A relatively new, but managed to fall in love with summer residents, the Almaz eggplant variety

In the East, eggplant is called a longevity vegetable. It is appreciated for its low calorie content, high content of vitamins and essential minerals. In addition, their eggplant dishes are extremely tasty, healthy and suitable for dietary nutrition.

Consider further one of the popular eggplant varieties Diamond and learn the secrets of a rich harvest.

Description of the eggplant variety

The Almaz variety was developed by Russian agronomists in 1983. Eggplant is grown in the North Caucasian, Ural, Far Eastern, Central regions.

Distinctive features

In the south of the country, eggplant Diamond is grown in open field conditions. The vegetable is mid-season, the first harvest is harvested after 120-140 days from the moment of planting. In the northern regions, gardeners grow it in a greenhouse or hotbeds. The variety is resistant to drought and heat, rarely gets sick.

Specifications

Neat bushes reach 0.5 m. Leaves are medium, green. The fruits are in the form of a cylinder, about 15 cm long, with a diameter ranging from 3 to 5 cm.

The surface is smooth, black and purple. Eggplant weight - 100-150 g. The pulp is dense, greenish. It tastes good, does not taste bitter. From 1 sq. m summer residents collect about 5-7 kg of delicious and ripe eggplants.

Interesting! In some countries, eggplants are consumed raw, since after heat treatment the vegetable loses some of its beneficial properties.

How to grow a variety yourself

The process of growing Almaz eggplant is not much different from growing other vegetable crops. Let's take a closer look at what is needed for planting and how to properly care for the plant.

Growing seedlings

Thanks to this method, the seedlings quickly adapt to external conditions and show the best yield. To do this, prepare the soil, container, seed:

1. As a soil, they use ready-made land from a store or soil from a vegetable garden. It is necessary that it does not contain the remains of old plants, larvae, garbage. For disinfection, the earth is placed in an oven at a temperature of 150 degrees for 40 minutes. The procedure destroys dangerous microbes on the seed surface.
2. The best container for planting seeds is peat pots. They are easy to use and affordable. The pots are made from environmentally friendly degradable material.
3. The seeds are disinfected with aloe juice. After that, they are dried, wrapped in a damp cloth and placed in a dry and warm place.

The prepared seeds are laid out in containers. Place 2-3 seeds in one pot. Sprinkle on top with earth and pour abundantly with warm water. Eggplants love warmth and light, so the seedlings are placed on the windowsill. The optimum temperature for growing is 25-30 degrees. When the first two true leaves appear, the first top dressing is applied, for example, a superphosphate solution with potassium salt and urea. Re-feed after 10-15 days.

Important! When growing seedlings on a windowsill, avoid drafts. Water the seedlings every 7 days. For humidification, use only settled warm water, since cold tap water increases the risk of developing diseases. Experienced summer residents will arrange additional lighting with phytolamps.

Transfer

Gardeners prepare eggplant beds in advance. The vegetable prefers a mixture of loamy and sandy loam soils. The beds should be clean, with fertile and loose soil. In autumn, fresh manure, river sand and sawdust are introduced into the soil.A garden bed 30 cm long and 1 m wide is suitable for eggplants. The soil is leveled with a rake and watered with Effecton.

When the seedlings form a strong root system, and 5-7 leaves appear on the stems, the bushes are transplanted into the garden. It is better to carry out the procedure in the early morning on a calm and warm day. Before planting, a large amount of water is poured into the prepared holes, after which eggplant bushes are placed in the formed "puddles". From above, the earth is compacted and sprinkled with dry sand or loose earth. The optimal distance between seedlings is 40-45 cm.

Important! Eggplant Diamond is a heat-loving plant, so at first it is covered with cling film or thin glass to protect it from possible frost and wind. The film is removed by mid-June, when the risk of frost is low.

Further care

Eggplant care does not require any special skills. First of all, the beds are watered as they dry. If the summer is hot, the soil is moistened every 5 days; if cool - 1 time in 7-10 days. 1-1.5 liters of water is poured onto one bush. It is best to moisturize the beds in the morning or evening to avoid sunburn. Water the bushes directly under the root, bypassing the leaves and stems.

During the summer, the soil is loosened, especially after rains. Loosening makes the soil more nutritious, saturates it with oxygen... In parallel, the beds are cleared of weeds and debris. This prevents the development of infections. Eggplants are huddled three times a season to strengthen the root system and stimulate the development of the stem. Additionally, hilling retains moisture.

2 weeks after planting, eggplants are fed for the first time. The vegetable loves nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium. Summer residents fertilize the beds with potassium chloride, ammonium sulfate, superphosphate, wood ash, humus. Fertilizers are previously dissolved in warm water (22-24 degrees). During flowering and fruiting, plants are fertilized with infusion of nettle, mullein, urea and potassium salt. Foliar dressing is practically not used.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Farmers recommend paying attention to weather conditions. In cold and cool summers, eggplants require 20-30% more potassium... Dry wood ash is poured under the bushes at the rate of 2 cups per 1 sq. m. The Riga mixture, which contains nitrogen, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium, is also useful. One tablet of the mixture is diluted in 10 liters of water.

