Vegetables of the nightshade family are deservedly popular all over the world. Among them, the most heat-loving is eggplant. This culture is not only a product for delicious dishes. The content of vitamins and minerals, salts of copper, potassium favorably affects the human body. In case of cardiovascular diseases, it is useful to eat eggplant. In the dietary kitchen there are a lot of excellent dishes from a healthy vegetable called blue. And it should not be surprising that many gardeners grow this rather capricious crop on the beds. It is represented by many different varieties and hybrids. Among them, the Epic F1 eggplant deserves attention.
Description
When choosing a variety of vegetable culture pay attention to several characteristic signs. First of all, this is the quality of the fruit, productivity and resistance to disease. Any vegetable crop has its own advantages, as well as disadvantages. Popular are those that have a minimum number of problems in cultivation and care, and will also perfectly develop and bear fruit abundantly in certain climatic conditions.
Eggplant Epic F1, whose yield is very high, is characterized by early ripening. A powerful semi-spreading bush reaches a height of up to 90-100 cm. Dark green leaves of medium length. Bright shiny fruits are large. Eggplant reaches a length of 21 cm and a diameter of 10 cm. They are drop-shaped and have a purple-black color. The white flesh of the fruit has no bitterness. Its fairly thin skin is not tough. Eggplant Epic F1 has excellent taste and high commercial quality. Reviews gardeners who cultivated this hybrid, note the ripening of large and high-quality fruits. The weight of one eggplant reaches 300-400 grams. Excellent taste makes it possible to prepare a variety of dishes and preparations for the winter. In addition to high productivity, the hybrid has another advantage - it is resistant to the tobacco mosaic virus.
Growing Features
The thermophilic plant is quite sensitive to temperature conditions. It is planted in open ground when steady warm weather sets in, or grown in protected ground. Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out two or two and a half months before the expected date of planting. For growing in film greenhouses, this event is planned for early February. Plants can be moved to open ground when weather conditions are favorable. Therefore, it is advisable to grow in the seedling method.
Seed preparation
Based on the feedback of gardeners and farmers, we can say that the Epic F1 eggplant is a reliable and powerful hybrid. Its seeds cannot be obtained by yourself. They are produced by the company TM Seminis (Holland). Seeds are dense and not large.
In one gram there are up to 300 pieces. Germination persists for 3-5 years. Eggplant seeds have a long germination period. Pre-sowing treatment of seeds has a beneficial effect on the germination and quality of future planting material. They are sorted, treated with disinfecting solutions and growth stimulants, soaked and germinated.
Growing seedlings
Prepared seeds are sown in a specially prepared earth mixture. Its composition should be fertile and aerobic. The mixture can be purchased at flower shops or at points of sale for garden products. Also, it is easy to cook it yourself in the autumn. The composition of the soil for seedlings includes: peat, humus and sod. As additives, wood ash and superphosphate are used. Sow seeds in seedlings, which are then covered with polyethylene, creating a greenhouse effect. The temperature for seed germination should not be less than 25 degrees Celsius.
After the first sprouts appear, the boxes are transferred to a well-lit place. With a lack of light, the Epic F1 eggplant is greatly extended. The reviews of gardeners growing planting material contain advice - to fill up with fluorescent lamps, whose power is from 40 to 80 watts. The backlight will be required from eight in the morning to eight in the evening. This mode will allow you to grow high-quality planting material and prevent the stretching of plants.
When two of these leaves appear, they dive. To do this, you need plastic or peat cups. Subsequent care will consist of regular watering, top dressing and compliance with temperature and light conditions. A week before planting in open ground, the plants are hardened. When moving to a permanent place of cultivation, 5-7 leaves and a powerful root system should have an Epic F1 eggplant.
The photo perfectly demonstrates how the seedlings look.
Landing
When establishing the necessary weather conditions, eggplant is planted in open ground. The site for this culture should be fertile and well-lit. The best precursors are gourds and legumes, carrots and onions. Before planting, well-rotted manure and humus are added at the rate of 2 to 6 kg per square meter.
Eggplant Epic F1 is tall. The planting scheme of this hybrid with a square-nest planting method is 70x70 cm. If plants are planted in rows, the distance between them is maintained at least 90 cm. This will ensure normal nutrition of a powerful plant. Thirty to forty centimeters are left between the planting holes.
Features of the hybrid involve cultivation using a trellis method or fixing plants to a vertical support.
Care
Eggplant Epic F1, the cultivation of which is adapted to a wide range of conditions, provides for a number of agricultural activities. The plant is demanding on soil moisture. Regular heavy watering will be required. Drying of the soil is not allowed. The second major agrotechnical measure that will ensure high yields is fertilizer application. During the growing season, at least three top dressings will be required. The timing of fertilizer application can be divided into several stages:
- the first is mass flowering;
- the second is the beginning of fruiting;
- the third is the mass formation of fruits.
Lack of moisture and nutrients can lead to drying out and falling of flowers, which will lead to lower eggplant productivity. Throughout the growing period, weeding and loosening of the soil are carried out.
Plant protection
Eggplant Epic F1 is resistant to the tobacco mosaic virus. However, there is a whole detachment of pests that damage plants. These include: the bear, slugs, scoop, spider mites, Colorado potato beetle and aphids. No less dangerous diseases: wilting and various rot. Subject to crop rotation and regular agricultural activities, eggplant planting can be protected from pests and diseases. Chemical protective equipment in individual areas is allowed only those that are the safest for humans and the environment. Their use requires strict compliance with the attached instructions.
The Colorado potato beetle is a dangerous pest that can completely destroy the Epic F1 eggplant. Reviews gardeners advise the use of various means of protection against a gluttonous bug. It can be various mesh backstage that can protect the
planting of eggplant.Harvesting
Eggplant Epic F1 is characterized by high productivity. Reviews confirm the reliability of this hybrid. In the phase of technical maturity, eggplants have a saturated color and a length of at least 21 cm.
Harvesting is carried out regularly every five days. They are cut with a sharp knife or secateurs along with the peduncle. After collection, they are used for cooking or preservation.