Eggplant Diamond: basic characteristics and principles of cultivation

Historical background of breeding work

Diamond is a relatively young variety, no more than 40 years old. The culture was included in the state register of breeding successes in 1979. The creator of the variety is breeder Nasrullaev N.M. together with the Intersemya seed farm, they are patent holders.

The variety is intended for cultivation in open and closed ground in the Urals, Far East, Siberia, and the Black Earth Region.

Eggplant Almaz, according to reviews from gardeners, has proven itself on the positive side:

• disease resistant;
• productive;
• unpretentious.

Use of fruits

Farmers grow Almaz eggplant for sale. Fruits ripened in the garden or in the greenhouse are used for seasonal consumption and canning. Eggplants are baked, fried and stewed. They are used to prepare stews, sauté, caviar and other delicious dishes.

For winter consumption, eggplants are fermented, pickled, frozen, dried and dried. They are also a common ingredient in rolls along with other vegetables.

Description and characteristics of the variety

“Sinenkie” is the affectionate name for vegetables in the southern regions of Russia, where they have been grown for a long time.

Eggplant Diamond is an annual herbaceous plant. The bush is not spreading, it grows up to 50-60 cm.

1. Refers to mid-season varieties. From planting to harvest at least 4 months.
2. The leaves are green interspersed with purple veins.
3. The calyx is glossy purple without spines.
4. The fruits are small, 18-20 cm long, weighing 150-160 g, ripen on the lower part of the stem. They have an oblong shape. The skin is dense, but not thick. The pulp is juicy in taste, light with a soft green tint.
5. The high yield of the variety is ensured by a large number of stepsons on the bush.

Eggplant is tasty and not bitter. Housewives use it:

• for the purpose of preparing hot dishes;
• cold snacks;
• canning.

Important!
Eggplant Diamond is not a hybrid. Therefore, there is no need to buy new seeds every year. You can collect them yourself from ripe fruits. If an eggplant of the Almaz variety is planted, then the harvest is guaranteed.

What does eggplant Diamond look like?

The Almaz eggplant variety appeared in the Russian State Register in 1983. It was developed more than fifty years ago in Ukraine (Donetsk Experimental Station). It was found suitable for cultivation throughout the state, with the only difference being that in regions with a climate more familiar to the crop (Black Sea region, North Caucasus, southern Volga region) it can be planted without shelter, and in areas with conditions less suitable for eggplant ( Ural, Far East, Western Siberia) it is recommended to plant plants in closed ground.

The Almaz eggplant variety in Russia can be grown wherever gardening is possible

In terms of ripening time, Almaz belongs to the category of mid-season varieties. The first fruits can be picked from the bushes 109–149 days after the seeds sprout. Such a large difference in timing is determined by the climate in the growing regions.

The Almaz eggplant bushes are compact, they do not extend more than 45–56 cm. Even in a greenhouse, the height of the plant is a maximum of 60 cm. The plant is poorly leafy, the leaf plates are not large. The bushes are characterized by early active branching; accordingly, more fruits are set at the same time. By planting these eggplants, you can quite successfully save space in your garden plot. This question is invariably relevant for most gardeners, especially for those who own the notorious “six hundred square meters”.

The fruits themselves are quite thin, cylindrical in shape. The diameter of a fully ripened eggplant reaches 3–6 cm, length - 14.5–17.5 cm. The variety is considered large-fruited. The calyx is devoid of thorns, so there is no risk of injury during harvesting. The skin is thin, glossy, purple-black. When the fruit ripens, it acquires a chocolate-brown tint. The pulp of overripe eggplants becomes cottony and almost tasteless, the seeds sprout and become bitter.

Diamond eggplant fruits look very presentable

The weight of the fruit is 100–164 g, a total of 2.1–7.5 kg/m² can be expected. The latter depends both on the climate and weather, and on the landing conditions (presence of shelter or lack thereof). The bushes yield their harvest gradually, this lasts until the first frost.

The pulp is very dense, greenish-white with a beige undertone, genetically without bitterness. The taste is wonderful, the reviews about them are extremely positive. The seeds are small, there are very few of them. The density of the pulp and skin determines the good keeping quality and transportability of the fruit. In suitable conditions they can be stored for 30–50 days. This variety is suitable not only for manual, but also for mechanized harvesting.

The pulp of Almaz eggplants is dense, which has a positive effect on the keeping quality and transportability of the fruit.

Diamond is a variety, not a hybrid, of eggplant. Accordingly, seeds from collected fruits can be used for planting next year. But it is still worth remembering that if you practice this constantly, the varietal characteristics are gradually “eroded”, the yield falls, and the taste deteriorates. Therefore, once every 4–5 years you will have to update the planting material.

