Planting eggplant seedlings: favorable lunar days for 2021

Planting eggplant seedlings in 2021 according to the lunar calendar will yield a bountiful harvest of delicious, high-quality fruit only if vegetable growers take into account the agroclimatic conditions of the growing region. First, based on the weather forecast, they determine the optimal time for sowing the seeds. Then, they select the best planting days based on the phases of the moon.

Conditions for good vegetable growth

Nutrient-rich fruits can be grown at home practically anywhere in the country. In warmer regions, eggplants are grown primarily in open ground, while in northern regions, greenhouse cultivation is more common. Fragile plants are sensitive to overwatering, lack of water, and fluctuating daily temperatures. For this reason, eggplants should be planted indoors as seedlings.

Plants are transplanted into the garden only after they have grown. Growing from seedlings increases the seedlings' tolerance to environmental stress and pests. Important conditions for the development of strong bushes:

1. The appropriate age for transplanting seedlings outdoors is 50-60 days.
2. When calculating planting days, consider the time it takes for seeds to germinate (7-10 days on average) and the ripening time of the eggplants. Early varieties bear fruit in early summer, while late varieties don't mature until mid-autumn.
3. You cannot plant seedlings in unprotected soil if the air temperature is below 16 °C.

Suitable days for sowing seeds and planting seedlings

Growing strong seedlings isn't difficult. First, you need to prepare the containers and properly mix the soil. Timing is also crucial. Several factors can cause the timing and dates to change annually. First, consider the region's agroclimatic conditions and the weather forecast for the coming spring. Then, choose the best days from a chart based on the phases of the moon, whose effects on plants have been scientifically proven.

Shifting deadlines by region

Favorable planting days depend on weather conditions in the growing area. Heat-loving plants cannot tolerate temperatures below 16°C. Furthermore, the soil should be well-warmed at planting time—12-13°C.

Table. Effect of region on sowing dates

Sowing by the Moon

Heat-loving eggplants require specific growing conditions. To ensure full development and fruiting, seedlings are planted outdoors when they are already established, at 55-65 days old. To ensure age and temperature requirements are met, seeding begins early. Late-ripening varieties in warmer regions are sown in early February or even late January, while earlier varieties and those in northern regions are sown as late as late March. Thanks to the mild climate, early-ripening hybrids in the Krasnodar Krai can be sown as late as May.

Table. Best days

Sowing at home

When calculating sowing time, consider the time required for pre-sowing preparation and seedling emergence. A significant factor in determining the right time is the eggplant's growing season. For example, if planted late, the plants will yield in mid-autumn, which is impractical in northern regions, as the fruits will not have time to ripen. If you rush and sow the seeds too early, they will deplete the substrate before they can be planted outdoors, leaving the plants with insufficient energy for full development.

Into the greenhouse

Eggplants are planted in an unheated greenhouse as seedlings. However, this is done three weeks earlier than in open ground, as the soil in the structure, protected from adverse weather conditions, will warm up much sooner. There is no risk of nighttime temperatures dropping below freezing. If the grower anticipates this, simply install a heater—any heat source—in the structure.

Read also

Eggplants and peppers in the same greenhouse: can they be grown, planting guidelines
Peppers and eggplants can be grown in the same greenhouse or next to each other in a garden bed. Gardeners must follow planting guidelines, consider agricultural practices, and maintain proper spacing between holes.

 

Transplanting to beds

To plant seedlings in open ground, it must be hardened off first. This procedure begins 10 days before the planned planting date. First, the seedlings are placed outdoors for a few hours, then gradually increase the time they remain outside. The timing of planting in the garden beds depends on the region. If the weather forecast doesn't predict any return frosts and the seedlings have grown to 30 cm, you can begin.

Unfavorable days for planting

While vegetable growers use a calendar to determine the exact date for planting eggplants before planting, taking into account the impact of lunar phases on the crop's development, they must also remember unfavorable dates. The new and full moon phases are considered unfavorable days. During these periods, vegetable crops feel unwell, and the seeds may simply fail to germinate.

Seedlings are vulnerable during these stages, experiencing prolonged stress from picking. When transplanted into open ground, they may suffer prolonged illness or fail to establish at all. To avoid putting the future harvest at risk, avoid any planting-related activities during undesirable periods.

Table. Prohibited dates

Peculiarities of growing seedlings

Correctly timing sowing isn't enough to produce strong seedlings. To obtain healthy planting material that will eventually develop into abundantly fruiting bushes, it's necessary to prepare the seeds for sowing, select appropriate containers, and create a fertile soil. A soil mixture of river sand, peat, and compost is recommended for this purpose. The ratio is 1:4:3. Any homemade soil must be disinfected by baking it in the oven for about 20 minutes at 200°C and then watering it with a potassium permanganate solution.

Seedlings respond well to transplanting, so you can use a single seedling container. However, in this case, you'll need to replant them again before planting them outdoors. If you buy peat pots, you can place them in the holes along with the plants. This way, the grower won't disturb the roots, meaning the seedlings will establish more quickly.

