Eggplant Khalif belongs to mid-season varieties; it has gained enormous popularity due to the fact that it has large fruits, a pleasant taste, and is resistant to some pests and many diseases. However, in order to grow successful fruits, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the variety, its features, growing conditions and the conditions for collection and storage.
Description and characteristics of the variety
The main characteristics of the variety are presented in the table:
Grade | Time from emergence to harvest | Time from flowering to fruit picking | Bush | Spikes |
mid early | 115-120 days | 30 days | semi-spreading, height up to 70 cm | are absent |
Features of the fruits of the Khalif variety:
The form | Length | Diameter | Weight | Colour | Surface | Pulp |
elongated, club-shaped, slightly curved | up to 20 cm | up to 6 cm | up to 250 g | dark purple | glossy | whitish |
The fruit is completely lacking bitterness! Therefore, the variety is widely used in cooking and home canning.
Growing process
Caliph eggplant is grown from seedlings, which can be obtained at home, if you adhere to the main criteria for growing.
Preparing and planting seeds
Planting work begins in March. For this, planting material is treated in a certain way:
- 3 days they are kept in a solution of potassium humate;
- for disinfection is placed in a solution of the drug Fitosporin.
The soil is prepared in the fall. To do this, mix peat (6 parts), compost (2 parts) and garden soil (1 part). You can use a purchased substrate, but be sure to check the presence of all the indicated components.
Before planting seeds in the soil, it is also disinfected with steam in a water bath. The soil itself can also be sanitized before planting. Read how to do this correctly and safely here.
Planting material is planted in cassettes or cups, as the plants do not tolerate picking. It is buried 1 cm in moist soil. Tanks with planting are covered with a film to obtain a greenhouse effect. Seeds germinate after 10-15 days.
Conditions for seedlings and care
After the first shoots break through, containers with seedlings are taken out to a well-lit place. Seedlings provide the following conditions:
- Clear temperature conditions. Daytime temperature is 20-24 ° C, and nighttime temperature is not lower than 16 ° C.
- Timely watering. Produced by drying the topsoil, watered with warm water.
- Lighting. If the daylight hours are not long enough, they provide backlighting. To do this, use phytolamps or fluorescent devices, which include morning and evening.
- Timely transshipment. If 1-2 seedlings appear in the seedlings, then they are transplanted into larger containers. Do this by transshipment without damaging the earthen lump.
- Hardening. 14 days before planting in the soil, the plants are transferred to the balcony. Initially left for a couple of hours, gradually increasing this time.
Landing
When the sprouts will be 2-2.5 months old, they are planted in open ground or a greenhouse. By this moment, the plants already have 8-10 leaves, the stem height reaches 25 cm.
The site is selected in advance, it should not be blown by the winds, but should be well lit by the sun. In the fall, during digging, enrich the land in the area with humus, and in spring, the soil is loosened. Caliph eggplants grow well after cucumbers, carrots, onions, cabbage and legumes.
If before that peppers or potatoes were growing on the site, then it is better to choose a different territory, but here eggplants can be planted only after 3 years!
Prepare holes for planting seedlings, each add a handful of wood ash and sprinkle a little earth. Abundantly water the hole and place the seedlings there. The roots are sprinkled with earth and a little tamped. The distance between the rows is up to 60 cm, between the holes is 35-40 cm.
Plant care
The main attention in the care of young plants is given to weeding and loosening the soil. Also, since the fruits grow quite heavy, the bushes are tied to metal or wooden planks. On each bush, 5-6 powerful ovaries are left, the rest are broken off. Eggplant does not stepchild, but yellow leaves and deformed fruits are removed in a timely manner.
Organization of proper watering
Caliph eggplant requires constant watering. But the frequency of watering depends on the stage of development of the plant. So, for example, while the eggplant has not yet begun to bloom, they are watered about once a week. If the season is dry, then the frequency of watering is increased to 1 time in 3-4 days. To retain moisture in the soil, its surface is sprinkled with peat.
Lack of moisture leads to disastrous consequences - shedding of ovaries and falling leaves.
For irrigation use settled water with a temperature not lower than 25 ° C. It is poured under the root of the plant, trying not to damage the leaves and stems.
