Why do eggplant leaves turn yellow and what to do if this happens

It is known that eggplants are more sensitive and capricious than tomatoes and peppers. For this reason, summer residents often have to deal with the fact that the crop does not develop, turns yellow and withers. This unpleasant phenomenon can be associated with both errors in care and infectious diseases.

Why eggplant leaves turn yellow, in what cases and how they can be cured - read the article.

Possible causes of yellowing eggplant leaves

If a change in the color of the leaf plate is detected, you need to identify the cause of what is happening as soon as possible. This will stop the spread of the disease and save part of the crop.

Diseases

When eggplants are damaged by pathogens and fungi Yellow or brownish spots appear on the leaves. The most common diseases are:

1. Cercospora – due to toxins secreted by pathogenic fungi, the leaves turn yellow, starting from the edges.
2. Verticillium – under the influence of the fungus, yellowness spreads through the veins of the leaves, the lower plates curl, and the stem turns brown when cut.
3. Mosaic – yellow-green, sharp-angled spots appear on the leaves, which increase over time. The fruits on the affected crop grow ugly.
4. Fusarium – a fungal disease in which the stem of the plant turns brown and the leaves turn yellow and dry out. If you remove an eggplant from the soil, you will notice that its roots are covered with a pinkish coating.
5. Yellowed plates with black dots — most likely, the sprouts were damaged by a spider mite feeding on the sap of the leaves.

Lack of macro- and microelements

Experienced agronomists know that the soil of central Russia contains microelements that are difficult for plants to absorb. To provide crops with adequate nutrition, it is necessary to feed them.

What kind of substance eggplants need is clear by their appearance:

1. Potassium. The edges of the leaves turn yellow, and the plate itself takes the shape of a boat. The situation can be corrected using potassium humate, potassium sulfate or herbal ash.
2. Phosphorus. The leaves change color and begin to fly upward.
3. Zinc. First of all, the lower leaf plates turn yellow, and then the upper ones.
4. Calcium. It feels like the tips of the leaves are burned.
5. Bor. The leaf blades turn yellow and curl.
6. Sulfur. A lack of microelement manifests itself in the form of yellowing of the green mass.

Fertilizers are used in accordance with the instructions. Excessive feeding leads to withering and death of plants.

Bad soil

To get a good harvest, you need to take a responsible approach to the choice of soil.

There are special requirements for soil for eggplants.:

1. Breathability. To prevent the root system from suffering from oxygen deficiency, the soil must be loose and light. Such soil will not compact too much after watering.
2. Moisture capacity. The soil should quickly absorb moisture and not allow it to evaporate too quickly. Peat practically does not absorb water, so you cannot plant eggplants in it.
3. Fertility. The soil must contain organic matter, as well as macro- and microelements in an accessible form for absorption.
4. Acidity. The optimal pH is from 6.5 to 7 units.
5. Purity. The soil should be free of weed seeds, insect larvae and heavy metals.

Sunburn

If plants are too close to the phytolamp or stand in direct sunlight, burns may appear on their leaves. Optimal daylight hours for eggplants - 12 hours. At the same time, direct UV radiation causes irreparable harm to them.

Attention! Water the plants only at the roots, otherwise the drops on their leaves will increase the effect of sunlight.

Adaptation period

Seedlings planted in open ground take a long time to take root. For this reason, some leaves may turn yellow. Wait until the young plants take root, while still observing and caring for them.

It can be useful:

Instructions for growing eggplants from A to Z

How often to water eggplants

What are the diseases of eggplants in a greenhouse?

Why do the lower leaves turn yellow?

The lower leaf blades turn yellow most often. This is due to the fact that most of the nutrients go to the development of the plant’s root system, and the greenery does not have enough nutrition, so it begins to die. In addition, many pests live in the top layer of soil. When insects begin to eat a bush, they move from bottom to top.

Why do the top leaves turn yellow?

The upper part of the plant turns yellow due to a deficiency of manganese, iron and chlorine. If the eggplant does not receive enough of these substances from the soil, its top dies. In addition, this pathology may be a sign of rotting of the root system due to excess moisture.

Why do seedlings turn yellow?

