How often to water eggplants: instructions for beginner gardeners
Eggplant is a capricious vegetable crop that requires timely irrigation. The roots are weak, so it is difficult for them to transfer moisture to the shoots. If there is insufficient moisture, the flowers and ovaries fall off. Therefore, many inexperienced vegetable growers cannot get a high-quality harvest.
How often to water eggplants, what characteristics water should have, and what mistakes gardeners make, we will look into this article.
Watering frequency
Eggplant is a demanding and moisture-loving vegetable crop., which needs regular irrigation. First of all, it is worth considering that moisture depends on climatic conditions and the place where the crop grows.
Frequency and abundance of irrigation
If the weather is hot outside, water the plants once every 3-5 days.. On cloudy, warm days, vegetables are irrigated once a week. In rainy weather, moisten the soil only if necessary.
For 1 sq. m, 10 liters of water will be enough, or 1.5-2 liters of water are used for each adult plant.
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Types of irrigation
Eggplants are watered in two ways: manual and drip.
The manual method is suitable when the area is small. Use improvised means (watering can or hose). The necessary fertilizing is applied by irrigation using a watering can.When watering with a hose, a large area is covered. The water pressure should not be strong, otherwise the leaves of the plant will be damaged.
Important! Use special nozzles to disperse water. Direct the flow to the root zone of the plant. Water should not get on the leaves.
The drip method requires financial investment. The gardener will have to purchase special equipment - hoses with holes. Thanks to them, water flows directly to the roots of the plant with the same frequency and volume.
Criteria on which watering depends
The frequency of irrigation is selected individually. She depends on weather conditions, plant development stage and soil conditions.
In the first stages, young seedlings are moistened once a week in the evening. When bushes appear, watering is reduced, and when fruits begin to appear, the frequency of watering is increased again.
Reference. Depending on the stage of vegetation, the volume of water does not change; the frequency of watering changes. If there is an excess of watering, the roots and fruits of eggplants will begin to rot; if there is insufficient irrigation, the fruits will be smaller than normal.
Watering eggplants in a greenhouse and in open ground
Watering eggplants varies depending on where the vegetables are grown - in closed ground or in a garden bed.
In the greenhouse
Eggplant It is better to grow in a polycarbonate greenhouse. It is translucent, temperature-controlled, and protects the fruits from wind and rain.
The temperature in the greenhouse should be +28-30°C. This will help the plant grow quickly. At low temperatures, the culture stops developing.
Just now seedlings planted in the ground are watered once a week. When the plant begins to bear fruit, the frequency of watering doubles.
Peculiarities. Water the eggplants using a watering can or drip method.
In the open ground
Eggplant is a light-loving plant, so before planting you should choose a sunny place with moist and nutrient-rich soil. Immediately after planting, seedlings should be watered watering can. For 1 sq. m requires 10-12 liters of water.
Before ovary development Eggplants are watered once a week. For 1 sq. m uses 12-35 liters of water, depending on the temperature. The higher the temperature, the more abundant the watering should be.
During fruiting Irrigation activities are carried out once every two weeks. The volume of water is increased by 1.5 times.
How to water plants correctly
Eggplant should water with warm water standing in the sun. Water is poured into large barrels, where it is heated to the optimal temperature throughout the day. Watering is carried out in the morning.
Water requirements
The water temperature should be +25-27°C. It is best to irrigate vegetables with melt or rain water. Tap water is suitable for irrigation after it has settled for 24 hours and the chlorine has evaporated.
Eggplants should not be watered with cold water. Low temperatures will cause diseases in plants and weaken the immune system.
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Features of watering during different periods of the growing season
At each stage of the growing season, eggplants need different frequency and amount of watering.. It's important not to overdo it here. Due to overwatering, the plant may become sick and die.
During planting of seedlings
Before planting seedlings, the holes are watered abundantly., after this it is necessary to irrigate the vegetable crop only after five days. Until this time, the plants have enough water.
Water the eggplants in the daytime, between the rows, only at the root - the leaves should not get wet. The water pressure should be weak. With strong pressure, the stem will be damaged, which will lead to a decrease in yield.
At this stage It is enough to water the eggplants once a week. For each bush - 3-4 liters of water.
During flowering
During flowering the plant requires abundant watering. Lack of moisture leads to shedding of ovaries and flowers.
At this time, eggplants water twice a week. 4-5 liters of water are poured under each bush. To improve the number of ovaries, the plant is sprayed with boron solution.
During fruiting
During fruiting, eggplants irrigate once a week. Each bush consumes 4-5 liters of water.
Important! If the soil is too wet, the plant may begin to rot.
Watering with fertilizers
Watering with fertilizers will help the future plant get the necessary nutrients, in particular calcium, potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, manganese and boron.
Fertilizing is carried out no more than three times per season.. It is used when a vegetable crop develops poorly: it has underdeveloped roots, pale leaves and a thin stem. The first feeding is carried out two weeks after planting the seedlings.
Types of such fertilizers:
- Ammonia. Three tablespoons of ammonia are dissolved in 10 liters of water. The solution is poured under the root of the plant.
- Boric acid. 10 g of the substance are dissolved in 1 liter of boiling water. Add another 9 liters of water. The leaves are sprayed with the solution. Fertilizing is carried out to improve the ovaries.
- Potassium nitrate. Used to strengthen eggplant leaves or in case of wilting. 30 g of potassium nitrate and 10 g of superphosphate are diluted in 10 liters of water. The solution is poured over the eggplants at the root.
Useful tips from experienced summer residents
Experienced vegetable growers It is recommended to adhere to these rules:
- When choosing a place for planting, keep in mind that this is a light-loving plant that needs moist soil. It grows best in soil with low acidity. The soil should be rich in potassium.
- In order for the plant to receive calcium and potassium, it is watered with water infused with eggshells.
- The sprinkling method is not suitable for irrigating eggplants. Water gets on the leaves, the plant begins to hurt. Watering is carried out exactly at the root. It is better to use drip irrigation.
- Vegetable crops can be watered in furrows that are prepared in advance next to the planted plants.
- To prevent rotting, water eggplants with a weak solution of potassium permanganate no more than once a week.
- This technique has a positive effect on the development of the plant: a small ditch is dug around each bush. Fertilizers are poured into it, filled with water and buried again.
Conclusion
Eggplant is a moisture-loving vegetable crop that needs timely watering. Manual and drip methods are most often used. Do not water eggplants with a strong stream of water - it washes away the soil and damages the stem.
For vegetables, only warm, settled water is used. The frequency of watering depends on the growing season of the plant. After planting and during fruiting, water the vegetables once every seven days, during flowering - twice a week. Don’t forget about fertilizing - first of all, eggplants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.