How and when to sow eggplants for seedlings in 2024: favorable days

Eggplants are heat-loving plants, so they are grown through seedlings. The best time to sow eggplant seeds is February-March.

If you want to get an early harvest, you can sow the seeds at the end of January. However, in this case, you will need additional lighting. With proper care, eggplants will delight you with a bountiful harvest, according to Vikna.

How to prepare eggplant seeds for sowing

Before sowing, eggplant seeds must be prepared. To do this:

• Warm the seeds in warm water (40-50 °C) for 3-5 minutes. This will help increase seed germination.
• Treat the seeds with a solution of potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide to disinfect them.
• If you have time, you can harden the seeds. To do this, place them between two pieces of damp cloth and keep them at room temperature for 2-3 days. Then place in the refrigerator for a day. Repeat the procedure 2-3 more times.

What kind of soil is needed for eggplant

Eggplants like loose and light soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. You can use ready-made soil for seedlings or prepare it yourself. To do this, mix peat, humus and sand in equal parts.

How to properly plant eggplant for seedlings

Fill pots or cups with moistened soil. Place 2-3 seeds in each container at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other. Sprinkle the seeds with soil and lightly tamp them down.

After sowing, pour warm water over the seedlings. Place the pots or cups with the seedlings in a sunny place with a temperature of 22-25 °C.

Caring for eggplant seedlings

After emergence, the seedlings should be moved to a cooler place (18-20 °C). Water the seedlings regularly, but not too abundantly. You can feed the seedlings 2-3 weeks after germination. Use complex mineral fertilizers for fertilizing.

2-3 weeks before planting the seedlings in open ground, they need to be hardened. To do this, start taking the seedlings out into the fresh air for a few hours.

When to plant eggplant outdoors

You can plant eggplant seedlings outdoors when the threat of frost has passed. On average, this happens in late May or early June.

Before planting the seedlings in the ground, prepare the beds. The beds should be well-lit and protected from the wind. The soil in the beds should be loose and light.

Plant the seedlings in the soil at a distance of 50-60 cm from each other. Water the seedlings after planting.

Caring for eggplants in the open field

After planting outdoors, eggplants need to be watered, fed, and weeded regularly. Eggplants should be watered abundantly, but not often. You can feed eggplants with complex mineral fertilizers.

Eggplants can be damaged by pests and diseases. Therefore, it is important to carry out preventive treatment of plants.

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