Secrets of feeding eggplants for a rich harvest

Eggplants need proper and high-quality fertilizer. Depending on the condition of the soil, climatic conditions and stage of development, the plant needs different amounts of nutrients.

Let's look at how to speed up the growth of eggplants in open ground and what to feed the plants in each phase of development.

What is the purpose of fertilizing?

Eggplants are fertilized at each stage of development. Mineral fertilizers are combined with organic fertilizers. In this way, plants receive the necessary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium

When flowering

When eggplants bloom, fertilizing is mandatory. If it is not carried out, flowers do not form on the plant or there are few of them. Such bushes will not bear fruit.

What kind of feeding do eggplants like during the period of bud formation? At this time, the plants are fed with compounds containing phosphorus and potassium. Gardeners use growth stimulants. Among organic substances, preference is given to liquid mullein and ammonium nitrate.

During the fruiting period

During the active fruiting stage, the plant requires nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium. Fertilize the soil only when necessary.

The soil is enriched with potassium sulfate. To stimulate fruit filling, an infusion of bird droppings and “Nitrophoska” is suitable. Before watering, fertilizers are mixed with water.

The rest of the time

14-21 days after planting in the ground, seedlings are fertilized with substances containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. For the rapid development of bushes, preparations such as “Rastvorin”, “Kemira” and “Kornevin” are suitable. Organic - herbal infusion.

After the first ovaries appear, the nutrients are doubled. From organic matter, use infusion of grass, manure or ash. Ready-made substances include the preparations “Kemira”, “Agricola”, a solution of urea and superphosphate.

Types of fertilizing

Eggplants are fertilized with organic and mineral substances.

Organic matter

Organic fertilizers are applied at each stage of the growing season. They contain the optimal amount of components that dissolve well in the soil and are absorbed by plants.

Wood ash

Wood ash enriches the earth with macro- and microelements. It contains a lot of potassium. Organic fertilizer is used between fertilizing. Additionally, wood ash serves as an antiseptic. It disinfects the soil and protects plants from pests.

It is applied both by the root method and by irrigating the plantings. To do this, dissolve 150 g of ash in 10 liters of water. The solution is infused for 3 days, filtered and sprayed on the bushes.

Manure

Fresh mullein is used for feeding only in the form of an infusion, urea is added. Dilute 1 tbsp in a bucket of water. l. urea and add a glass of manure. The solution is infused for 24 hours. Half a liter of infusion is poured under each root.

Iodine

Iodine for eggplants in the greenhouse useful in that it helps to more actively fight various diseases. For 10 liters of water use one drop of iodine. The resulting solution is used to treat the soil in which the seedlings are planned to be planted.

Reference. Iodine is used as a fertilizer two weeks before landings.

Mineral fertilizers

Gardeners buy ready-made mineral fertilizers - both single-component and complex. In the second case, the nutrients are in a balanced form:

1. Superphosphate. Complex fertilizer contains three elements: potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus (25%). A similar composition, but with a different percentage of substances, contains “Nitrophoska”. Double superphosphate is beneficial for soils deficient in phosphorus.
2. Ammonium sulfate. This fertilizer contains nitrogen and sulfur. It is not used on soils with high acidity, because it oxidizes them even more.
3. Potassium nitrate. The fertilizer contains nitrogen and potassium. The latter improves plant immunity.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies are very popular among gardeners. This is a cheap method, and the necessary components are always at hand:

1. Herbal infusion. The cut grass is placed in a large container and filled with water. An ordinary barrel is suitable for these purposes. The solution is infused for a week until it ferments. Water the bushes strictly to the roots.
2. Yeast. Yeast is considered a good growth stimulator. For feeding eggplants 1.5 tsp. substances and 1 tbsp. l. sugar is added to 5 liters of water. Leave for 3 hours and dilute with water in a ratio of 1:5.
3. Compost. Boiled potato peelings are added to 100 g of compost and diluted with water. The resulting solution is watered onto the soil.

Other

To fertilize eggplants, use a bread-yeast solution. This is a universal remedy that increases the plant’s immunity and stimulates its growth.

For the solution, take black bread, 30 g of yeast, 2 tbsp. ash, grass, lime and 500 ml of chicken manure per 10 liters of water. Let it sit for a week and water the beds. Fertilizer is used once a week, 0.5 liters per bush.

Root fertilizers

When root feeding, fertilizers are applied under the roots, avoiding contact with the leaves and stem.Basically, eggplants are fertilized using this method. Root feeding promotes rapid absorption of microelements.

Important! The substances are diluted only with warm water 23-24°C. If the solution gets on the leaves, they are washed with clean water.