The best precursors to eggplant are onions or cabbage. It is not recommended to plant a vegetable after tomatoes or potatoes. After the formation of the first fruits, all side shoots are removed. The formation of a bush is necessary so that the ripe vegetables grow + as large and tasty as possible.

Diseases and pests

The Almaz variety has a high immunity to diseases, but is occasionally exposed to their negative effects.

The most common diseases are:

1. Blackleg... It manifests itself in the form of a dark coating on the roots, because of which they begin to rot, then quickly dry out and die. For preventive purposes, it is advised to treat the seeds with manganese and disinfect the soil. For treatment, professional drugs "Fitosporin" or "Oksikhom" are used.
2. Mosaic- a viral disease that manifests itself as a yellow-green pattern on the leaves. When the first signs are found, the bushes are removed from the garden and burned. For protective purposes, spraying with Bordeaux liquid is used.
3. Late blight- the most common disease among eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes. It manifests itself as brown spots on the leaves, due to which the bushes begin to wither. The fungus actively develops in hot and humid summer conditions. In the fight against fungus, spraying with a solution of milk whey helps.
4. Bacterial spotappears as specks on leaves with a dark border. For prevention purposes, it is advised to follow the rules of crop rotation and water the beds on time. In case of infection, summer residents burn the affected bushes.

Of insect pests, aphids attack eggplant beds. The insect sucks out the vital sap from the leaves, as a result of which the plant dries up and dies. Favorable factors for the appearance of aphids: high humidity, heat, non-compliance with the irrigation regime.

For prophylactic and therapeutic purposes, the bushes are sprayed with soapy water. In addition to aphids, whitefly and spider mites negatively affect the yield. Means "Maxim" and "Strela" help in the fight against pests.

Harvesting and application of the crop

Eggplant Diamond is harvested a month after flowering. Ripe vegetables acquire a beautiful glossy color, become firm and elastic. If the eggplants are not harvested on time, they become bitter, and the taste and firmness are lost. Cut the vegetables with garden shears, leaving the stalk. Vegetables with damage and scratches are eaten immediately, and even and whole fruits are set aside for longer storage.

Important! Eggplants can be stored for no more than one month. Delicate vegetables are sensitive to light and temperature, so they are eaten as soon as possible. The harvested crop is placed in a dark and dry place with an air temperature of 10 degrees and an air humidity of 80%. Storing eggplants in the light is unacceptable, as they produce solanine. The substance makes eggplants bitter and not safe for health.

Eggplants are actively used in cooking... They serve as the basis for delicious and healthy dishes such as eggplant caviar, vegetable snacks, and mashed soups. A great way to get the most out of a vegetable and feast on it for as long as possible is to cook winter preparations and pickles. Housewives canned eggplants with carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, prepare hot snacks with horseradish, garlic and dill. When cooked, the fruits are significantly reduced in size, losing liquid.

Interesting! Nutritionists recommend eating eggplant for people with cardiovascular disease. Vegetables remove cholesterol from the body, and cardiac activity is normalized. Also, the use of eggplant has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the liver and kidneys.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Eggplant Diamond is so named for its outstanding and numerous benefits. The vegetable looks appetizing, it does not require much time and effort to care for, fruiting is amicable and abundant. The variety rarely gets sick and shows a stable yield. The pulp is not bitter, it is universal in use.

Of the shortcomings, they note the fact that the vegetable cannot be overexposed in the garden. Eggplants need to be harvested on time and eaten in the near future.

Reviews

Most gardeners are happy with Almaz. The variety is appreciated for its taste and unpretentiousness. However, some summer residents also express dissatisfied reviews ..

Pavel, Oryol: “I planted the Almaz variety in a greenhouse. I expected to get a rich and tasty harvest. He followed all the rules of agricultural technology, fertilized and watered the beds on time. However, the fruit set slowly, turned out to be small and insipid. I absolutely didn’t like the Almaz variety ”.

Arina, Moscow: «Of all the eggplant varieties, Diamond is my favorite. I love its good looks and delicious flesh. Unlike many other varieties, Almaz does not taste bitter, it is ideal for cooking canned food. "

Olga, Voronezh: “I have been planting Almaz for the tenth season. I am very happy with the harvest. Vegetables grow smooth, even. I use some myself, and from the rest I cook caviar. "

Read also:

What is eggplant - is it a berry or a vegetable?

Do I need to peel eggplants and how to do it correctly.

What is the danger of a spider mite on eggplant and how to effectively deal with it.

Conclusion

Eggplant Almaz is planted on light and windless areas. To obtain a rich harvest, seedlings are prepared. To prevent the plant from getting sick, the seeds are disinfected with manganese or aloe juice. In the future, caring for the bushes is simple and straightforward: water the eggplants, fertilize, loosen the beds.

The vegetable is not suitable for storage for a long time, therefore, experienced gardeners recommend immediately eating it or using it for harvesting. Due to its high content of vitamins and minerals, eggplants are ideal for a dietary and healthy diet.