Eggplant is a relatively unpretentious plant and is certainly very popular among Russian summer residents. In order to get good harvests of this crop, first of all, of course, it should be well looked after. But it is equally important to choose the right eggplant variety.
Breeders actually pay a lot of attention to this garden culture. Varieties of this plant there is just a huge amount. If desired, early, late and mid-season eggplants with large fruits or small ones can be planted in their suburban area.
How to choose the right variety
The climate in different regions of Russia may be different. In order to get a good eggplant crop, you should first choose zoned varieties for your suburban area. Today there are seeds for sale on this crop intended for cultivation both in the middle zone of the Russian Federation and in the south, in the Urals or in Siberia.
Also, when selecting eggplant varieties for your site, you should also take into account exactly how they are subsequently supposed to be grown. It is believed that mid- and late-ripening varieties of this crop are more suitable for planting in greenhouses. In open ground, it is worth growing only early ripe or, in extreme cases, mid-ripe eggplants.
Best late grades
The most popular among summer residents are eggplants:
Sophia
Bull forehead;
- Bear;
Black handsome.
It is these varieties that are just perfect for growing in greenhouses in the middle zone of the Russian Federation, in the Urals and in Siberia.
Eggplant Sophia: description
These eggplants ripen on 130-150 days after planting seedlings. If desired, this variety can be grown both in the greenhouse and just in the garden. Sophia's fruits grow large enough. Weight they can reach 800-900 kg.
The fruits of this variety are pear-shaped in shape. The peel is dark purple, and the flesh is dense white. The pluses of these eggplants include, among other things, the fact that their fruits are not bitter. In length, they can reach 30 cm.
Sophia's bush grows over the summer to a height of 150 cm. It is not necessary to form these eggplants. However, in order for such bushes to develop well, they should be pinched.
Sophia cultivar characteristics
The yield of these eggplants is approximately 1.7 kg per bush. This is, of course, a very good indicator. With 1 m 2 meters of planting with good care, you can get 7.4-7.7 kg of such fruits. The pluses of this variety, among other things, include keeping quality. In a cool place without loss of taste, the fruits of this variety can be stored for up to 3 months. These eggplants are distinguished by good transportability. The shelf life of the fruits of Sophia is the longest of all currently existing hybrids and varieties.
Mishutka: description of the eggplant variety
These eggplants are also just great for growing indoors. The fruits of the Mishutka variety ripen on 130-145 days after germination. Like Sophia, they have a pear-shaped form. However, Mishutka's eggplant is still not so big. Their average weight is only about 250 grams. But on one brush on such bushes can grow up to three ripe eggplants.
The peel of the fruits of this variety is dark purple, and the flesh is light, quite dense. Like Sophia, Mishutka's eggplants are not bitter.
Variety Characteristics
Eggplant Mishutka does not need any special care. The variety is very unpretentious. In addition, judging by the reviews of summer residents, these eggplants are actually characterized by high productivity. With 1 m 2 with proper care, you can collect up to 8-9 kg of such fruits.
Form bushes Mishutki is not required. However, in order to obtain high-quality fruits of this variety, all flowers, with the exception of the 5-6 largest ones, must be removed from each such plant.
Bull forehead
The best varieties of eggplant, of course, are characterized, first of all, by high productivity. But some varieties at the same time, like Sophia, can produce very large fruits that are convenient in processing and storage. Applies to such varieties and Bull forehead. Weights such eggplants can reach up to a kilogram. The fruits of this variety are pear-shaped, rounded in shape. The peel is dark purple, and the flesh is white and not loose. Bitterness. Bull's forehead, like the two previous varieties, does not. The lengths of these eggplants reach 16-19 cm.
The fruits of the Bull forehead variety ripen approximately 140 days after the first emergence of seedlings. The bushes of this hybrid are not too high - about 80 cm high. But at the same time, the eggplants are quite spreading. Foliage and some shoots when growing this variety should be removed. Otherwise, the Bull forehead fruits will not grow too large.
Specifications
The yield of this eggplant is about 6-9 kg per 1 m 2 . Among the pluses of the Bull's forehead, summer residents, among other things, include its ability to bear fruit well even in the most adverse conditions. Judging by the reviews, this plant simply tolerates drought, as well as severe temperature extremes or high humidity.
Characteristics of a variety of eggplant Bull forehead, therefore, very good. This plant has earned excellent reviews for its good keeping quality. Eggplant kept Bull forehead is almost as good as Sophia. In a cool place, they can lie up to 2 months without loss of commercial quality. In areas with long summers, this variety is allowed to be planted not only in the greenhouse, but also in the garden.
Handsome black man
Varieties of eggplant, photos and descriptions of which were given above in the article, are just great for greenhouses. Another such variety, very popular among summer residents, is the Black Beauty. This eggplant was bred by breeders in the middle of the last century and has long earned the recognition of gardeners. The pear-shaped fruits of the Black handsome can reach a weight of up to 200-500 grams.
The peel color of these eggplants is dark purple with a strong glossy sheen. The pulp of the Black Beauty is white and dense. There are not too many seeds in it.
Characteristics of the Black handsome
This variety is grown in most cases only in heated greenhouses. Just in the garden, good harvests of the Black Handsome can only be obtained in the southern regions of Russia. Unfortunately, this variety is not resistant to cold.
The pluses of the Black Beauty include, among other things, high productivity. From 1 m 2 meters you can collect up to 9 kg of fruits of this variety. It is recommended to highlight the seedlings of these eggplants when grown on a windowsill. Little Black Beauties will develop well only at a 12-hour day.
