High-yield planting technology of eggplant

Eggplant, as a popular vegetable, is widely grown in rural areas of our country. However, many farmers have reported difficulty in achieving high yields when growing eggplant, mainly due to a lack of mastery of planting techniques . Let’s learn together some high-yield eggplant cultivation techniques.

1. Planting time

Eggplant planting is mainly divided into two periods: spring and autumn. In the northern region, the climate is dry in spring and warms up slowly. Sowing and seedling raising usually begin in March and April, and the seedling raising period is about 50 days. In the southern region, the spring climate is warm and humid, and the warming is fast. Usually, sowing and seedling raising begin in February and March, and the seedling raising period is about 30-35 days. It is recommended to determine the planting time according to local temperature conditions.

2. Seed soaking and germination

First, dry the eggplant seeds in the sun for 2 days (to break the seed dormancy period), then place the seeds in 53-55 degree warm water and stir for 15 minutes (for high temperature sterilization), then take out the seeds and soak them in 28-30 degree clean water for 6-8 hours (to allow the seeds to fully absorb water and soften the seed shell). Finally, rinse the seeds, wrap them with wet gauze, and place them in a warm and humid environment of about 28 degrees to keep warm, moisturize and germinate. After most of the seeds turn white, they can be sown and seedled.

3. Seedling management

During the period from eggplant sowing to germination, the soil should be kept moist and the temperature of the seedbed should be maintained at 20-25 degrees during the day and 16-20 degrees at night. If the climate is dry, you can spray a little water in the morning and evening to increase the humidity. When the temperature is high at noon, lift the ground film and ventilate for 2-3 hours. Eggplant seeds will germinate about a week after sowing.

4. Transplanting and planting

When the eggplant seedlings grow 4-5 true leaves and 1 heart leaf (5-6 leaves in total), they can be transplanted and planted. When transplanting, make sure the soil temperature of the planting area is not lower than 15-20 degrees. Prepare the land and apply fertilizer half a month before planting (it is best to dry the land for 7-10 days after plowing). When transplanting, try to choose a cloudy or sunny afternoon (to reduce water evaporation from leaves and increase survival rate). The planting density is generally 40-50 cm between rows and 25-30 cm between plants. The actual number of seedlings per mu is flexibly controlled based on soil fertility, planting pattern and variety characteristics, and is generally around 3,500-4,500 plants.

5. Water and fertilizer management

If the growth of seedlings is weak, you can apply 3-5 kg ​​of urea per mu or spray urea water + potassium dihydrogen phosphate twice to increase nutrients. When the eggplant seedlings begin to bud and 5-7 days before flowering, nutrients need to be supplemented to promote flowering and fruiting. You can apply 10-15 kg of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium balanced compound fertilizer or 3-5 kg ​​of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium balanced water-soluble fertilizer per mu. After the first eggplant flower blooms, control the water appropriately to keep the soil slightly dry to facilitate fruit setting.

When the first bunch of eggplant fruitlets are set and begin to swell (when the fruitlets grow to the size of a walnut), the field should be kept moist and well-watered, and topdressing should be done 2-3 times to meet the eggplant's demand for water, fertilizer and nutrients for flowering and fruiting. At this time, you can combine watering with applying 15-20 kg of high-nitrogen or balanced compound fertilizer per mu (or flushing 5-6 kg of high-nitrogen or balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and macro-element water-soluble fertilizer per mu), and then combine watering with applying high-potassium compound fertilizer or high-potassium macro-element water-soluble fertilizer once every 15 days or so (10-15 kg of compound fertilizer per mu each time, 5-6 kg of water-soluble fertilizer per mu each time, or you can apply top dressing once every 2 waterings). Stop fertilizing after the eggplant fruits begin to change color and mature. Stop watering 5-7 days before harvesting eggplant.

The above is an introduction to the key points of high-yield management of eggplant. There are many varieties of eggplant, and some varieties also require attention to details such as pruning management, which is important from seed selection to the later harvesting stages to achieve high yields.