If using home-collected seeds, begin preparing them 7 days in advance. First, select viable seeds by soaking them in water for 30 minutes, discarding any that float to the surface. Then, stratify the seeds: wrap them in damp cheesecloth and place them in the refrigerator's vegetable drawer for a week (make sure the cloth doesn't dry out). The seeds are disinfected in a manganese solution and then soaked in a growth stimulator for about 12 hours to ensure rapid germination.

After all the steps, begin sowing. The fertile substrate is moistened, the seeds are spread over it, and covered with a 1-2 cm layer of soil. The container or cups are moved to a bright windowsill and covered with plastic, which is regularly removed for ventilation and moisture. When the seedlings have three pairs of true leaves, they are pricked out (if using a shared container for seedlings).

Rules for planting in open ground

To protect seedlings from fungal diseases To ensure rapid growth, spray the seedlings with a 0.5% copper sulfate solution a few days before transplanting them to their permanent location. It's best to plant eggplants in beds after onions, carrots, and cabbage. Nightshades are poor precursors, as they can accumulate specialized harmful organisms in the soil.

Selecting and preparing a site

Eggplants thrive in sunny areas. Since they are heat-loving plants, a suitable location should be protected from drafts. They produce a bountiful harvest in fertile, well-drained soils with excellent air and water permeability. The soil for vegetable crops is prepared in the fall. If the soil is peaty, add 6 kg of humus and turf soil per square meter during tillage. If the soil is loamy, enrich it with peat (12 kg), rotted sawdust (2 kg), sand (6 kg), and manure (5 kg) per square meter. In addition to fertilizer, it is recommended to add 15 kg of clay per square meter to sandy soils.

Planting technology and scheme

Eggplants are transplanted in the evening or on a cloudy day. Key steps:

1. Dig holes 10–15 cm deep at intervals of half a meter.
2. 1.5 liters of warm mullein solution are poured into the depressions (0.5 liters of concentrate is diluted in 10 liters of water).
3. The seedlings are planted, covered with soil, and then the tree trunk circles are lightly compacted, but the soil is not tamped down.
4. In the morning, cover the plants with paper caps to protect them from the sun. These covers should be applied daily for the next week.

Caring for vegetables

Strong immunity developed in seedlings does not negate the importance of proper agricultural practices. A bountiful harvest is only possible with regular care, which includes more than just watering, weeding, and loosening the soil. To ensure vigorous fruiting, the bushes must be tied up, fertilized periodically, and, if necessary, protected from pests.

If planting was done correctly, care will be straightforward. It boils down to standard rules.

Table. Cultivation techniques

Common difficulties when growing seedlings

When forcing seedlings, vegetable growers face a number of problems that arise due to the violation of agricultural practices. Failure to properly care for seedlings can cause stunted growth, overgrown shoots, and yellowing. If timely intervention is not taken, young vegetable plants may simply die.

Yellowing of shoots

Fertilizing is crucial when cultivating vigorous seedlings. If a plant lacks access to any essential macro- or micronutrients, its development may be stunted.

Seedlings often suffer from nitrogen deficiency. The main symptom is yellowing of the lower tier of foliage.

If it also "presses" against the shoot, it indicates a phosphorus deficiency. Curling of the leaf blades into a boat-like shape indicates a potassium deficiency.

Another common cause of yellowing leaves is improper watering, either overwatering or underwatering. In the former case, stagnant moisture promotes the development of gray mold. However, other diseases can also cause yellow leaves:

1. Verticillium wilt occurs when an infection enters the plant's system through mechanical damage. Early in the disease's development, yellowing of the foliage is observed, and as the disease progresses, wilting of the affected plant occurs. To save the plant, remove parts showing signs of infection and then spray all shoots with a fungicide.
2. Tobacco mosaic disease manifests as a mosaic pattern of yellow spots on the leaves. The disease is transmitted by harmful insects (aphids, spider mites). The disease is incurable. Affected plants are destroyed, and the areas where the diseased seedlings grew are treated with a potassium permanganate solution.
3. Fusarium wilt is a fungal disease. One of its symptoms is yellowing foliage. In addition, the roots of affected plants darken. If the fungus progresses rapidly, diseased plants are removed, and healthy ones are sprayed with a fungicide solution.

It stretches out

There are several reasons why seedlings stretch. But they are all related to improper growing conditions: insufficient light, cool temperatures with heavy irrigation, or too little or too little fertilizing. To stop seedlings from stretching, simply adjust their care. Additionally, when transplanting, remove the lower leaves, treat the damaged areas with a potassium permanganate solution, and plant the plants two-thirds deeper.

Why is it rotting?

During the initial stages of development, vegetable seedlings often suffer from the fungal disease "blackleg," which causes root collar rot and stem lodging. The disease progresses rapidly in high humidity. Affected plants are destroyed, while healthy ones are replanted in fresh soil. Careful monitoring of the growing conditions is essential to prevent the fungus from recurring.

Eggplants are a demanding vegetable crop that even an inexperienced gardener can grow by following basic guidelines. The most important thing is to correctly time the sowing for seedlings and regularly care for the plants throughout their development, starting from the seedling stage.