What measures can prevent eggplants from turning bitter?
In response to the above problems, starting with prevention and strengthening comprehensive cultivation management measures is the key to preventing bitter eggplants in protected cultivation. The main measures are:
1. Select varieties suitable for planting in protected cultivation
When cultivating in protected conditions, choose varieties that are resistant to low temperatures, tolerant of weak light, and have only slight bitterness. For newly introduced varieties, expand planting only after successful trial planting first, to avoid blind planting and losses.
2. Optimize the production environment of protected cultivation and meet the physiological needs of eggplants as much as possible. Pay attention to choosing greenhouse materials with strong heat preservation capacity and drip-free film with good light transmission, and frequently remove dust accumulation and dirt on the greenhouse film to ensure sufficient light. Where conditions permit, certain light-increasing measures can be taken, such as using reflective screens and artificial supplemental lighting. Enhance the heat retention and insulation performance of the protected facility so that the temperature inside can meet the needs of eggplant growth. Especially after fruit set, make even greater efforts to reach the suitable temperature for eggplant growth, to prevent imbalance in eggplant growth and development caused by insufficient light and heat, which leads to bitterness.
3. Rootstock selection should be appropriate
When carrying out grafted seedling cultivation, in addition to considering compatibility, also consider the effect of the rootstock on eggplant quality, and choose rootstocks that have relatively little impact on quality. At present, the eggplant rootstocks with relatively good application results in production mainly include Torubamu and red eggplant, among others.
4. Strengthen cultivation management to ensure high quality and high yield
During the planting process, pay attention to reasonable close planting, generally controlling the density at 2800-3000 plants per mu. Combined with fruit harvesting, promptly thin out senescent branches and leaves to facilitate light penetration and prevent disease infection. Adhere to the scientific and reasonable combination of organic fertilizer and full-nutrient chemical fertilizer. According to the growth and development process, ensure the required water supply, and strictly prevent fertilizer and water deficiency or improper supply from indirectly affecting the decomposition of esterase in the plant and causing bitterness. Production practice shows that after eggplant fruit set, choosing fine weather, at intervals of 10-15 days, spraying the leaves twice with a mixed solution of 0.5% potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 1% sucrose has an obvious effect on reducing eggplant bitterness and improving yield and quality.