How to Grow Eggplant Seedlings

To grow seedlings of aubergines, it is necessary to check the seeds for germination two to three weeks before sowing. It is necessary to take seeds for 10 pieces and in tissue bags to lower in warm (25 degrees) water for a day, then remove them from water and put on a plate in a warm place (30 degrees). Pouches should be constantly wet. After 4-5 days you can see their germination. Seeds are suitable for sowing, even if only 5 out of 10 seeds were sprouted.

Before planting seedlings, seeds are disinfected in manganese potassium for 20-30 minutes. Seeds after disinfection are washed and soaked for 24 hours in a nutritious solution with a little addition of fertilizer. Such treatment gives a coherent germination of seeds and an increase in yield. Correctly grown aubergine seedlings contributes to earning an early and large harvest. Terms of sowing should be in the period from 1 to 15 February, not later.

If the truck farmer does not know how to grow seedlings of eggplant and sows it late, already in March, then the eggplant begins to bloom only in late summer. This plant needs 100 days from the first shoots to the beginning of flowering. If the seeds are sown in March, then immediately after the emergence of seedlings, the eggplant seedlings should be illuminated by daylight lamps for a month prior to picking it. Lamps should hang horizontally at a distance of about 8 cm above plants, they should be included from 8 am to 8 pm.

The soil mixture is poured into a box in a layer of 6-8 cm, then it is leveled, slightly compacted and grooves are prepared with a distance of 5 cm between them. The grooves are poured with warm water and put the seeds in them to a depth of 1.0-1.5 cm with a distance between them of 2 cm. After sowing, the furrows are covered with the same soil mixture and compacted slightly. Boxes put in a warm place with a temperature of about 25 degrees. Two days later, the soil should be sprinkled with water in an amount of about three tablespoons per box, so that the seedlings go better.

When the seedlings of eggplants are planted (usually after 5-6 days), you should put the boxes in a bright sunny place with a temperature of about 15 degrees. This regime is necessary for a week, so that the seedlings give strong roots and do not grow too much. Then you need to gradually increase the temperature in the daytime with sunny weather 23-25 degrees, cloudy 18-20, and at night 16-17 degrees.

Seedlings should be grown in boxes before the appearance of two leaves - this is approximately 30-35 days after germination. During this period the seedlings should be watered once a week. It is advisable to use standing water with a temperature of 25-28 degrees. Extra fertilization of eggplant seedlings before picking is done once with a solution of calcium nitrate (one tablespoon per bucket of water). Before the picking, the seedlings are watered and the seedlings are dived into cups or pots.

The discarded seedlings are again put in a bright place, but they cover the window glass for 1-2 days with a newspaper to create a moderate light. The main care is to watering the seedlings, fertilizing and ensuring the hardening and temperature regime. For a better survival of eggplant seedlings after picking, there should be 3-4 days in moderately warm air. The temperature is maintained at about 14 degrees at night and 20-22 degrees in the daytime. Later, the temperature is raised at night to 18-20 degrees, and in the daytime to 23-25 degrees. With proper care, the seedlings are not stretched, they are compact and have strong roots.

A month before planting the seedling on a permanent place, it becomes hardened. When the air temperature in the street rises above 15 degrees, you can take out the seedlings on the balcony or open the window frame. Eggplant seedlings should have 8-12 leaflets at the time of planting in the open ground. In the greenhouse it is planted from 10 May, and in the open ground from 1 to 5 June or even at the end of May, but must be covered with a film. Before planting, you should sow the seedlings with water so that the nutrient soil is preserved when sampling potted plants.