Characteristics of the eggplant variety Universal 6
Eggplant Universal is a native of Southeast Asia, so it loves a hot climate. Today, more and more gardeners are engaged in the cultivation of this perennial plant.
Characteristics of the eggplant variety Universal 6
Characteristic
Eggplant Universal 6 belongs to medium early drought-resistant varieties, intended for germination in open ground and greenhouses. The growing time for a full cycle is 110-120 days.
Description of the bush
The height of the bush is only 60 cm, but its small size does not affect the yield in any way. The planting pattern is 70 x 40 cm, which saves space. There are a lot of leaves, which helps to protect the fruit from extreme heat.
Description of fruits
The unique name is obtained due to the shape of the fruit: it resembles the Japanese Universal. It is elongated-club-shaped, slightly curved, up to 20 cm long, up to 7 cm in diameter. The weight of one fruit reaches 200 g. The rind is glossy, dark purple in color. The pulp is dense, whitish in color, with small seeds, without bitterness.
The features of the fetus are:
- lack of thorns on the calyx;
- relative resistance to wilting processes;
- heat resistance: withstands temperatures up to 28 ° С-30 ° С;
- excellent taste characteristics.
Growing
For successful cultivation, the Universal 6 eggplant requires compliance with a number of conditions:
- warm climate;
- a lot of sunlight;
- timely watering;
- looseness of the soil.
Landing in the soil
The need to withstand high temperatures for an extended period requires breeding to start with growing seedlings. Seeds are planted in separate containers from the beginning of March. They are not greatly deepened. Be sure to think over a place for seedlings: it should be warm and sunny. At the same time, the plants are hardened, additionally moved to a cooler place overnight.
10 - 20 days after germination, the seeds of the eggplant variety Universal 6 can be planted in open ground. The same terms apply to planting in the greenhouse. In this case, the sprouts are more protected from the cold. In any case, the soil surface temperature must be at least 15 ° C. The introduction of organic fertilizers before planting will also help successful germination.
Plant care
The Universal variety is very thermophilic.
Universal eggplants require heat. If the air temperature is less than 20 ° C, fruit growth stops. Fear of spring frosts makes you take your time with planting seedlings. The duration of daylight hours for growth is not critical, the intensity of sunlight is important.
Fertilizers
The right amount of moisture is one of the main conditions for growth. With its lack, the ovary falls off, and the ripe fruits take on an ugly shape. Do not water in direct sunlight: this will lead to burns. The soil under the plants must always be moist. Watering should be done with water heated in the sun.
Watering
To strengthen the shoots and increase yields, fertilizers must be applied to the soil.During the entire growth cycle, plants have enough 3 dressings with mineral fertilizers with manure or poultry droppings 10 days after planting in the soil, 20 after planting and from the beginning of fruiting.
Diseases and pests
Diseases and pests can interfere with the harvest, but timely measures taken help to cope with this problem.
Pest control
A feature of the Universal 6 eggplant is its resistance to spider mites and the Colorado potato beetle.
The culture is afraid of whitefly and aphids. The use of insecticides and chemicals, rinsing with water pressure or spraying with an aqueous solution of ash (250 g per 10 liters) helps to fight them.
Fight disease
Among eggplant diseases, the most common are:
- Late blight. It requires treatment with 0.2% copper sulfate or Bordeaux liquid.
- Mosaic. To save the planting, the affected bushes are removed, and the remaining ones are treated with phytosporin.
- Gray rot and black leg. To combat them, plants are treated with fungicides.
- Fungal diseases with visible plaque. In the fight against them, the processing of cuts with wood ash helps.
Prophylaxis
To prevent diseases after harvest, the tops are burned, the seeds are treated with potassium permanganate before planting, the bushes are sprayed with a mixture of laundry soap and milk every 10 days. For prevention, use traps made of petroleum jelly with honey for whitefly, maintain the correct soil moisture, adhere to the ventilation system.
Conclusion
Eggplant Universal is gaining more and more popularity. The culture is resistant to pests, has an excellent yield (up to 5 kg of fruits are harvested from one bush). The shape of the fruit allows you to experiment by choosing a variety of recipes for preservation. The vegetable is good for your health due to its rich potassium salt content.