Foliar feeding

What is foliar feeding of eggplants? With this method, only the leaves are irrigated. It is rarely used. Plants on fertilized soils need sufficient root feeding. If the soil is poor, foliar methods of fertilizing the crop are used.

An average of 1 liter of diluted substance is used for each plant. Boric acid is suitable for irrigating plants. It helps the crop with insufficient flowering and ovary formation. 1 g of substance is dissolved in 1 liter of water. Irrigate the bushes twice every 10 days.

How to understand what eggplants are missing

What element eggplants lack is indicated by the appearance of the plant:

1. Phosphorus necessary for the development of the root system, which becomes weak under conditions of deficiency. In addition, the ovaries form poorly and the fruits ripen slowly. Leaves turn blue, curl and fall off. The plant becomes sick with chlorosis. If there is a lack of phosphorus, superphosphate is added. 150 g of the substance are diluted per 10 liters of water.
2. Nitrogen affects plant growth. With a lack of this element, the culture develops slowly. Small yellow or white leaves appear on the plant, old leaves fade and fall off, the lower ones begin to turn yellow from the tips to the stem. The fruits become deformed and fall off quickly. If there is a lack of nitrogen, the plant is fed with urea. 100 g of the substance are diluted in 10 liters of water. If you add more substances than required according to the instructions, greenery will form, but the fruits will be small or will not grow.
3. Potassium important for fruiting of the crop.This element increases plant resistance to diseases and sudden changes in temperature. If there is a shortage of an element, young leaves turn yellow along the edges, holes appear on them. Brown spots form on the fruits. The plant stops bearing fruit.
4. Manganese, iron and calcium affect the quality of the fruit and the yield of the plant. With a lack of iron, the leaf blades turn completely yellow. If there is not enough magnesium, the leaves become light and dark veins become visible on them. With a lack of calcium, the metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins in tissues is poor.

In rainy and cloudy weather, eggplants need potassium. It is better to fertilize plants with ash. The substance is applied under the bush. For 1 sq. m use a glass of the substance.

Secrets of feeding during the flowering period

Let's consider how to feed eggplants during flowering. During the period of bud formation, fertilizing is applied a second time. Ready-made preparations “Kemira” and “Signor Tomato” are suitable. You can fertilize with nitrogen and phosphorus: 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 1 tsp. Dissolve urea in a bucket of water.

In addition to mineral fertilizers, gardeners apply organic fertilizers. 3.5-4 kg of chopped weeds, 0.5 buckets of fresh manure and a glass of ash are placed in a 50-liter barrel. Pour water to the top and cover with a lid. Infuse for a week in a warm place. Before watering, the solution is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3 and 1 liter is poured over each seedling.

Features of feeding during the fruiting period

The third fertilizing of the season is applied when the plant bears fruit. Water with Effekton mineral solution. Add 0.5 liters of fertilizer per 100 liters of water. Per sq. m use 5 liters of solution.

For organic fertilizers, a solution of manure is suitable (1 liter of organic fertilizer per 10 liters of water). Ammonium nitrate is added to this solution.For 10 liters of substance use 1 tbsp. l. substances.

What should you never fertilize eggplants with?

Depending on the phase of development, the plant requires nutrients in different proportions. You cannot add nitrogen more than the permissible rate specified in the instructions.

Under no circumstances should eggplants be fertilized during flowering and fruiting with fresh manure and chicken droppings. Organic fertilizer must be diluted and infused, because... The nitrogen content in these compounds is high.

Important rules for feeding eggplants and advice from experienced agronomists

For fertilizing to be successful, gardeners are advised to adhere to the following rules:

1. To prolong fruiting, additional fertilizing is applied at intervals of 14 days. Fertilize the soil with compounds containing potassium: 1 tsp. Potassium sulfate is dissolved in 10 liters of water.
2. Mineral and organic fertilizers alternate with each other. The mixture is carefully poured under each bush, avoiding contact with the leaves.
3. Fertilizers are applied after watering the plants on the same day or the next day in the morning or evening.
4. A month before harvest, a nutrient solution is poured under each bush: 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and 1 tbsp. l. potassium salt per 10 liters of water. For each bush, use 1 glass of solution.
5. In order to prevent diseases and pests, eggplants are treated with fungicides.

Conclusion

Over the entire season, 3-5 fertilizers are applied depending on the condition of the soil and climatic conditions. During the period of bud formation and fruiting, plants are fed with substances containing phosphorus and potassium.

Fertilize eggplants with mineral and organic fertilizers. From organics they use ash, mullein, iodine. From minerals - superphosphate, potassium salt, potassium sulfate.

Preference is given to root feeding, since this method does not allow substances to get on the leaves and cause them harm.