Six key management practices to focus on after transplanting spring eggplant in a large arch shed

I. Temperature control For spring eggplant cultivated in a large arch shed, from transplanting until the seedlings recover, the shed should be kept closed to retain heat, keeping the temperature inside the shed at 28°C-30°C during the day and 15°C-20°C at night as much as possible. After the seedlings recover, attention should be paid to ventilation, keeping the shed temperature at 23°C-25°C during the day, generally not exceeding 33°C.

II. Fertilizer and water management Under conditions of good soil moisture, water as little as possible before the first eggplant reaches the size of a walnut, to raise soil temperature and prevent flower and fruit drop. When the first eggplant reaches the size of a chicken egg, apply 10 kg of urea per 667 sq m along with watering. After that, appropriately increase the frequency of watering according to soil moisture.

III. Pruning and pinching After the first eggplant has set, all side branches and old leaves below the first eggplant can be removed to concentrate nutrients for fruit development. If two-stem pruning is used, excess side shoots should be removed promptly.

When planting density is high, when the "four-mother-branch" flower buds appear, pinch off the growing tip leaving 2 leaves above the flower; when planting density is low, pinch off the growing tip leaving 2 leaves above the "eight-direction wind" flower buds.

IV. Hormone regulation To prevent flower and fruit drop in eggplant, dip flowers in a 20×10-6 aqueous solution of 2,4-D, or spray flowers with 50×10-6 of tomato fruit-setting hormone.

V. Disease and pest control The main diseases of eggplant include Phytophthora fruit rot, Verticillium wilt, and Phomopsis blight.

Disease control should focus on prevention. Prevent through sun-drying seeds, soaking seeds in chemicals, disinfecting seedbeds, and implementing crop rotation. Once disease occurs, chemical control can be carried out.

For eggplant Phytophthora fruit rot, at the early stage of disease, spray 500-800 times diluted 64% Shuangyike wettable powder or 500 times diluted 64% Sandofan wettable powder, and drench roots once every 7-10 days for 2-3 consecutive times.

For eggplant Verticillium wilt, drench roots with 500 times diluted 50% carbendazim wettable powder, applying 0.5 kg of the prepared solution per plant. Drench roots once every 7-10 days for 2-3 consecutive times.

For eggplant Phomopsis blight, use 600 times diluted 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder or 600-700 times diluted 40% metalaxyl-copper wettable powder, spraying once every 7-10 days for 2-3 consecutive sprays.

When eggplant gray mold occurs, Xiangnong No. 2 (one small packet per bucket of water) can be selected for spraying.

The main pests of eggplant are aphids and eggplant borers, which can be controlled by spraying 2000 times diluted abamectin solution.

VI. Timely harvest For eggplant cultivated in a large arch shed in spring, from flowering to harvesting young fruit generally takes 20-25 days under normal management.

The initial harvest period of the "first eggplant" is around "May 1st". Harvest when there is no white left on the fruit surface near the calyx and the gloss on the fruit surface has not yet faded. The suitable time to harvest eggplant is in the morning, when the fruit is plump and the color is bright.