What to do to prevent eggplant leaves from drying out and why they dry out and crack

The process of growing eggplants is simple and does not require special measures. However, there is a common problem - drying out of the leaves on the bushes. This is mainly due to improper care and conditions for keeping eggplants.

Why eggplants dry out in the open ground, how to deal with their drying out and what preventative measures exist, we will tell you in this article.

Why do eggplants dry out?

One of the reasons is damage to the roots during planting of seedlings. In this regard, the eggplant does not take root well in a new place and gradually dries out.

Important! Improper hardening of seedlings or complete absence of this procedure leads to overcooling of the root system, as a result, nutrients are not absorbed and the plant dries out.

The process of accumulation of salts in the upper layers of the soil also leads to curling and drying of eggplant leaves.

Another reason is violation of watering and temperature conditions. Often, a lack of heat or moisture leads to dehydration, and an excess leads to rotting of the root system.

The situation is the same with lighting: long daylight hours lead to drying out of the leaves and the appearance of burns. And with a lack of light, eggplants do not produce the necessary minerals, resulting in the leaves cracking.

Pests and diseases can also have a detrimental effect on the plant, which entails withering of the green mass.

Improper plant care

For rapid growth and abundant fruiting, eggplants require nutrients. With a lack of important microelements, they lose their color and begin to dry out quickly. Cause of yellowing It’s easy to understand: if there is no infection or pests on the leaves, then the problem is in improper care. This is especially true for plants growing in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

Violation of crop rotation and basic landing rules leads to poor plant development.

Over-fertilized soil can cause verticillium. Lesions from this fungal disease resemble burns. The veins of the leaves turn yellow, curl and dry out. Then the disease spreads to the vegetative parts of the eggplant.

Insufficient soil moisture also causes leaves to turn yellow and dry out from lack of water.

Diseases and pests

Eggplants often suffer from spider mites, which appear as a result of elevated temperatures and dryness. To understand that the plant is suffering from this particular parasite, carefully examine the leaves from the back side. At the early stage of infection, the mite is not always noticeable, but with a massive infection it is easy to see black dots and small cobwebs located closer to the stem.

Quite often, yellowing and drying of leaves occurs from the effects of aphids and whiteflies. These parasites multiply quickly in climates that are too dry and hot. Spider mites gather under the leaves, and aphids can only be detected in large concentrations during the growing period of eggplants.

At high temperatures and high soil moisture, plants develop fusarium.

Plants also often get sick from late blight. The disease begins with spots on the leaves and leads to the death of the plant.

How to deal with drying out eggplants

Drying of leaves on mature eggplant bushes often lasts until the end of the season. It is impossible to harvest a good harvest from diseased plants, so it is important to prevent the spread of diseases and pests. It is easier to solve a problem if you determine its source.

Rules for watering and fertilizing

Watering the plants should be sufficient, but moderate. Too much moisture leads to rotting of the root system and the development of late blight. Plants are watered in the evening, when they are not exposed to direct sunlight. Drops of water on leaves and stems under the influence of the sun cause burns.

When transplanting plants to a new location, first feeding carried out after it has taken root. Subsequent feedings are done after 10, then after 20 and after 30 days.

For the nutrient mixture, prepare a solution in 10 liters of water, adding 10 g of potassium permanganate, 2 g of copper sulfate, 3 g of boric acid and 2 g of zinc sulfate.

Important! To obtain a high-quality harvest, it is recommended to fertilize during flowering and fruiting.

How to deal with diseases and pests

To get rid of diseases and prevent them from spreading, the beds are watered with water with the addition of fungicidal preparations “Maxim” or “Fundazol”. The biological agents Fitosporin, Trichoderma, Previkur, Gamair and Trichophyte significantly improve the health of the soil microflora.

When leaves are damaged by late blight, plants are treated with Zircon or Fitosporin.

The insecticides “Aktar” and “Fitoferm” help get rid of whiteflies. And if the plant is infested with aphids, eggplants are treated with Keltan or Karbofos.

To combat the effects of spider mites, the leaves are usually sprayed with an infusion of garlic and onion with the addition of a small amount of soap.

Prevention measures

The best way to prevent plants from drying out is to follow the rules of crop rotation.

To prevent diseases of eggplants by fungi, the beds are thoroughly cleaned of plant debris. In greenhouses or greenhouses, the soil for seedlings is changed or disinfected.

Mulching the beds will help reduce the development of pathogenic fungi. The surface of the earth will not overheat and dry out.

To prevent spider mites, remove all weeds and disinfect the plants.

In greenhouse conditions, do not forget about systematic ventilation of the room.

Important! Plants are not planted in beds where tomatoes or potatoes used to grow.

Conclusion

By taking preventive measures, it is easy to avoid yellowing and drying of leaves. The main thing is to follow the basic recommendations for plant maintenance. Timely treatment with remedies for diseases and pests will help prevent dryness and cracking of the leaves.