What is the purpose of fertilizing?
Eggplants are fertilized at each stage of development. Mineral fertilizers are combined with organic fertilizers. In this way, plants receive the necessary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium
When flowering
When eggplants bloom, fertilizing is mandatory. If it is not carried out, flowers do not form on the plant or there are few of them. Such bushes will not bear fruit.
What kind of feeding do eggplants like during the period of bud formation? At this time, the plants are fed with compounds containing phosphorus and potassium. Gardeners use growth stimulants. Among organic substances, preference is given to liquid mullein and ammonium nitrate.
During the fruiting period
During the active fruiting stage, the plant requires nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium. Fertilize the soil only when necessary.
The soil is enriched with potassium sulfate. To stimulate fruit filling, an infusion of bird droppings and “Nitrophoska” is suitable. Before watering, fertilizers are mixed with water.
The rest of the time
14-21 days after planting in the ground, seedlings are fertilized with substances containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium . For the rapid development of bushes, preparations such as “Rastvorin”, “Kemira” and “Kornevin” are suitable. Organic - herbal infusion.
After the first ovaries appear, the nutrients are doubled. From organic matter, use infusion of grass, manure or ash. Ready-made substances include the preparations “Kemira”, “Agricola”, a solution of urea and superphosphate.
AFTER THIS, YOU WILL Collect EGGPLANTS IN BOXES! I SHARE THE SECRETS! CARE, FEEDING, FORMING!!!
Complex
Complex mineral fertilizers contain all the substances and microelements necessary for the development of eggplants.
The most popular complex fertilizers:
- "Kemira Universal";
- "Ideal";
- "Agrocola-forte" and others.
When feeding eggplants with complex fertilizers, it is important to strictly adhere to the dosage, since an excess of nutrients is just as harmful to plants as their lack.
Types of fertilizing
Eggplants are fertilized with organic and mineral substances.
Organic matter
Organic fertilizers are applied at each stage of the growing season. They contain the optimal amount of components that dissolve well in the soil and are absorbed by plants.
Wood ash
Wood ash enriches the earth with macro- and microelements. It contains a lot of potassium. Organic fertilizer is used between fertilizing. Additionally, wood ash serves as an antiseptic. It disinfects the soil and protects plants from pests.
It is applied both by the root method and by irrigating the plantings. To do this, dissolve 150 g of ash in 10 liters of water. The solution is infused for 3 days, filtered and sprayed on the bushes.
Manure
Fresh mullein is used for feeding only in the form of an infusion, urea is added. Dilute 1 tbsp in a bucket of water. l. urea and add a glass of manure. The solution is infused for 24 hours. Half a liter of infusion is poured under each root.
Iodine
Iodine for eggplants in a greenhouse is useful because it helps to more actively fight various diseases. For 10 liters of water use one drop of iodine. The resulting solution is used to treat the soil in which the seedlings are planned to be planted.
Reference. Iodine is used as a fertilizer two weeks before planting.
Mineral fertilizers
Gardeners buy ready-made mineral fertilizers - both single-component and complex. In the second case, the nutrients are in a balanced form:
- Superphosphate. Complex fertilizer contains three elements: potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus (25%). A similar composition, but with a different percentage of substances, contains “Nitrophoska”. Double superphosphate is beneficial for soils deficient in phosphorus.
- Ammonium sulfate. This fertilizer contains nitrogen and sulfur. It is not used on soils with high acidity, because it oxidizes them even more.
- Potassium nitrate . The fertilizer contains nitrogen and potassium. The latter improves plant immunity.
Folk remedies
Folk remedies are very popular among gardeners. This is a cheap method, and the necessary components are always at hand:
- Herbal infusion . The cut grass is placed in a large container and filled with water. An ordinary barrel is suitable for these purposes. The solution is infused for a week until it ferments. Water the bushes strictly to the roots.
- Yeast. Yeast is considered a good growth stimulator. For feeding eggplants 1.5 tsp. substances and 1 tbsp. l. sugar is added to 5 liters of water. Leave for 3 hours and dilute with water in a ratio of 1:5.
- Compost. Boiled potato peelings are added to 100 g of compost and diluted with water. The resulting solution is watered onto the soil.
Other
To fertilize eggplants, use a bread-yeast solution. This is a universal remedy that increases the plant’s immunity and stimulates its growth.
For the solution, take black bread, 30 g of yeast, 2 tbsp. ash, grass, lime and 500 ml of chicken manure per 10 liters of water. Let it sit for a week and water the beds. Fertilizer is used once a week, 0.5 liters per bush.
Root fertilizers
When root feeding, fertilizers are applied under the roots, avoiding contact with the leaves and stem. Basically, eggplants are fertilized using this method. Root feeding promotes rapid absorption of microelements.
Important! The substances are diluted only with warm water 23-24°C. If the solution gets on the leaves, they are washed with clean water.
Foliar feeding
What is foliar feeding of eggplants? With this method, only the leaves are irrigated. It is rarely used. Plants on fertilized soils need sufficient root feeding. If the soil is poor, foliar methods of fertilizing the crop are used.
An average of 1 liter of diluted substance is used for each plant. Boric acid is suitable for irrigating plants. It helps the crop with insufficient flowering and ovary formation. 1 g of substance is dissolved in 1 liter of water. Irrigate the bushes twice every 10 days.