Seeds from self-grown eggplant fruits Almaz can be planted next year

Almaz’s resistance to diseases cannot be called absolute. Plants have good resistance to crop-dangerous diseases such as phytoplasmosis (stolbur) and mosaic virus. But they can suffer greatly from fusarium and late blight. The very first fruits are formed low, this is due to the size of the bush. Therefore, the eggplants touch the ground, which creates an additional risk of infection. Also, this variety is very sensitive to potassium deficiency in the soil, as a result of which blossom end rot often develops. Of the pests for Almaz, the Colorado potato beetle is the most dangerous. Contrary to popular belief, he is not only interested in potatoes, he can eat any Solanaceae.

Almaz eggplants are valued not least for their versatility. The fruits are suitable for home canning, any main courses, salads and snacks. They are also good as an independent side dish or as an integral part of any meat dish. Grilled eggplants are very tasty.

Gardeners speak extremely positively about the taste of Almaz eggplants

The harvest must be collected regularly. This stimulates the formation of new fruit ovaries. In addition, overripe eggplants quickly begin to rot. If the temperature outside drops to 12°C or less for three days or more, remove all the fruits. At such rates, their maturation stops.

Ripening Almaz eggplants must be removed regularly, otherwise the taste and quality of the fruit will deteriorate sharply

Features of cultivation

In the southern regions of Russia, this variety of eggplant grows in open ground, but in the central and northern regions it grows exclusively under film cover or in a greenhouse.

1. “Loves” fertile, light soil rich in organic fertilizers (manure, compost).
2. The landing site should be well lit and protected from the wind.
3. Does not tolerate heat well (when the temperature rises above 30 degrees), or a long drop in air temperature. Factors that can lead to the death of the plant, or it will shed its leaves and ovaries.
4. Grow by seedlings.

Seeds begin to be planted at the very end of winter or in the first ten days of March.

1. Place 2-3 seeds in separate pots. Deepen to 1 cm. Moisten the soil by spraying. If several seeds are planted in a large container, the distance between them should be at least 6 cm.
2. Cover the container or pots with film and place them in a well-lit place. It is important that there are no drafts.
3. The seeds will sprout in 10-12 days. The seedlings are placed in a cooler place for 5 days. At this time, strong root growth begins.
4. If the seedlings are in one container, they need to be thinned out (picked) and planted in a separate container after the first leaves appear.
5. After 55-60 days, the seedlings are planted in a greenhouse or in open ground if the ground has warmed up to 15-16 degrees.

In the southern regions, they are planted directly with seeds in open ground in the month of May, and in the northern and central regions - with seedlings, a month later (June).

Important! Eggplant seedlings do not like frequent replanting, they begin to get sick, and plant growth slows down. Therefore, it is advisable to plant the seeds immediately in separate containers, and not together, to avoid picking.

Before Almaz seedlings are planted, the soil is prepared.

1. The soil must be thoroughly loosened and organic matter added: compost or manure.
2. Make holes, keeping a distance between them of at least 75 cm.
3. Plant the seedlings, deepening the roots to 7-8 cm.
4. Young seedlings should not stand under the scorching rays of the sun, at least for a few days, while the plants adapt to their new location.

How to care for culture

Greenhouse conditions are abandoned when seedlings appear. For normal shoot development, the temperature is reduced to 15 °C. A low rate will slow down the stretching of eggplant stems and help the root system to form. After 1-2 weeks, the temperature is increased to continue the development of the aboveground part of the plant.

Watering

Seedlings, just like adult plants, need regular watering. It is better to take settled water, but not too cold. The watering procedure is carried out as the earthen clod dries out. As practice shows, once every 3 days is enough.

Top dressing: types and proportions

Feeding is carried out with a frequency of 2-3 weeks. It is advisable to combine them with watering so that the dissolved fertilizers do not burn the roots of the plants.

Recommended feeding:

• After the transplant. 3 weeks after planting the seedlings in the ground, the first fertilizing is carried out - a urea solution is added (30 g per 10 liters of water).
• During flowering. Water with a solution of superphosphate and urea - dilute 10 g in 10 liters of water. Consumption rate – 500 ml per plant. You can use organic matter - dissolve 1 liter of mullein and 200 g of ash in 1 bucket of water.
• During fruiting. Water with superphosphate solution - dilute 40 g in 10 liters of water. The second option is to dissolve urea (60 g), superphosphate (60 g) and potassium chloride (20 g) in 10 liters of water.
• After the fruit appears. Before watering, sprinkle the soil with ash.

Hardening

Diamond is an eggplant variety that is not particularly demanding. But before planting in the ground, preliminary hardening of young seedlings is necessary. The procedure is simple and does not require the use of any tools. The gardener needs to take pots of herbs outdoors.

