Eggplant seedling raising method and time

Many people love to eat eggplant , and there are many ways to cook eggplant. The more common ones are fish-flavored eggplant, eggplant and beans , stir-fried eggplant, eggplant and minced meat, etc. Eggplant is also added to many stews in some northern regions. As a popular vegetable , eggplant has a relatively large demand and planting area. Next, let’s learn about the eggplant seedling cultivation method and time.

1. Eggplant seedling raising time

Eggplant planting time is usually divided into two main seasons: spring and autumn:

1. Spring seedling raising

Spring is the main planting season for eggplant. Seedlings are generally raised from March to May, and the eggplant harvest period is from June to August. Eggplants planted in spring can take advantage of the favorable conditions of gradually rising natural temperatures to promote their growth.

2. Autumn seedling raising

Eggplants planted in autumn are usually raised from July to August and harvested from September to November. Planting in autumn can take advantage of the residual heat from summer and the gradually decreasing temperature in autumn, avoiding the adverse effects of high temperature on eggplant growth.

2. Eggplant seedling cultivation method

1. Seed treatment

The eggplant seed skin is thick and hard, with poor water and air permeability, so the seeds need to be treated before sowing. First, soak the seeds in warm water at 55°C for 15 minutes, then let the water temperature drop naturally to 30°C and continue soaking for another day. After that, rub off the mucus on the seed coat, wrap the seeds with a wet cloth, keep them moist, and place them in an environment of 25-30℃ for germination. They will germinate in about 4-6 days.

2. Sowing method

Sow the germinated seeds in the seedbed, making sure the radicle of the seeds is facing downwards, and press them gently into the soil.

3. Seedbed management

After the seedlings emerge, maintain a relatively high temperature and properly control the ventilation of the seedling bed to cultivate strong seedlings. The seedbed should maintain appropriate humidity to avoid being too wet or too dry.

4. Planting time

The planting time of eggplant should be determined according to the ground temperature. Generally, it should be planted when the ground temperature is stable at above 13℃. In the northern region, planting is usually done in mid-to-late April, while in the southern region it can be advanced depending on actual conditions.

5. Preparation for planting

When the seedlings have 5-6 true leaves, they are ready for transplanting. Before planting, shallow tillage should be carried out to increase the ground temperature and promote the growth of seedlings.

In general, eggplant is not cold-tolerant, so it is not usually grown as a winter vegetable in areas with lower winter temperatures. In tropical and subtropical regions, eggplant can be grown all year round due to the relatively warm climate throughout the year. In temperate regions, eggplant is mainly grown as a vegetable in late spring and summer and autumn.