Early ripe varieties
Such eggplant is usually grown in open field. But they are also good for greenhouses. The best early varieties of eggplant are:
Dwarf early 921;
Robin Hood.
The early hybrid Purple Wonder F1 also received very good reviews.
In addition to rapid ripening, such eggplant varieties, the description of which will be given below, are also distinguished by simply excellent fruit taste. The pulp is very juicy and tender.
Specifications and description eggplant cultivar Dwarf early 921
The first ripe fruits of this hybrid in a suburban area can be obtained already 3 months after emergence. A distinctive feature of Dwarf early 921 is that its bushes never grow too tall. The stem length of these eggplants in most cases does not exceed 30-45 cm.
The fruits of this variety can be either rounded or rounded pear-shaped. They are not too large in size. The average weight of the early dwarf fruit 921 is only 200-300 grams. The peel of young eggplant in this variety is purple. As it grows and ripens, it becomes brown-brown. Eggplant flesh. Dwarf early light.
Fruits on the variety bushes are usually quite low. Therefore, top dressing, for example, with the infusion of Mullein early 921, should be done with caution. The same goes for watering. Due to the frequent wetting, the fruits of this variety, unfortunately, can rot.
Productivity at Dwarf early 921, as many summer residents note, is quite high. From 1 m 2 of such plantings, you can remove up to 6-8 kg of eggplant. It is thanks to the high productivity that Dwarf early is considered the best grade of eggplant for open ground.
In care, this hybrid is relatively unpretentious. The formation of dwarf early 921 bushes is usually not carried out. But experienced summer residents are advised to definitely remove yellowing lower leaves from such bushes.
Purple Wonder F1
Above were given photos and descriptions of eggplant varieties that are especially popular among summer residents. The F1 purple miracle is also often grown in suburban areas.
The fruits of this early ripe variety are cylindrical. A distinctive feature of the F1 Purple Miracle is also the absence of spikes on the cup. The peel of the fruits of this eggplant is dark, and the flesh is soft green. The taste qualities, according to most summer residents, are simply excellent. In this regard, the variety is certainly superior to many others. The fruits of the Purple Miracle are great for frying, as well as for preparing caviar or canning. Salted or pickled eggplants of this variety retain their slicing shape just superbly.
Characteristics of the Purple Miracle
In order to get good harvests of this eggplant, experienced summer residents advise planting its bushes less often. On the bed, bushes of this variety are placed so that per 1 m 2 there are no more than 4-5 plants.
These eggplants can grow quite large and dense. The length of their stem usually reaches 90 cm. But at the same time, the side branches of the Purple Miracle are usually quite short. Harvesting this variety can begin as early as about 100 days after germination.
Eggplant Robin Hood
The ripening time of the fruits of this variety is approximately 100-120 days. Robin Hood early ripe eggplants can grow up to 1 m. Therefore, when grown, they require garter. The fruits of this hybrid reach 350 g in weight and 20 cm in length. A distinctive feature of Robin Hood eggplant is a soft purple peel.
Among the advantages of this hybrid, many gardeners, among other things, include the fact that its pulp contains practically no seeds. It is believed that using the fruits of Robin Hood is best for pickling and pickling.
What are the characteristics
The yield of the Robin Hood variety is quite high. Typically, summer residents collect 7-8 kg of fruit with 1 m 2 . But with good care, the yield of these eggplants can be 12 kg / m 2 . The pluses of the variety, among other things, include the ability to form fruits in any conditions. The adaptive abilities of Robin Hood are very good.
To get higher yields, the top should be cut off from these eggplants in late July. Also at the same time, you need to thin out the side non-fruiting shoots a little.
The best mid-season varieties
Of course, early ripe eggplant varieties are most suitable for open ground. Such plants are capable of producing good yields even in regions with short summers. However, mid-season eggplants are often grown in open ground. It is believed that such varieties are well suited for planting in areas of the middle zone of the Russian Federation and the southern regions of the country.
The best mid-season eggplant varieties among summer residents are:
Striped flight
The main feature of this variety is an unusual bright purple skin color with white stripes. Eggplants ripen A striped flight about 110-115 days after planting. The fruits of this variety have the shape of a cylinder and grow to a weight of 200-300 grams and a length of about 16 cm.
The flesh of these eggplants is white, not bitter, juicy and tender. The fruits of the Striped Flight can be used both for the preparation of caviar or frying, and for canning. The features of this variety, among other things, include very small seed sizes. In the pulp they are almost invisible.
Variety Characteristics Striped Flight
Summer residents appreciate this eggplant primarily for its unpretentiousness. The variety is highly resistant to elevated temperatures and is completely not afraid of pests. Bushes of the Striped Flight do not grow too tall and not particularly sprawling. In terms of yield, this eggplant is slightly inferior to some other varieties. With 1 m 2 summer residents usually collect about 4.5 kg of such fruits.
What are eggplants Diamond
This pretty old variety is valued by summer residents, primarily for its high yield. With 1 m 2 you can collect up to 8 kg of fruits. Diamond eggplants ripen when grown in suburban areas for about 120 days after planting.
The fruits of this variety are pear-shaped dark purple. The height of the bush of the Diamond is usually about 50 cm. The fruits of this variety are not too large. Their average weight is 170 grams. In length, these eggplants reach 15-18 cm.
What are the characteristics
It is believed that this variety is just great for growing, including in the northern regions of Russia. Many gardeners attribute the advantages of Diamond to resistance to such dangerous nightshade diseases as pillars and mosaics.
A characteristic feature of this variety is, among other things, the presence of a large number of seeds in the pulp. Of course, this affects the taste of the fruits of Diamond not too well. However, if desired, the summer resident can collect these seeds on their own and not buy them for next year.