The first eggplant hardening procedure takes 15 minutes. Every day the interval is increased by 2-3 minutes. Weather conditions outside must be favorable so as not to freeze the crop. Warm air and sun rays are another requirement.

Transfer

The plant will better tolerate transplantation and take root in a new place if it has at least 5 leaves. With the appearance of this number of leaves, sufficient development of the eggplant root system occurs. After the sprouts appear, count 70 days and transplant the crop into open soil. The landing time falls at the end of May and continues until the beginning of June.

This period is favorable for planting, as the ground has time to warm up and there are no frosts. Before planting seedlings, water the soil, loosening it. The root is deepened by 7 cm, planting the sprouts in rows. Between plants you need to maintain a distance of 30 cm, and between rows - 65 cm. Per 1 sq. m of soil, it is enough to plant 6 eggplants.

Bush formation

Thanks to the formation of bushes, it is possible to get the first ripe fruits faster.

Features of the formation of the “Almaz” variety:

• Only 2-3 stems are left - the strongest and tallest. The rest are removed so that they do not draw on the vital forces of the plant.
• Pruning of excess shoots is carried out before flowering. When flowers appear on the bush, only the yellowed leaves are picked off.
• The shoots of this variety are not removed, since it has the peculiarity of forming ovaries on these shoots. Therefore, cutting off the stepsons can negatively affect the yield.
• A garter is required; without it, the plant may break.

Care after planting in a greenhouse or open ground

If Almaz eggplant seedlings have taken root in a permanent place, care for the crop is minimal:

• the plant is watered;
• loosen;
• fed.

Water for the first time after planting 10 days later. Daily watering is not required; watering the plant twice a week is sufficient.

The soil is loosened to provide air to the root system, and weeds are removed, as they can cause eggplant diseases:

• rot;
• viruses;
• fungi.

Feed the eggplant bushes 3 times.

1. Urea half a month after planting at the place of growth.
2. Urea + superphosphate - in a month.
3. When the fruits appear, they are fed with cow dung.
4. If there are few ovaries, you can add potassium.

In case of insufficient pollination of flowers, pollinating insects are specially attracted. For this purpose, a sweet solution is sprayed onto the bushes, for the preparation of which you will need:

• boric acid - 2-3 g;
• sugar - 100 g;
• hot water - 1 l.

The need to plant the Almaz eggplant is a controversial issue. Gardeners do not have a consensus on this matter.

Care

This variety has been grown since 1983, during which time it has not only appealed to gardeners, but also to the liking of professionals who grow eggplant in large quantities.

Plant care is carried out in accordance with certain rules:

• do not plant plants close to each other (maximum 6 bushes per square meter);
• when planting seedlings, there is no need to bury it;
• all care comes down to loosening, watering and fertilizing.

Loosening must be done carefully, because the rhizomes of eggplants are weak. As for feeding, it should be both organic and mineral.

The feeding scheme is as follows:

• before planting eggplants in the ground, add 10 kilograms of organic matter per 1 square meter;
• It is better to add nitrogen in the spring, and potassium and phosphorus in the fall before planting;
• After planting during the flowering and fruiting period, the Almaz variety is fed with a mineral complex up to three times.

Advice! There is no need for pinching when growing the Almaz variety.

A brief overview of the variety is given in the video.

Resistance to diseases and pests

Although the Almaz variety is positioned by its creators as resistant to various diseases, improper care can lead to the plant getting sick or withering away. It may be affected.

1. Late blight. White spots appear on the leaves. The bush will die.
2. The appearance of black dots on the plant indicates that the cruciferous flea beetle is eating the greens. It can completely destroy a seedling.
3. When the soil is waterlogged - black leg. It can lead to the death of the plant.
4. The formation of an unusual pattern on leaves and fruits indicates a disease - a mosaic.

To protect eggplants from diseases, you need:

• proper seed preparation;
• cotyledon leaves should remain above the ground;
• constant plucking of diseased plants;
• water with non-cold water.

Of the pests, the Colorado potato beetle is especially dangerous. You can fight him the old fashioned way. Collect by hand. You can spray it with a product (there is a wide choice in the store) against this pest.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Despite the love of gardeners for the Almaz variety, in addition to its advantages, it has a number of disadvantages.

When to harvest and how to store it?

You can harvest the crop as soon as it reaches technical maturity - it acquires a dark purple color. It is important to do this in a timely manner. If the fruit was in contact with the ground for a long time, pests could move onto it. So every day it is worth going through the row and cutting off all the long eggplants that have reached the ground.

It is best to store Diamond eggplants in the refrigerator. It can be in boxes in the cellar at a fairly low temperature and with a ventilation system. The Almaz variety is used for preparing various dishes, canning, and freezing.