Variety of varieties
Eggplants, or “little blue” ones as they are also called, are a favorite product of many of us. They are very healthy, nutritious and suitable for preparing delicious dishes and pickling for the winter.
Before planting, it is worth studying the variety of eggplant varieties to choose the most suitable ones. They differ in taste, appearance and ripening time:
- Early ripening . Early ripening varieties are considered to be those that produce a harvest within 70 days after the appearance of the first shoots. These include: Early Czech, Vakula, Balagur, etc.
- Mid-season . There are quite a lot of mid-season varieties, more than 20. The most common are: Almaz, Black Beauty, Baltic.
- Late ripening . Gardeners rarely plant such varieties, since they do not have time to ripen before the arrival of frost, and therefore are not suitable for planting in open ground.
- Varieties for the greenhouse . In central Russia, the southern vegetable is grown in greenhouses. There are special varieties for this: Sofya, Black Moon, Bull's Heart F1.
- Carpal varieties . The fruits of such varieties grow several in clusters. There are many similar varieties, but the most common are Samurai and Prado F1.
How to understand what eggplants are missing
What element eggplants lack is indicated by the appearance of the plant:
- Phosphorus is necessary for the development of the root system, which becomes weak under conditions of deficiency. In addition, the ovaries form poorly and the fruits ripen slowly. The leaves turn blue, curl and fall off. The plant becomes sick with chlorosis. If there is a lack of phosphorus, superphosphate is added. 150 g of the substance are diluted per 10 liters of water.
- Nitrogen affects plant growth. With a lack of this element, the culture develops slowly. Small yellow or white leaves appear on the plant, old leaves fade and fall off, and the lower ones begin to turn yellow from the tips to the stem. The fruits become deformed and fall off quickly. If there is a lack of nitrogen, the plant is fed with urea. 100 g of the substance are diluted in 10 liters of water. If you add more substances than required according to the instructions, greenery will form, but the fruits will be small or will not grow.
- Potassium is important for crop fruiting. This element increases plant resistance to diseases and sudden changes in temperature. If there is a lack of an element, young leaves turn yellow at the edges and holes appear on them. Brown spots form on the fruits. The plant stops bearing fruit.
- Manganese, iron and calcium affect the quality of the fruit and the yield of the plant. With a lack of iron, the leaf blades turn completely yellow. If there is not enough magnesium, the leaves become light and dark veins become visible on them. With a lack of calcium, the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins in tissues is poor.
In rainy and cloudy weather, eggplants need potassium. It is better to fertilize plants with ash. The substance is applied under the bush. For 1 sq. m use a glass of the substance.
Secrets of feeding during the flowering period
Let's consider how to feed eggplants during flowering. During the period of bud formation, fertilizing is applied a second time. Ready-made preparations “Kemira” and “Signor Tomato” are suitable. You can fertilize with nitrogen and phosphorus: 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 1 tsp. Dissolve urea in a bucket of water.
In addition to mineral fertilizers, gardeners apply organic fertilizers. 3.5-4 kg of chopped weeds, 0.5 buckets of fresh manure and a glass of ash are placed in a 50-liter barrel. Pour water to the top and cover with a lid. Infuse for a week in a warm place. Before watering, the solution is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3 and 1 liter is poured over each seedling.
Important rules for feeding eggplants and advice from experienced agronomists
For fertilizing to be successful, gardeners are advised to adhere to the following rules:
- To prolong fruiting, additional fertilizing is applied at intervals of 14 days. Fertilize the soil with compounds containing potassium: 1 tsp. Potassium sulfate is dissolved in 10 liters of water.
- Mineral and organic fertilizers alternate with each other. The mixture is carefully poured under each bush, avoiding contact with the leaves.
- Fertilizers are applied after watering the plants on the same day or the next day in the morning or evening.
- A month before harvest, a nutrient solution is poured under each bush: 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 1 tbsp. l. potassium salt per 10 liters of water. For each bush, use 1 glass of solution.
- In order to prevent diseases and pests, eggplants are treated with fungicides.
Preparing the landing site
It is worth noting that there are quite a few varieties of eggplants and the choice must be approached carefully. A species that grows well on the Crimean Peninsula may not grow in the Astrakhan region. In any case, it is necessary to keep in mind that to plant blueberries you need to choose the right area for planting. The soil must be fertilized. The place is getting ready with the onset of autumn. After harvesting and emptying the bed, organic matter is scattered in the form of manure, compost, chicken droppings, and leaf humus.
The bed is prepared as follows:
- the garden is dug up in such a way that scattered organic fertilizers end up underground;
- with the onset of warm days, the bed is dug up again;
- preventive treatment of the beds is done to free it from pathological fungi and pests;
- just before planting the seeds, the soil is treated with garlic infusion, a weak manganese solution, a mixture of brilliant green and iodine diluted in clean water;
- the soil is pre-irrigated with antiseptic preparations sold in specialized stores;
- 60 minutes before planting the seeds, pour 1000 ml of boiling water into the holes.
Helpful information. When a lower layer in the form of peat, manure and compost, which generates heat, is added to the beds, eggplants grow and bear fruit well. Metal or plastic arcs are erected on top of the insulated beds and covered with plastic film. During the day, the film is opened and the beds are ventilated. After establishing a warm daily temperature, the film is completely removed.