Loosening and hilling
After the irrigation procedure, the soil is loosened to prevent crusting. Around young plants - to a depth of 4-5 cm, when buds and flowers appear - by 5-6 cm, and after fruit setting - by 7-8 cm. Since eggplant has a superficial root system, loosening deeper than 8 cm is not recommended. After loosening, the bushes spud by 5-7 cm.
Do I need to feed?
Many people think that Khalifa eggplants do not require fertilizer and top dressing, but this is not entirely true. After all, regular top dressing not only increases the plant's resistance to diseases and pests, but also increases productivity. Before the flowering of plants, fertilizers enriched with nitrogen are introduced. Successful at this stage of development will be the introduction of cow dung under the root. It is diluted with water in a proportion of 1:15. As a mineral fertilizer, a diammophoska is used, 20 g is diluted per 10 liters of water.
After flowering, eggplant is watered with solutions based on phosphorus and potassium. Dilute 30 g of potassium sulfate and superphosphate in 10 l of water.
Diseases and Pests
Caliph eggplant varieties are attacked by a spider mite, a Colorado potato beetle. These insects can carry various diseases, so it is important to protect plants from pests. Well in this case, pollination with wood ash or tobacco dust helps, and Carbofos or Klant chemicals are also used.
The variety is resistant to verticillium and fusarium wilt. But, if the disease still hit the plant, then it will not be possible to save it. But the "neighbors" should be treated with Fitosporin or Bactofit.
As a disease prevention, disinfection of seedlings and garden tools is carried out. The greenhouse is regularly ventilated, and the soil is promptly moistened.
Harvesting
Harvest is taken about a month after the beginning of flowering; they do not allow overriding. The fact that the vegetable is overripe is recognized by the appearance of a green color. Fruits do not ripen at the same time, so they are picked selectively, checking every 2-3 days. The fact that the fruit has ripened is indicated by the color, size and gloss of the surface.
The maturity of the eggplant can be determined by simply pressing the fruit, if the peel is bent, but quickly returned to its original position, then the vegetable has matured.
They are cut off with secateurs along with the peduncle; unscrewing of the fruit or tearing is not allowed. From one bush remove up to 20 fruits or 3 kg of product.
Eggplants contain the dangerous substance solanine, which, if the harvest time is incorrect, can be harmful!
Harvest Storage
In order to increase the shelf life of the vegetable, adhere to the following rules:
- cutting fruits, leave at least 3 cm of the stalk, and be sure that they do not leave the eggplant itself;
- harvest is taken on warm, dry days;
- In no case do they wash the vegetables before sending them to storage, use a cloth to wipe off the dirt.
Vegetables can be stored in the refrigerator, for 3-4 weeks they will not lose their taste. If the crop is large and it does not fit in the refrigerator, you can leave the eggplants in the basement or in a room with a constant temperature from 3 to 10 ° C. Humidity level 75-85%. Under these conditions, vegetables will last at least 2 weeks.
For storage, you can use a tight-fitting plastic bag or a cardboard box with ventilation holes. Vegetables are put in a single layer in a box; it is recommended to wrap each copy in parchment.
Eggplant Caliph Reviews
Evgenia Vasilievna, 52 years old, Saratov. The Caliph is happy with the eggplant. Planting material planted in March, somewhere in the middle of May transplanted into open ground. Plantings very well ascended, and the seedlings also flourished strong. Harvested rich, even had to send part for sale.
Sergey, 35 years old, Vologda. Eggplant decided to grow last year for the first time. A neighbor in the country advised the Khalif variety. I liked the germination and quality of seedlings. Fruits were pleased with their shape; they are elongated, as promised by seed producers. The wife was delighted, made preserves from eggplant, now she will eat them all winter.
Larisa Viktorovna, 56 years old, Perm. If I plant eggplant, then only the Caliph variety. They are very tasty, no bitterness. They are stored in the refrigerator for a long time, you can delight your family with various salads and snacks. The variety does not require special care, everything is as always. That's just fed slurry and wood ash.
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Khalifa eggplant is especially appreciated for its unpretentiousness, high yield and good taste without bitterness. Planting and growing require certain knowledge, and care for the variety consists in timely watering, fertilizing and loosening the soil. If all the recommendations are followed, the plants will be pleased with a successful harvest.