The three-part series for high-yield eggplant cultivation, a full breakdown of the key techniques

1. Watering, fertilizing, and pruning

Before the fruit swelling stage, control water appropriately. Once the fruit enters the swelling stage, ensure a water supply, and watering should be done in the morning. During the growth process of eggplant, promptly remove diseased, old, and yellow leaves and diseased fruit, and pull out diseased plants. When pruning and removing side shoots, wash hands with concentrated soapy water to prevent virus transmission during the operation. Do not water before the first fruit swells; when the first fruit has grown to 3-4 cm, carry out the first topdressing and irrigation, applying 15 kg of urea and 7 kg of potassium sulfate per mu mixed in holes, along with watering, and the watering amount should not be too large. The second topdressing is when the first fruit begins to swell, applying 15 kg of urea per mu, with an interval of about 10-15 days between the two topdressings. At the same time, actively take measures to protect flowers and fruit, such as using plant hormones to spray the flowers to promote fruit set.

????2. Pest and disease control

Adhere to the plant protection policy of "prevention first, comprehensive control." In open fields, use frequency-vibration insect-killing lamps, black light lamps, dual-wave lamps, and others to trap and kill pests. Pay attention to rotating pesticides and strictly control the pre-harvest interval of pesticides. For example, for gray mold, use 50% procymidone powder at 1500 times dilution, applied 3 times at 1-day intervals; for Phytophthora blight, use 64% mancozeb (oxadixyl) powder at 500 times dilution, applied 3 times at 3-day intervals; for Verticillium wilt and Fusarium wilt, use 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 500 times dilution, applied 2 times at 5-day intervals; for aphids, use 22% dichlorvos smoke agent at 400 g/mu for dusting, applied 5 times at 5-day intervals; for broad mites, use 10% imidacloprid wettable powder at 1000-1500 times dilution, applied twice at 3-day intervals.

????3. Harvest period

For those treated with chemical pesticides, conduct pesticide residue testing 1-2 days before harvest, and harvest promptly after passing the test, then grade and package for market. Harvesting basis: the suitable harvest time is when the distance between the alternating light and dark zigzag stripes below the fruit calyx changes from wide to narrow. Early harvesting affects yield, while late harvesting lowers quality and also affects fruit growth, but when the eggplant plants are growing vigorously, harvest should be appropriately delayed. Harvesting time: choose afternoon or evening for harvesting. In the morning the branches are brittle and easily broken, while at noon the water content is low and quality is poor. To prevent breaking branches or pulling off the fruit stalk, it is best to harvest with pruning shears used for fruit trees.