How to Grow High-Mountain Eggplant for High Yield? A Detailed Guide to Mulching Cultivation Techniques in Southern China
Eggplant is an annual herbaceous plant with a taproot system; its roots reach 50 cm deep and spread 120 cm horizontally, with most roots distributed within the 30 cm tillage layer. The optimum growth temperature for high-mountain eggplant is 20—30°C, and it can be planted year-round in southern China. To achieve high quality and high yield in high-mountain vegetables - eggplant, scientific management must be carried out according to its growth habits. Let's take a look below at the mulching high-yield cultivation techniques for high-mountain eggplant in southern China.
1. Selecting good varieties
At present, the high-mountain eggplant varieties suitable for planting in the Guangdong region are mainly those that are resistant to bacterial wilt and disease, tolerant of heat and rain, with purple-red skin, white flesh and a long club shape. Varieties with fruit about 30 cm long include Hongfeng, Changfeng, Zaofeng, Nongyou Long Eggplant and Guilin Long Eggplant; those with fruit about 25 cm long include Yueqie No. 2, Yuefeng and Shijie Red Eggplant. Among them, Hongfeng has large, uniform fruit with an attractive appearance. Yueqie No. 2 is a variety with high resistance to bacterial wilt and Verticillium wilt; Yuefeng and Shijie Red Eggplant have a deep color and very good gloss; Guilin Long Eggplant has high yield and disease resistance, but its flesh is greenish.
2. Soaking seeds to promote germination
Eggplant seeds have a dense, thick coat, an outer gelatinous layer and poor water permeability, so germinating eggplant seeds is somewhat difficult. The key to raising strong seedlings lies in mastering the seed soaking and germination technique. First, float out the shriveled seeds with clean water and soak them for 30 min, then disinfect the seeds by soaking them in a medicinal solution.
To achieve a good germination effect, the soaking time and the concentration of the medicinal solution must be strictly controlled. The solution must cover the seeds by 5-10 cm; a 1,000-fold formalin solution is commonly used, and the soaking time is 10 min, to avoid chemical injury to the seeds. After soaking in the medicinal solution, the seeds must be rinsed repeatedly with clean water, then soaked in clean water, or treated with warm-water soaking, that is, placing the seeds in 55°C hot water and stirring continuously until the temperature drops to about 30°C, then rubbing them clean with clean water.
In addition, during seed soaking, the seeds must be rubbed and washed once every 3-4 h to remove the mucus on the seed coat; the soaking time is 24-30 h. Then wrap the seeds well in a damp cloth; the temperature required for germination is 30°C. The seeds must be rinsed once every day, then drained and germination continued. Usually they sprout in 3-5 d, and when the sprouting rate reaches 50%, sowing can begin.
3. Rational fertilization
When cultivating eggplant in the high mountains, it grows quickly and its fruiting period is relatively concentrated, so rational fertilization is needed, and quick-acting base fertilizer should be applied again. For every 667 sq m, apply 5,000-7,500 kg of rotted barnyard manure, 200 kg of plant ash and 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer, and for every 100 sq m, apply an additional 1 kg each of zinc fertilizer and boron fertilizer. First broadcast 50% of the fertilizer, then carry out plowing, and afterward broadcast the remaining fertilizer in a concentrated manner between the rows, thereby effectively improving the fertilizer's effect.
4. Harvesting
When harvesting eggplant, an appropriate time should be chosen. Generally, the place where the fruit and the calyx join is used as the judging standard; if the ring band is not obvious, it indicates that the fruit is growing slowly. For Xianfeng No. 1 and Hongfu No. 2, harvesting can be carried out about 50 d after planting out. Fruit harvested in the morning has the best quality, followed by that harvested in the evening; avoid harvesting at noon.