Do eggplant need a pick or how to properly transplant grown eggplant seedlings
When growing garden crops through seedlings in home (apartment) conditions, picking is a mandatory step, because basically the seeds are sown in a common container. However, experienced gardeners advise for eggplant make an exception. These plants have a very delicate root system and do not tolerate a pick, in which it is necessary to remove seedlings from the ground, which can lead to a violation of the integrity of the roots. As a result, eggplants begin to hurt, overall growth slows down, which, in turn, affects the future harvest.
A similar situation occurs with seedlings of peppers, while tomatoes easily tolerate a pick and grow new roots even more actively.
How to sow eggplants to avoid picking?
The best way to grow seedlings is to immediately sow the seeds in separate containers. In a common container, seedlings will begin to fight for a place in the sun and will grow unevenly. Sowing separately will provide the seedling with adequate space, lighting and nutrients. In addition, the need for a pick will disappear.
For eggplant it is good to use cassettes - they are made of very thin and elastic plastic, the seedlings can be easily removed without damaging them.
If, during sowing, several seeds were in one cassette and all sprouted, it is necessary to leave only the strongest and most developed ones. Weak seedlings should be removed by carefully cutting with scissors. You do not need to pull them out, because you can damage the seedlings growing nearby.
How to transplant grown seedlings?
When the seedlings have 4 true leaves, they are already quite large and the eggplant becomes cramped in the cassette. Instead of picking, it is recommended to use transplanting or even transshipment of plants in larger containers. For this:
- Carefully remove the seedling from the cassette together with the earthen clod, pushing from below with your fingers.
- In prepared pots or cups, pour a little nutrient substrate on the bottom.
- Place the eggplant, slightly compact the soil.
- Water the seedlings with warm water.
- Pour dry soil into the pot. It is not necessary to water on top so that a crust does not form.
When transplanting, eggplants should not be deeply buried, they do not like this. The maximum planting depth of the seedling is no more than 1 cm.
After transshipment, the seedlings must be placed away from the bright sun and drafts for a couple of days. You can feed eggplants no earlier than 10 days.