Seedling leaves may turn yellow regardless of where the crop is growing: on a windowsill or in a greenhouse. It could be caused by the following reasons:

1. Lack of nutrition. If there are few micro- and macroelements in the soil, only the upper leaves have enough vital substances, and the cotyledon plates gradually dry out. In this case, it is necessary to increase the soil fertility with the help of a special seedling fertilizer, which is sold in a specialized store. Nitrogen is especially useful for young plants.
2. Infection of planting material. To be sure that the seeds are not affected by pathogens, they must be treated with a manganese solution before planting.
3. Excess sunlight. If the seedlings are exposed to the rays of the scorching sun, their young leaves may dry out.
4. Soil acidification. Eggplants need plenty of watering; they cannot tolerate drought. But if there is too much water and it stagnates, the roots rot. If this process has already begun, stopping watering for a couple of days is not enough. Fungi or pathogens have already appeared in the soil, so it is replaced and the pots are treated with potassium permanganate.

Why do fruits not turn blue, but turn yellow?

Most eggplant varieties turn purple or dark blue when ripe. Only some varieties of the crop, brought to us from North America or Asia, have a light green or white-green tint. But if the color of the peel is unusual for the variety, this should alert you summer resident

Eggplants are capable of accumulating the toxic alkaloid solanine. This substance not only makes the fruits taste bitter, but also gives them a green, yellow or brown color. A common reason for eggplant discoloration is overripening.. But sometimes the crop turns yellow due to excess nitrogen or lack of sunlight. In this case, its development slows down and the fruits become lighter.

In dry weather, ripe eggplants may turn yellow or turn green. To avoid damage to the crop, provide the plants with regular watering.

What to do

If found on a plant spider mite, they are treated with drugs such as Actellik, Fitoverm and others. Natural remedies include an infusion of finely chopped garlic or onion peel.

Potassium fertilizers have an antifungal effect. But if a fungus or viral infection has already penetrated the root system, the diseased plant can only be dug up and burned to avoid the spread of the disease. The soil is then disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate. To save healthy specimens, they are treated with benzimidazole.

If burns appear on the leaf plates, move the seedlings to a more shaded place and feed them until they are completely restored.

Preventive measures

To prevent damage and death of the crop, follow these recommendations:

• containers for seedlings must have holes from which excess moisture will drain into the tray;
• when watering, liquid should not collect on the leaves;
• before planting, the seeds are washed with a non-concentrated solution of potassium permanganate, and pots and garden tools are also disinfected;
• when transplanting a crop, its roots should not be exposed;
• the soil is regularly loosened to allow air to reach the roots;
• Do not plant eggplants in places where moisture often accumulates;
• Damaged leaves are removed immediately.

Tips and recommendations from experienced summer residents

For good acclimatization of seedlings, the seeds are planted in a mixture of ready-made soil and soil taken from the garden. But such soil may contain pests and pathogens. Disinfect soil in several ways:

1. Steaming. The soil is placed in a colander and kept over a pan of boiling water for about ten minutes, stirring occasionally. After this, the soil is cooled.
2. Etching. The soil is watered generously with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
3. Freezing. In the cold season, when the air temperature does not rise above -15°C, a container with pre-prepared soil is placed outside for several days. Then they are brought into a warm room for five days to allow the larvae and seeds to wake up, and again taken out into the cold. This procedure is repeated three times.
4. Calcination. The soil must be poured onto a metal tray in a layer about 5 cm thick and placed in an oven heated to +70-90°C. It is important to ensure that the temperature does not rise above the set values. When the earth warms up, it is removed from the oven and left until it cools completely.

Seeds collected from healthy, fully ripened fruits are less susceptible to various diseases. The seed material is thoroughly dried and stored in air-permeable bags.

Important! Do not plant eggplants near trees, buildings, fences, or near tall, bushy crops that block the sun. Take care of proper crop rotation. Do not plant seedlings in a bed where tomatoes, eggplants or peppers grew last year.

Conclusion

Eggplants, like other crops, are susceptible to various diseases. Yellowing of leaves is caused by a number of reasons: pest invasion, fungal infections, unsuitable soil or micronutrient deficiency. Regularly inspect all parts of the plant in order to take timely measures to prevent damage to the crop.