves still change color, then there is a low amount of nutrients in the soil. This happens when crop rotation is incorrect.

Eggplants should not be planted in areas where tomatoes or other plants of the nightshade family previously grew. Also, the crop is not planted after tobacco.

Root damage

It is possible to damage the roots of plants not only when transplanting seedlings, but also during subsequent care. Damage to the root system has an extremely negative effect on the condition of eggplants, as they do not receive enough moisture and nutrition.

To avoid such a problem, all work related to the soil - weeding, loosening, hilling - must be carried out extremely carefully. It is important not to touch the roots and stems of plants with the hoe.

Irrigation violation

At the seedling stage, eggplants are watered once a week; during flowering and fruiting, the frequency of watering is doubled. Eggplants are hydrated in the same way in hot weather.

Pour water only at the root of the plant until the soil is wet to the entire depth of the roots. Moisture should not get on the leaves and stems. For irrigation, settled water heated in the sun is used.

If the leaves turn yellow, it is likely that the reason is a violation of the watering rules:

• yellowness occurs both when watering norms are exceeded and when there is a lack of moisture;
• yellowed tops signal an excess of water; if the lower leaves turn yellow, the plants do not have enough moisture.

Water the eggplants only with warm water. If you use cold water, the roots of the plants will rot.

Temperature changes and sunburn

Eggplants are very sensitive to cold and do not respond well to sudden changes in temperature. Similar cases are common in central Russia. Daytime heat is often replaced by night coolness, which leads to a decrease in plant immunity and a change in leaf color.

Experienced gardeners refrain from planting crops in open ground. They provide vegetables with a separate greenhouse or hotbed.

In warm regions or during dry summers in the temperate climate zone of the country, another problem occurs. Direct sunlight will burn the tender leaves of eggplants. Spots and specks caused by the sun appear only on the front side of the leaf.

Shading during the peak solstice period—from noon to 4 p.m.—helps avoid burns.

Lack and excess of nutrition

If a plant does not receive enough nutrients, its leaves turn yellow and dry out. Based on the characteristics of changes in the color of leaf plates, they calculate which element the plant lacks.

What do eggplant leaves look like when there is a deficiency of macro and microelements:

• calcium - loss of color and dried ends;
• nitrogen - lightening of apical leaves;
• iron - the leaves themselves turn yellow, and the veins turn green;
• potassium - the edges of the leaves curl upward, turn brown, dry out and crumble;
• zinc - the lower leaves are covered with yellow-brown spots;
• boron - the apical leaves become pale yellow and curl;
• magnesium - leaves lighten and become covered with yellowish spots.

Fertilized soil before planting eggplants prevents plants from starving. If a problem is detected during the growing season, the crop is fed with the appropriate element.

An excess of minerals is no less harmful than their deficiency. A similar situation occurs when fertilizer is applied excessively or too frequently.

Eastern guest from the west

Eggplant came to us from the west, although its homeland is the east. Only in India can an uncultivated member of the nightshade family be found in the wild, where it grows as a perennial. Eggplant came to Europe in the middle of the 15th century, having previously made a long journey along the southern outskirts of the continent. Its taste qualities allowed it to quickly win the love of fans, but cases of poisoning accompanied by convulsions were also quite common. Perhaps this formed the basis for the offensive name of eggplant - rabies apple.

Eggplants are popular in many countries

Years have passed, eggplant caviar has ceased to be an overseas delicacy, but to this day few people know that this plant has a perfect defense mechanism, which is susceptible to pests and diseases. Housewives get rid of the characteristic bitterness, without even suspecting that it is caused by the presence of the neurotoxic poison solanine, which is too tough for even such a hardy pest as the Colorado potato beetle.

But don’t panic ahead of time and urgently get rid of all your existing stocks of such useful berries. After reading the following information, you will be convinced that, most likely, even without knowing about the toxin, you have already gotten rid of it. So, good news:

• solanine accumulates as the fruit ripens, that is, only ripe berries are harmful to health;
• the toxic substance gives the fruit a characteristic bitter taste, the absence of which indicates safety of consumption;
• it is easy to get rid of solanine by soaking in water;
• the poison is present in the peel, and only a small part of it is contained in the pulp.

But if you are still thinking about giving up eggplants, then keep in mind that the benefits and harms from blue ones are incommensurable. Properly prepared fruits do not pose any threat to human health, while the benefits of eating eggplants for the human body are simply incredible. This is a vitamin and mineral complex that has a positive effect on the hematopoietic and circulatory systems. And microelements with antiseptic, anticancer and antimutagenic properties. The benefits of eggplants for the human gastrointestinal tract and nervous system have also been noted. And the most interesting thing is that all of the above “weighs” only 24 kcal per 100 g of blue fruits.

