How to properly plant eggplant seedlings in open ground

Eggplants are nightshade vegetables that will reward you with abundant fruit in any soil. However, it takes time for these fruits to ripen on time! Therefore, it's important to grow eggplant seedlings and not recognize them before planting them in the garden. How to properly plant eggplant seedlings in open ground, and when is the best time to do it? You'll find the answers to these questions in our publication.

How to grow eggplant seedlings?

Eggplant seedlings are quite easy to grow: the sprouts grow small and vertically, so pots or boxes containing these seeds can be transported to the dacha (unlike pumpkin or zucchini seedlings, which "spread" beyond the soil in their containers). So don't be afraid to try growing eggplant seedlings at home!

Be sure to check it out, When to plant eggplant seedlings in 2017 according to the lunar calendar

When should I sow these vegetable seeds for seedlings? The approximate date is early March, although this time varies depending on your climate zone. In any case, sow eggplant seeds for seedlings two months before planting the sprouts outdoors. To ensure the eggplants have time to ripen in the garden, they are planted in May; therefore, sow the seeds for seedlings in March.

Prepare the soil in the seedling trays: moisten it just enough to be moist. Make furrows in the soil about 2 cm deep and place the seeds in them, spacing them 3 cm apart. Cover the tray with the sown seeds tightly with transparent film to create a small greenhouse. Do not remove the film until the seeds break through the soil and grow to 2 cm in height. Until then, there is no need to water the soil; the greenhouse will provide sufficient moisture for the first few weeks. Once the eggplant seedlings have developed four true leaves, they are ready to be transplanted into the garden bed.

When to plant eggplant seedlings in open ground?

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the ideal time to plant eggplants outdoors is May. And the earlier, the better: eggplants like to "think" and take a long time to ripen. So, the first day of May, free from the threat of night frosts, is ideal for planting seedlings. It's best to plant in the morning or on a cloudy day, so that the sun's rays don't dampen the young shoots.

How to plant eggplant seedlings in holes?

1. Dig the bed: the soil should be soft before planting the seedlings. Make holes in the soil up to 15 cm deep and about 20 cm in diameter. Fill these holes completely with water and wait until the soil absorbs the liquid.

2. Moisten the soil in the seedling tray so that you can easily remove the eggplant plants without damaging their roots. Place the seedlings in the holes, placing one eggplant plant in each hole.

3. Make a small depression in the center of the hole and place the eggplant roots there. Firm the base of the plant with damp soil to ensure it stands upright and doesn't fall over.

4. Sprinkle the base of the eggplant with dry, finely chopped soil. This will act as a mulch—a material that prevents water from evaporating quickly from the soil. This will allow the seedlings to absorb moisture from the soil for longer and help them establish more quickly.

Find out, How to care for eggplants in open ground
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For the first two weeks, leave the eggplant seedlings in the ground without watering. They'll get enough moisture from the soil, as they're planted in the spring (when the soil hasn't yet dried out from the sun's heat), and the holes are watered additionally before planting. After two weeks, you can begin watering the eggplants with both regular water and organic fertilizer.

We also recommend you watch a video on how to grow eggplants in open ground.