Growing eggplants in a polycarbonate greenhouse

Eggplants came to us from India. These warmth- and moisture-loving plants are difficult to grow, and not every gardener can handle them. But if you can grow them in your garden and get a decent harvest, you're a master! In northern regions, growing eggplants in a polycarbonate greenhouse is a common practice—it's the most reliable way to get a great harvest and create the right conditions for the plants. By the way, find out how you can grow eggplants together with peppers and tomatoes.

Which varieties are suitable for greenhouses?

Experienced gardeners recommend that beginners begin their eggplant hobby with early-ripening varieties, which have short bushes and are an excellent choice for temperate climates. Among newly bred hybrids, they recommend looking at the following varieties: "Robin Hood," the mid-early eggplants "Filimon" and "Dolphin," "Gavroche," "Begemot," "Pelican," and "Sancho Panza." Gardeners everywhere successfully grow "Black Beauty," and "Almaz" has also proven itself to be an excellent choice.

The nuances of growing eggplants

When growing eggplants, keep in mind that they are slow-growing plants. The period from seeding to harvest can be 100 to 130 days, so you need to time your planting to ensure you can harvest before frost. This tropical crop is completely intolerant of cold, drafts are detrimental, and high humidity and dry soil can completely destroy the harvest. They are also highly susceptible to various diseases and viruses, so the soil, as well as the seeds themselves, must be disinfected, and watering and fertilizing must be done carefully to grow strong plants that are more resilient to all sorts of problems.

Monitor the temperature in the greenhouse—keep it between 25-28 degrees Celsius. Ventilate the greenhouse to avoid excess humidity, but only open the vents on one side to avoid drafts that can be harmful to eggplants. The greenhouse should be well-lit; eggplants thrive in light and don't tolerate shade; shady areas will produce small fruits. Also, ensure that the plantings aren't too dense or shaded by each other. Water to keep the soil moist and the air dry.

Soil preparation

You need to start in the fall. Remove all plant debris, disinfect with a solution of potassium permanganate, and dig over the soil. Add humus and turf soil, along with a small amount of complex fertilizer. Never plant eggplants after tomatoes, peppers, or potatoes, to avoid transferring pests to the eggplants, which are common to all of them. To improve the soil, you can add a mixture of superphosphate, wood ash, and, ideally, potassium sulfate with added urea.

Spring - seed preparation

If you've already selected seeds of specific varieties or stocked up on your own, it's time to prepare them for planting. This is typically around late February or early March. The easiest way is to soak them in warm water. Once they sprout, plant 2-3 seeds in peat or plastic cups. If the seeds are non-hybrid and treated, soak them first in a potassium permanganate solution for half an hour, rinse, and then germinate. To speed up germination, use a boric acid solution (dissolve 0.5 g in a liter of water and apply it to the seeds). Then soak them in an ash solution for 24 hours (2 tablespoons per liter of water—keep it warm). Ideal or Epin-Extra are also suitable for this purpose.

Cover with plastic wrap and leave for two weeks, watering every two days first, then every five days, each time in the morning. As they grow, leave one strong shoot and pinch out the others. Provide light to the seedlings, otherwise they won't grow.

Preparing the greenhouse

While the seedlings are growing stronger, prepare the polycarbonate greenhouse. Wash the walls with a soft cloth (avoid using hard brushes or abrasives, as this could damage the protective layer of the greenhouse). Once the seedlings reach 20 cm in height and have 5-7 leaves, they can be transplanted into the greenhouse. Water the soil thoroughly beforehand, preferably with a potassium permanganate solution to further disinfect. Make holes at least 40 cm apart, burying the root collar no more than 1 cm deep. The temperature when planting in the greenhouse should be at least 25 degrees Celsius; at 15 degrees Celsius, they will not grow, and temperatures even lower will kill them.

Watering and fertilizing seedlings

After 5 days, the plants need to be watered, moistening the soil to a depth of 20 cm. Water in the morning, then loosen it in the evening. Be careful, though, as eggplants have high roots.

After two weeks, the eggplants need to be fed. Take 3 tablespoons of azophoska, dilute it in 10 liters, and water each bush with 0.5 liters. You can use mineral complexes like "Ideal" or "Effect." If you don't plan to constantly fuss with the plants and feed them, keep it simple. When planting, add a pinch of AVA fertilizer to the holes. As the seedlings grow and develop, water them with herbal mash every 1.5 weeks. When the fruit begins to form, add foliar feeding with a micronutrient complex. "Bud" or a boric acid solution will help with pollination. Eggplants are self-pollinating and don't need bees, but they do need some help. Gently shake the bushes in the morning to encourage pollen flow. Find out. When to plant tomatoes in polycarbonate greenhouses.

Eggplant diseases

For preventative purposes, plants require proper care to prevent many diseases. This includes proper watering, adequate humidity, a stable temperature, draft-free ventilation, fertilizing, staking, and pinching. This will help keep plants less susceptible to disease, making them strong and pest-resistant. Spraying with milk (one liter per ten-liter bucket of water) is also helpful. High humidity can cause problems such as late blight, and a lack of nutrients can also affect the appearance and health of plants.

For example, flowers drop due to a boron deficiency, leaves turn yellow due to a magnesium deficiency, and leaves become patterned due to a manganese deficiency. It's important to remember the formula: to ensure strong growth, plants are initially fed nitrogen, and once they begin to flower and bear fruit, potassium and phosphorus are added. Avoid watering with cold water, and loosen the soil 10-12 hours after watering to prevent the roots from becoming deprived of oxygen.
Taking all these nuances into account and properly caring for your eggplants, you will get an excellent harvest.

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