To grow a plentiful eggplant crop in the middle of Russia is a rather laborious process. This vegetable develops well in the south, in a warm and temperate climate, because it does not like sudden changes in temperature and needs constant care. But you can simplify your task if you choose the right variety for your garden plot. Clorinda's eggplant is a Dutch hybrid that will help any gardener realize the dream of a rich harvest. Its fruit is very beautiful, it is highly valued for its decorative qualities, because it is suitable for sale.
Clorinda's eggplant variety description
This is a tall plant: the height of the stems reaches 1 m. The variety is medium early, from the moment of setting until the fruit fully ripens, it takes about 68 days. Productivity from 1 m 2 is approximately 6 kg. The vegetable forms many ovaries and has a long fruiting period. The full name of this eggplant variety is Clorinda F1. This means that the plant belongs to the first generation, obtained from the crossing of several varieties. Hybrid varieties often cost much more than regular varieties due to the small amount of seeds received from the mother bush. But the result of the painstaking work of breeders and agronomists is usually much more resistant to diseases and pests, less stressed and more cold-resistant than ordinary representatives of this vegetable crop. Only propagating plants with seeds at home, while maintaining varietal traits, is impossible.
Description of fruits of Clorinda F1 variety
Clorinda's eggplant produces pear-shaped fruits with shiny dark violet skin. Their diameter can be up to 25 cm. The maximum weight declared by the manufacturer is 1.5 kg. It is difficult to believe in many gardeners. Especially often, reviews of Clorind's eggplant are accompanied by enthusiastic exclamations about the unusual qualities of the fetus. The pulp of this vegetable is really distinguished by its dense structure, attractive white color and lack of seeds. It slowly darkens and has excellent taste. In most reviews of Clorind’s eggplant, with a photo of the crop, the average weight of one fruit is about 400 g, and the diameter does not exceed 10 cm. It is rare when the ovaries reach the declared weight, but this also happens with proper care and suitable conditions. The variety is resistant to the tobacco mosaic virus, tolerates stressful situations and is quite cold-resistant. Clorinda's eggplant in the photo resembles a dark shiny pear, with an even peel texture and a glossy sheen.
Landing and care
Vegetable grows best in greenhouse conditions on vertical supports, but is also suitable for planting in open ground. But still in the greenhouse you can achieve significantly higher yields. There, it is about 100 kg higher per hundred square meters, compared with planting in the ground, and averages 320 kg. When planting on a bed, plants are tied to a trellis. In the midland of Russia , the seedling method is used to grow Clorind eggplant. You can sow the seeds in open ground, but then the chances of getting abundant seedlings become less.
For normal growth and development, the plant requires an air temperature of +25 degrees. It is necessary to protect Clorind's eggplant from sudden changes in temperature and humidity. Vegetables require regular watering, especially when ovaries appear. Plants willingly side by side with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and peas. It is useful to plant herbs next to the eggplant: thyme, basil, thyme. Sow seeds for seedlings for planting in a greenhouse should be in early March. Then the seedlings can be transferred to the greenhouse by the end of May.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
Reviews of the Clorind F1 eggplant and its planting by seeds indicate that usually the germination of this hybrid is one hundred percent. But the seeds must be prepared in a special way before sowing. First, disinfection takes place: planting material is soaked for half an hour in a pink solution of potassium permanganate. This is done with all the seeds; this is not unusual for an experienced gardener. Eggplant then requires hot stratification. They are placed in hot water and also kept for 30 minutes. In reviews of Clorind F1 eggplant, this method of stimulating the growth of planting material is often mentioned: soak the seeds for a day in aloe juice or dip them for 10 minutes in a solution of hydrogen peroxide heated to 40 degrees using a ratio of 3: 100.
Before sowing seeds, sterile containers should be prepared for sowing. Disposable cups or cassettes for seedlings are best suited for this purpose. The substrate is prepared by mixing soil for seedlings, compost, sand and vermiculite. You can use a different composition: turf land, compost and sand or peat, sawdust and garden land. To harden the seeds, sometimes they put a little snow on top. Any mixture for seedlings must be clean and disinfected, so that the sprouts are not infected with diseases or damaged by pests. To do this, the soil is calcined in the oven or treated with a pink solution of potassium permanganate. Sown seeds in March, sometimes at the end of February, depending on climatic conditions. The optimum temperature for germination is +28 degrees. Crops are covered with a film and placed in a warm place with good lighting. You can use lamps for illumination, if the sun is not enough.
How to care for seedlings
Clorind F1 eggplant seeds, judging by the reviews of gardeners, germinate amicably and actively. After the shoots appear, the film is removed, and the air temperature is reduced to +17 degrees, rearranging the boxes with seedlings in a cooler place. After a week, you need to again raise the temperature to +25 in the afternoon and to +14 - at night. If the air is colder, the plants may die. Boxes with seedlings are periodically rotated so that they are illuminated by the sun from all sides. With a lack of light, the sprouts need to be illuminated with lamps for at least 12 hours a day. When the seedlings grow and get stronger, they begin to harden a little, periodically taking them out into the open air.
Planting eggplant seedlings
Clorind eggplant seedlings care consists in plentiful watering with warm water and regular feeding. It is useful to periodically loosen the soil around the plants. Fertilize the sprouts with fluorine-containing formulations. Watering is carried out under the root, trying not to apply to the foliage - this can cause infection with fungal infections. Planting in open ground is carried out when the seedlings will be 20 cm in height. Seedlings should have approximately three pairs of leaves. Eggplant is planted in specially prepared and watered holes in late May and until the second decade of June. The site is chosen illuminated by the sun and protected from drafts. Plants are buried in the soil to the first pair of leaves and mulch the soil around. According to gardeners, it is advisable to cover the seedlings with foil in the first two weeks after planting, to protect from the sun and winds. The distance between adjacent seedlings should be at least 70 cm, and beds need to be dug out 80 cm from each other. On 1 m 2 have no more than 2 plants of the variety Clorinda.
Ideal for eggplant
Plants prefer light, nutritious and breathable soil. Therefore, it is better to dig and fertilize the bed in advance by adding humus, sod land, peat and river sand. As a baking powder, crushed straw is introduced into the soil. Sometimes sawdust is used for this purpose. In the spring fertilize with ash, superphosphate and compost. You can make complex mineral fertilizing.
Eggplant Care Features
For abundant fruiting, vegetables are regularly and abundantly watered, loosen the soil around the bush, mulch it and pinch the tops of the sprouts. Due to the high weight of the fruit, the bushes need to be tied up so that they do not break. Watered after planting every 2 or 3 days, depending on weather conditions. Then watering is reduced, moistening the soil 1 time per week. About 1 liter of water is consumed per 1 m 2 . Judging by the reviews of gardeners, one of the most important factors affecting the abundance of fruiting of the Clorinda variety is regular feeding. During the season, it will be necessary to fertilize plants 3-5 times using various organic mineral additives, alternating them with each other. Plant care includes mulching and loosening the soil, as well as regular disposal of weeds.
Plant formation
Summer residents prefer to plant Clorinda F1 due to the fact that this variety practically does not need forming pruning. When the bush reaches a height of 30 cm, the tops are broken off so that lateral branches begin to develop. Then leave two or three of the thickest shoots, and the remaining branches are removed. Sanitary pruning is carried out regularly, removing yellowed leaves and damaged shoots. The first fruits on eggplant appear 2 months after planting seeds. When the peel becomes dark purple and begins to shine, it means that the crop is ripe and can be removed from the plant. Vegetables are cut with a stalk 3 cm long. They can be fried, baked or used for canning.