Causes of eggplant poisoning

To be fair, I would also like to note that among the possible causes of eggplant poisoning, solanine is far from occupying a leading position. If distributed by frequency, the list of causes of product poisoning will look like this:

• Nitrate poisoning.
• Poisoning from stale food.
• Incorrect preparation.
• Solanine poisoning.

Nitrate treatment

Nitrates are used to obtain an earlier and more abundant harvest. If the amount of fertilizer applied does not exceed the norms, then the fruits will be safe. But in pursuit of profit, unscrupulous producers violate regulations, as a result of which eggplants become a cause of poisoning. Once in the body, nitrates disrupt the circulation of oxygen in the blood, thereby disrupting the functioning of all vital organs. Symptoms of nitrate poisoning are as follows:

• nausea;
• vomit;
• stomach ache;
• blue discoloration of nails, lips and mucous membranes;
• diarrhea, sometimes with blood;
• pain in the liver area;
• yellowing of the whites of the eyes.

If signs indicating nitrate poisoning are detected, you should immediately seek help from a medical facility. Without taking proper measures, poisoning can progress to a more dangerous form and cause disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, having the following symptoms:

• headache, mainly in the back of the head;
• dizziness;
• apathy or hyperactivity;
• impaired coordination of movements;
• convulsions;
• loss of consciousness.

Poor quality products

Vomiting due to poisoning

Poisoning from stale food is quite common, despite the fact that the media repeatedly talks about the dangers of such food. In such a situation, it is customary to say “eggplant poisoning,” but the cause of the disease is harmful microorganisms that have proliferated in the stale product. Symptoms of food poisoning occur as a result of toxins produced by microorganisms entering the human body and look like this:

• headache;
• nausea and vomiting;
• general weakness;
• temperature increase;
• pain in the stomach and intestinal spasms;
• diarrhea.

Incorrect preparation

Many people love to eat fried eggplant. Yes, it's very tasty. But the benefits from such a dish are minimal, because the blue ones absorb the oil used for frying very well. If it is fresh, then the resulting product is simply a high-calorie product, devoid of many beneficial properties. But even in this version, the dish can harm the gastrointestinal tract, causing indigestion, which is well known to many. The following symptoms indicate it:

• heaviness and pain in the stomach;
• nausea and vomiting;
• general weakness;
• intestinal spasm;
• diarrhea.

As a rule, the last symptoms appear after the first three have subsided. Or they may not occur at all if you empty your stomach when you feel the urge to vomit.

Solanine poisoning

Unripe eggplants are safe to eat. But overripe fruits can cause solanine poisoning if cooked without prior preparation and/or eaten too much. Signs of solanine poisoning include the following symptoms:

• nausea and vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• stomach ache;
• headache;
• dilated pupils;
• disorientation;
• temperature increase.

Particularly serious cases may be accompanied by convulsions and loss of consciousness, even coma.

How to prevent poisoning?

Even knowing the answer to the question of whether it is possible to be seriously poisoned by eggplants and taking precautions, sometimes it is not possible to prevent poisoning. In this case, it is very important to quickly get rid of the source of toxins in your body by inducing vomiting. After emptying the stomach, drink several glasses of water and repeat the procedure. After this, they take a sorbent and, if the state of health does not improve, call an ambulance. But by following the recommendations below, you will significantly reduce your risk.

In order for all the benefits of eggplants to be revealed without the risk of poisoning, it is necessary to choose unripe fruits that are distinguished by their elasticity and smooth, shiny skin. If the berry is soft or has been damaged and rotted at the damage site, it is better to discard it immediately.

Overripe eggplant

Poisoning from overripe eggplants

, as well as fruits grown with the use of nitrates, will not harm you if you first soak the chopped blue ones in cold water. Whether the water will be running or whether you simply change it in the container several times does not matter much. Both methods are equally effective. Suspicious fruits can be additionally peeled. But it is better not to peel unripe berries whose peel is not damaged, because most of the beneficial microelements are found in it.

Eat only fresh foods

and mercilessly reject canned goods with the slightest signs of spoilage. Remember that botulinum poisoning is one of the most dangerous diseases that can be fatal. And try to minimize frying the eggplants. If the temptation is too great, then place the fried eggplants on paper towels, which will absorb excess vegetable oil.

The ovaries turn yellow

During the formation of ovaries, it is important to provide the eggplants with the most favorable conditions. Even minor non-compliance with agrotechnical requirements leads to the fall of the ovaries. To prevent a phenomenon leading to loss of yield, its causes must be eliminated.

Why do eggplant bushes shed their ovaries:

• lack of moisture;
• sudden temperature change;
• too bright sun in combination with dry winds (hot winds);
• deficiency of nitrogen and microelements in the soil.

Shading, wind protection, and drip irrigation will help prevent negative phenomena.

