Latest tutorial on high-yield eggplant cultivation techniques and methods
Eggplant is a major vegetable during the autumn off-season. Harvesting in autumn requires sowing in summer, but under the high-temperature and rainy conditions of summer, eggplant is threatened by high temperatures, wind and rain, as well as pests and diseases, which leads to unstable yields. In fact, during the eggplant growing process, as long as the corresponding management is done well, the yield can be gradually increased. So how should eggplant be managed? How can it be managed to achieve high yield? Let's take a look below!
1. Transplanting strong seedlings
The best time to sow autumn eggplant is from May to June, generally using varieties such as purple long eggplant. For open-air seedling raising, seed soaking and germination should begin about a week in advance. For soaking, use warm water at about 50 degrees, stir continuously in the warm water until the water temperature drops to about 30 degrees, then soak the seeds for 9 hours. After soaking, wrap the seeds in a wet towel and place them in an environment above 30 degrees to begin germination, washing the seeds at least twice a day. After a week, when half of the seeds have germinated, they can be sown. When the seedlings grow to 15cm and have 8-10 leaves, after about a month, they can be transplanted. Choose strong, well-growing seedlings for planting, with a planting density of 50-50cm. It is best to do this around 4 p.m. After planting, water thoroughly, then water again the next day.
2. Topdressing and watering
After successful planting and normal growth, fully decomposed farmyard manure should be applied immediately, with the amount depending on the planting area, or 20 jin of compound fertilizer applied to each hole. When the eggplant begins to swell and is in the early swelling stage, 1450-1550 kg of farmyard manure should be applied, or 30 jin of compound fertilizer per hole. In the final fruit maturation stage, 1950-2050 kg of farmyard manure should be applied, or 40 jin of compound fertilizer. Eggplant also has a large water requirement, needing large amounts of water at every stage, whether in the sepal stage, the stem-strengthening stage, or the final harvest stage. About 3 days before harvest, flush with water once to facilitate fruit swelling, making the skin bright and glossy.
⟦NL>3. Pruning and removing side shoots
Eggplant has a strong regularity in flowering and fruiting at each stage, so generally the branches of each layer should be retained. Use the open-center pruning method to retain branches growing on the opposite fork slant or horizontally, and cut off all the rest. After all young eggplants have set firmly, begin removing all the sprouting shoots that grow afterward. The same applies after flowering, regularly topping and pinching the eggplant. This helps nutrient absorption in eggplant and is more conducive to normal growth and development.
4. Disease and pest control
Summer and autumn happen to be the peak periods for pests and diseases, so at this time pests and diseases must be strictly prevented and controlled. Combined with intertillage, weed the soil and earth up the soil; at least two intertillage operations are needed to completely eliminate weeds. When pests and diseases such as cotton blight and eggplant fruit borer are severe, they can cause reduced eggplant yields or even total crop failure, losing commercial value, so a series of pesticides can be used to prevent and treat pests and diseases. However, medication should be stopped one week before harvest to prevent drug residues from harming the human body.
The above are the management methods for achieving high yield in eggplant. The main things are to do a good job in fertilizing eggplant and in pest and disease control. As long as these two things are done well, the yield and quality of eggplant can be greatly improved. Special attention should be paid to pests and diseases in eggplant, because once pests and diseases are not handled properly, they will cause reduced eggplant yields or even total crop failure, having a huge impact on farmers.