Eggplant planting technology and management methods

Eggplant , as a vegetable with high nutritional value, is deeply loved by consumers, and it shows strong adaptability when planted. For growers, the key to cultivating eggplants with vigorous growth and excellent quality is to master appropriate cultivation techniques and strengthen fertilizer management. If these points are ignored, the appearance and flavor of the eggplant may be affected. Let’s learn about eggplant planting techniques and management methods.

1. Cultivate healthy and strong seedlings

The suitable sowing period for summer eggplant is usually from late May to early June. It is recommended to use varieties such as purple eggplant and black eggplant for open-field seedling cultivation. 5 to 7 days before sowing, soak the seeds for germination: Place the seeds in 50-60℃ hot water and stir constantly until the temperature drops to 30℃, then continue soaking for 8-10 hours. After that, wrap the seeds with a wet towel and germinate them at 35℃. Wash them twice a day. After about 5-7 days, when more than half of the seeds germinate, they can be sown. After sowing, cover with 1-2 cm of fine soil and cover the seedbed with a shade net. When the seedlings reach the two-leaf and one-heart stage, they are transplanted. The standards for strong seedlings are plant height of 15 cm, spread of 15 cm, 9-10 true leaves, stem thickness of 0.6 cm, well-developed root system, freedom from pests and diseases, and flower buds.

2. Timely transplanting

When the seedlings are 20-25 days old, select strong seedlings for transplanting. The recommended transplanting density is 50-55×40 cm. It is best to transplant the plants after 4 p.m. and make sure to water them enough to allow them to take root. Water them again the next morning to ensure that the plants survive.

3. Reasonable fertilization and irrigation

After the plants survive, apply 1,000 kg of uncontaminated human feces and urine or 10 kg of compound fertilizer in the holes. When the eggplant is in the initial stage of swelling, apply 1,500 kg of human manure or 15 kg of compound fertilizer. During the peak fruit-bearing period, apply 20 kg of compound fertilizer or 2,000 kg of human manure. After watering enough for the roots to take hold, be sure to water the fruits properly and irrigate when the fruits develop and the sepals emerge. Water the fruits more frequently and fill most of the ditch with unpolluted water until the soil dries up naturally. Water the skin again 2-3 days before harvest to promote full growth of the fruit and make the skin fresh, tender and shiny.

4. Pruning and branch cutting

Eggplant pruning should adopt the natural open-heart pruning method. Two symmetrical branches should be retained on each layer of branches, and all other branches should be removed. After the eggplant is firmly established, remove all the brittle buds at the bottom, and remove the brittle buds at the bottom regularly after flowering. When the eggplant grows to more than four eggplants, in addition to removing the fragile buds, it is also necessary to top and pinch the heart regularly.

5. Pest and Weed Control

Summer and autumn are the peak seasons for weed growth. Soil should be cultivated 2-3 times in combination with tillage and weeding to eliminate weeds and prolong moisture retention time. The main diseases and pests of summer eggplant include cotton blight, brown streak disease and eggplant borer. Cotton blight can be controlled with 500 times diluted 70% dichlorvos or 800 times diluted 80% mancozeb; brown streak disease can be controlled with 800 times diluted 80% mancozeb or 1000 times diluted 70% thiophanate; eggplant borer can be controlled with 2000 times diluted 20% cypermethrin or 800 times diluted 50% DDV. The last application should be 7-10 days before harvest.

6. Harvest in time

The sign that eggplant is ripe is the appearance of a circle of ring-shaped nodes on the surface of the fruit that turn from white to green. When the market conditions are good, eggplants can be harvested when they have just appeared or are about to appear. Afterwards, harvesting should be carried out according to standards to ensure the quality and market competitiveness of eggplant.

The above is the planting technology and management method of eggplant. For friends who want to grow eggplant, now is the management period of summer eggplant and the sowing period of autumn eggplant. You can refer to it based on the actual situation.