What are the latest reasons eggplants grow crooked?
In eggplant cultivation, the fruit of long eggplants cannot straighten out and instead becomes curved, which affects their commercial value, causes the price of eggplants to drop after they hit the market, and results in certain economic losses. So what causes eggplants to grow crooked? Follow the editor to learn more.
1. Flower-dotting issues
Flower dotting is one of the important farming operations in eggplant cultivation, but many vegetable growers often fail to get the concentration and position of flower dotting right, which causes eggplants to grow crooked. The concentration for flower dotting should change with temperature: increase the concentration at low temperatures, and reduce the chemical concentration appropriately at high temperatures. Besides the concentration of the flower-dotting chemical, the position of dotting is also key. Some vegetable growers only apply the chemical directly to the base of the flower and neglect the other side, which leads to uneven seed development and the formation of curved fruit.
2. Temperature issues
Eggplant is a warm-loving crop. During the seedling stage, the suitable daytime temperature is between 25-30 degrees, and the suitable nighttime temperature is between 15-20 degrees. When the greenhouse temperature is below the suitable temperature, it will grow poorly and flower bud differentiation will be worse, thus leading to crooked growth. Therefore, during the cultivation of long eggplants, attention should be paid to greenhouse insulation measures, especially the control of nighttime temperature, to avoid low temperatures affecting flower bud differentiation to some extent and causing curved fruit.
3. Light issues
Light is also one of the conditions affecting eggplant flower bud differentiation. Eggplants must receive no less than 8 hours of light per day. If light is insufficient, it will affect flower bud differentiation, the floral organs will develop poorly, and curved fruit will form. Therefore, during eggplant cultivation, sufficient light must be ensured. Generally, maintaining more than 8 hours of light per day is enough to meet the needs of eggplant flower bud differentiation.
4. Fertilizer and water issues
Eggplant is a fertilizer-loving crop. It has the greatest demand for nitrogen fertilizer, followed by potassium fertilizer, and the least for phosphorus fertilizer. During the seedling stage, it needs more nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer, and during the fruit expansion stage, additional base fertilizer is needed to promote fruit expansion. When fertilizer and water are insufficient, the fruit cannot expand normally and will grow crooked. Therefore, throughout the entire growth period of eggplant, sufficient nutrients must be ensured, especially during the fruit expansion stage, where sufficient potassium fertilizer must be supplied.
The above is an introduction to what causes eggplants to grow crooked. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.