Description eggplant varieties Epic

Description of the eggplant varieties Epik

Characteristics of the variety

Eggplant varieties Epic early ripening, growing period of 65 days, in some cases 80. The recently bred hybrid is intended for cultivation in open ground in a subtropical climate. The climate bears fruit well in the greenhouse. Proper care allows you to collect about 6 kg from 1 sq.m.

Description of the bush

The erect, sprawling, powerful bush of the plant reaches a height of about 1 m. A medium-pubescent green stem can be purple, red and blue. Small leaves are bright green. To form a bush and good productivity, the plant requires garter. Weak ovaries must be removed.

Description of the fruit

Epik received high commercial characteristics due to the large, cylindrical fruits. On average, one fruit weighs 200 g, reaches 22 cm in length, 10 cm in width. Depending on the soil, growing conditions, climatic features, the fruits can reach larger sizes. They are mainly dark purple in color with a glossy peel. Thorns are sometimes located in the sepals. The dense structure of the pulp is white with a small number of seeds.

The fruits have a pleasant taste characteristics. The variety is characterized by the absence of bitterness and a pronounced aroma. Epic vegetables are used in cooking both in freshly prepared and canned form, suitable for frying, stewing, cooking caviar. The fried fruits of the Epic variety taste like mushrooms.

Growing eggplant

Eggplants grow well in the greenhouse

To seedlings have time to form, the seeds are planted in warm soil in mid-March, it is better if it is a greenhouse.

Seed preparation

Before planting, planting material must be decontaminated. To do this, it should be placed for 20 minutes in a 2% solution of potassium permanganate. Then wash the seeds in clean boiled water, dry and soak for a day in a growth stimulator.There is another method of disinfection – for 10 minutes, place planting material in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution heated to a temperature of 40 ° C.

As a growth stimulant, three-year-old aloe juice is used in pure form, or mixed in equal parts with water. Spread seeds on a saucer, fill with juice for a day, dry and start planting.

Planting seeds

As a soil, use ready-made or make the substrate yourself. The soil from the summer cottage is cleaned of weeds and mixed in equal parts with sand and soil for indoor plants. You can also use peat mixed with sawdust and soil for seedlings.

Eggplants prefer loose light soils enriched with minerals and organic compounds.

In tightly packed peat or plastic In pots or any other container, generously moisten the substrate, sow the seeds and cover with a layer of soil no more than 1 cm. Wrap the container in a transparent film and place it in a warm place for germination.

Seedling care

Seedlings of nightshade require careful care. The temperature in the room should not exceed 25 ° C. The first shoots will appear within 10 days. After that, remove the film and lower the temperature to 18 ° C. Within two weeks after germination, you should raise the temperature during the day to 28 ° C, and at night lower to 15 ° C. This will help harden seedlings.

After some time, using a phytolamp, it is necessary to increase the daylight hours to 12 hours. The light source is installed at a distance of 50 cm.

The soil should be constantly moistened. 3 days after sowing, the first watering is carried out, then every five days. If the soil is not enriched with minerals, then a week after germination should be fed with phosphorus fertilizer. Then, once every 7 days, apply top dressing to build up green mass.

Planting seedlings in the ground

There must be at least 5 leaves on the formed strong seedlings 20 cm high. At the end of May, when the daytime temperature rises above 15 °, eggplant seedlings are transplanted into the open ground.

The soil should be slightly alkaline or neutral. Sour acid must be neutralized with limestone at the rate of 0.5 kg / m².

Eggplants are recommended to be planted in areas where beans, peas, cabbage, garlic, onions, and herbs were grown before. Unfavorable precursors are peppers, potatoes, tomatoes.

Each well more than 10 cm deep is moistened with warm water and one sprout is planted. The row spacing should be at least 65 cm, between the bushes 35 cm.

Watering

Maintaining soil moisture is an important characteristic in growing seedlings.Watering should be done once a week, in hot weather more often. Abundant hydration will rot the root system. Eggplant is poured with settled warm water. During the period of active fruit growth, watering should be carried out daily.

After each moistening, the soil should be loosened for better oxygen access to the roots. It is also recommended to mulch with straw mixed with onion and garlic husk. This helps to retain moisture and reduce weed growth, as well as scare away some pests.

Top dressing

The first top dressing of plants is carried out two weeks after planting in the ground. To do this, use ammonium nitrate with superphosphate and potassium sulfate. It is also recommended to add 40 g of potassium-phosphorus fertilizer and 50 g of nitroammophoska.

During the growing season, to increase the ovary, feed the soil with humus, compost, sawdust or rotted cow manure at the rate of 1 bucket per 1 m².

During the formation of the fruit, a phosphate-nitrogen mixture is used – 1 tsp each. mix superphosphate and saltpeter with 10 l of water.

No more than 5 top dressings should be carried out throughout the entire growing period.

Harvest

According to the description varieties, the technical maturity of the fruit occurs 25 days after flowering, which means that in August Epic eggplants will delight the first harvest. Collection takes place every 3 days, as the product matures gradually.The peduncle is recommended not to break off, but cut off by secateurs. This will reduce the stress of the plant and ensure high-quality ripening of the remaining fruits.

It is important not to let the eggplant over-ripen. The pulp will lose elasticity, become stiff and too bitter.

Epic fruits are stored fresh for no more than three weeks. But there are several rules that will help preserve the fruit for 2-3 months:

• wipe each eggplant dry;
• put the vegetables in one layer in a cool room;
• discard spoiled every three weeks;
• wrap the remaining fruits with paper, lay them on a straw in one layer and cover with burlap.

Diseases and pests

Epic eggplants are resistant to the tobacco mosaic virus, but are susceptible to diseases such as:

• Blight;
• Bacterial spotting;
• Black leg;
• gray gn il.

Already 3 weeks after the appearance of full-fledged seedlings, prophylaxis with Bordeaux liquid, cuproxate, copper sulfate, Zircon should be carried out. A few days after planting in the ground, the procedure should be repeated.

Pest control

Pests that are dangerous for eggplant:

• Colorado potato beetle;
• Spider mite;
• Scoop;
• Aphids;
• Bear;
• Slug.

Color hellish bugs and slugs can be collected by hand.To scare away bugs, it is recommended to plant marigolds and basil next to the beds. A mixture of tobacco dust, ash and lime will help in the fight against slugs. Treatment with Celtan or Arrow will save the spider mite. A solution of wood ash will protect plants from aphid attacks.

Prevention

To prevent infection with various diseases, crop rotation rules should be followed and agricultural activities should be carried out regularly.Chemical treatment should be carried out only by means that are safe for humans and plants.

Conclusion

Epic F1 eggplant hybrid is chosen by many gardeners. Caring and timely care will allow you to get an early harvest of quality fruits.