Video

You can also watch a video where they will explain to you what solanine is and why it is so dangerous.

https://youtu.be/0XFFBAtoX0c

Eggplants are a very healthy product, from which a huge number of dishes are prepared in the kitchens of all peoples of the world. In addition to an impressive range of vitamins and microelements, eggplants are quite low in calories. You should remember the danger of poisoning from this vegetable, but this is not a reason to completely exclude eggplants from the menu. By taking a number of precautions, you can protect yourself and your family from poisoning and give your health a valuable source of vitamins.

The fruits are turning yellow

In the first stages of the growing season, only the eggplant leaves turn yellow. Subsequently, the fruits sometimes undergo a color change.

Causes:

• nitrogen deficiency;
• lack of moisture;
• diseases.

It happens that the plant looks completely healthy, the leaves are not disfigured by spots, and all the necessary preventive measures have been taken, and the fruits are yellowish. Perhaps a variety with yellow fruits has been planted - there are many of these among Asian eggplants.

Fruits may become mummified due to internal necrosis. Adult bushes affected by the disease cannot be treated. The disease is prevented by treating the seeds with hydrochloric acid before planting (planting material is immersed in a 10% solution for half an hour).

The sensitive crop reacts very quickly to the discomfort of growth, disease and pests, changing the color of the leaves, ovaries and fruits to yellow. This allows you to timely identify the cause and take action to eliminate the problem.

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What kind of eggplant can you eat?

It is best to eat eggplants that are not overripe. But overripe fruits are dangerous to eat because they accumulate solanine, a toxic substance that can lead to poisoning. Such vegetables are identified not only by the brown color of the skin, but also by the large number of seeds and stale stems. Therefore, only young, elastic, almost black eggplants should be selected for consumption.

Expert opinion

Filatov Ivan Yurievich, private farmer for more than 30 years

To avoid poisoning, it is recommended to cut any eggplant into slices and leave it in water with added salt for half an hour before use; this will also eliminate the bitterness inherent in some varieties.

White eggplants contain practically no solanine and are not inferior to their purple “brothers”.

What to treat and how to treat

The lower leaves of eggplants react by changing color to unfavorable factors. The acquisition of a yellowish or brown color, curling of the plates and wilting occurs when there is an excessive amount of salts in the soil. It is necessary to add special agents that neutralize salts. Too much heat from the lamps can also cause this defect.

Bacterial diseases. Often yellowing of the lower leaves indicates the initial stage of verticillium. As this disease develops, it spreads to other parts of the plant, leading to its death.

The disease is bacterial in nature and can be treated with specialized medications. The most effective are Vitaros, Previkur, Fundazol, Topsin-M.

For prevention, it is necessary to increase plant immunity. This includes providing them with fertilizing, promptly removing weeds, fighting pests, and eliminating the effects of contrasting temperatures.

I recommend watching the video (be sure to watch it to the end), you will learn a lot of new things:

Lack of nitrogen is one of the main reasons. Even with full compliance with the temperature and lighting conditions during the period of intensive growth, the soil is depleted and requires replenishment of the supply of nutrients.

When fertilizing with nitrogenous fertilizers, it is important not to exceed the dosage, otherwise the seedlings will become too brittle. The first sign of nitrogen overdose is curled leaves.

Fungal infection. Often, discoloration and wilting are caused by the presence of one of the types of fungus. Most often, this means that the seeds were infected already at the planting stage. In this case, specialized chemicals designed to combat fungal organisms are effective (Vitaros, Glyokladin - they kill pathogens of fungal infections in the soil).

To prevent the appearance of fungus and its development, it is necessary to ventilate the greenhouse and prevent overheating of the soil and eggplants.

Physiological reasons

A very wide group of factors. The most common of them:

Unsuitable soil . If the substrate is chosen incorrectly, the plant weakens and does not receive the necessary elements. This reaction is not uncommon when using peat soil. It needs to be replaced first. A loamy or sandy loam substrate will be preferable for this crop;

Adaptation after transplantation . If the crop has only recently been planted in the ground, it is very likely that it will experience stress at first. If it's a matter of adaptation, the unpleasant symptom should disappear on its own within a few days or a week.

Excessive sun or too bright artificial lighting. The most common and common reason is sunburn. This is not uncommon in greenhouse conditions. Another common mistake that greenhouse owners make is placing lamps too close or using lamps that are too bright.

It should be remembered that this plant does not like intense lighting. It prefers diffused light.

A lack of minerals (nitrogen and potassium) can also be expressed by the same symptom. It is not difficult to determine that it was the lack of potassium that caused the condition to worsen: brown spots appear along the edges. In this case, the problem is solved by applying appropriate fertilizers and changing the nature of fertilizing.

Watering with cold water can also be considered a maintenance mistake. Solanaceae need to maintain temperature standards, otherwise they can shed leaves and slow down the formation of fruits.

If all the requirements are met exactly, and the problem does not go away, you should pay attention to the nightshade variety. Some varieties may be unsuitable for a particular area, reacting to conditions that are not comfortable for them.