The Black Prince is one of the best representatives of the eggplant family. This is a relatively new variety that has already managed to conquer many gardeners with the beauty and taste of its fruits. We will find out what else this variety is attractive for, and what are the features of its cultivation.
The black prince has good taste
Eggplant Black Prince
The black prince has an excellent presentation
Black Prince eggplant breeding history
The Black Prince owes its appearance to Russian breeders from the large seed company Gavrish. The creators, working on a new variety, focused on high yields and stable immunity of the crop.
The Black Prince has been included in the State Register since 2017. It is recommended for growing outdoors - in the southern regions, indoors - in areas with a temperate climate.
Description and characteristics of the variety
The Black Prince is considered an elite variety among eggplants. It attracts gardeners with large fruits and compact bushes.
Brief botanical description:
- Bushes. Medium-sized, the crown is semi-spreading. The height of the bushes is 60-80 cm. The stem is slightly pubescent, the color is green at first, and during the ripening of the fruits - dark purple. Leaves of medium size, fleecy, light green, corrugated edges.
- Fruit. The shape is cylindrical or pear-shaped. The color at technical ripeness is deep purple, at biological ripeness it is violet-black. Length - 20 cm, diameter - 8-12 cm. The skin is glossy. The pulp is dense, beige. The flower cup has no thorns.
Characteristics of the Black Prince variety:
Characteristics / parameters | Description / meaning |
Ripening terms | Medium early. Ripening occurs 105-110 days after planting. |
Yield | 6-8 kg per 1 sq. m |
Fruit weight, g | 150-250 g |
Keeping quality | High |
Transportability | High |
Number of seeds | The average |
Taste | Pleasant, with a slight bitterness |
Disease and pest resistance | The variety has high immunity. The main enemy is the larva of the Colorado potato beetle, and at high humidity - aphids. |
The variety is versatile and suitable for any purpose. It is grown for both home and industrial use.
The scope of the "Black Prince":
- Commerce. Ideal for commercial cultivation.
- Cooking. Delicious dishes are made from the fruits - hot and cold.
- Public catering. They are used in restaurants for preparing oriental dishes.
- Food industry. Caviar is prepared on an industrial scale.
Advantages and disadvantages
The variety "Black Prince" is not in vain popular with gardeners - it has many advantages, but practically no disadvantages.
Pros:
- high and stable yields;
- good keeping quality and transportability;
- excellent presentation;
- excellent taste;
- undemanding to the composition of soils;
- high immunity to late blight and powdery mildew;
- universal use;
- low height allows growing the variety under small shelters;
- prolonged fruiting - ovaries appear during the entire growing season;
- the possibility of growing in open and closed ground.
The variety has no definite drawbacks, except that it is picky about lighting and grows poorly even with slight shading.
Features of planting seedlings
The seedling method of growing allows you to get earlier yields than when sowing seeds in open ground. To grow high-quality eggplant seedlings, it is important to properly prepare the seed material, soil, containers, and provide the seedlings with proper care.
The timing of sowing seeds for seedlings
When determining the timing of sowing seeds for seedlings, one must take into account the place of planting. Seedlings are transplanted into open ground 2-3 weeks later than in a greenhouse.
Seedlings of the "Black Prince" are ready for planting 65-70 days after sowing.
The optimal timing of sowing seedlings:
- for the greenhouse - mid-February;
- for open ground - mid-March.
The exact dates of disembarkation depend on specific weather conditions. Plants should not be planted before the onset of consistently warm weather.
Soil preparation
Seedling soil is prepared 2 weeks before sowing. But it is easier to buy a ready-made substrate - it is ready for use, does not need processing, and most importantly, the seedlings do not have to be fed - it has all the necessary elements for growth and development.
How to prepare the soil mixture yourself:
- Mix peat or humus, as well as sand and garden soil in equal parts.
- Disinfect the mixture with "Aktara", "Thunder" or another disinfectant.
- Add wood ash to correct the acidity of the soil. For 1 bucket of soil mixture - 1 glass of ash.
Signs of a good soil mixture:
- light and loose;
- the presence of all the necessary macro- and microelements;
- the ability to absorb and retain water well;
- neutral acidity;
- lack of weed seeds, toxins and fungi;
- no signs of decay.
How to choose a container?
Seedlings can be grown in different containers. The main thing is to make a choice between separate or common containers. If you plant the seeds in individual glasses, then they will not need a pick, and if in containers or boxes, then at the stage of cotyledon leaves, the seedlings will have to be planted - this process is called picking by gardeners.
Options for containers for seedlings:
- Plastic containers. In them, seedlings are sown in rows, and then dived. You can also use wooden crates. The optimum height is 8-10 cm. Drainage holes are required.
The advantage of this solution is its compactness and the ability to quickly transfer seedlings from place to place. The downside is the need for thinning and picking. - Individual plastic cups. They take up little space, are cheap and can be reused. They are provided with drainage holes. One plant grows in each glass - from sowing to planting.
It is not necessary to dive the seedlings planted in glasses - this is a plus, since eggplant seedlings do not tolerate transplanting well. The disadvantage of the glasses is the rapid drying of the soil and thin walls, the height of the containers may not be enough for the normal development of the roots of the seedlings. - Peat pots. They are made from pressed peat with added nutrients. Plus - there is no need to dive, and planting is done together with the pot, which ensures a high survival rate of plants. The downside is the high cost and one-time use.
You can also use peat tablets. But the volume of tablets for seedlings is small, so as they grow, they have to be moved to more spacious containers.
How do I prepare the seeds?
Store-bought seeds do not need to be processed before planting - they are already pickled and disinfected. If the seeds are obtained independently, they must be checked for germination and disinfected.
Seed processing procedure:
- Soak. Immerse the seed in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour.
- Stimulation. Remove the seeds from the potassium permanganate and rinse the seeds with water. Water temperature - room temperature. Place the seeds in the stimulant for a couple of hours. For example, in the solution "Energena" or "Zircon".
- Hardening. Remove the seeds from the stimulant and dry them without rinsing. Pour the seeds into a bag moistened with water and refrigerate. Keep it on the bottom shelf for 2 days. Then take it out and put it in a warm place (+ 25 ... + 30 ° С) for one day. Then return to the refrigerator for two days.
Plant seeds that have passed all stages of processing in prepared containers.
How to sow seeds?
The peculiarities of sowing depend on the chosen capacity - 1-2 seeds are planted in glasses, they are sown in rows in large boxes.
How to sow eggplant seeds:
- Compact the soil with which the planting containers are filled. The thickness of the soil layer should be 6-8 cm.
- Draw grooves in containers and pour warm water over them. The distance between adjacent rows is 5-6 cm.
- Spread the seeds at intervals of 2 cm. The planting depth should be 1-1.5 cm, no more. If sowing is done in separate glasses or in peat tablets, place the seed in the center and deepen it.
- Cover the furrows with soil, compact and cover with transparent foil. Instead of a film, you can put glass. The optimum temperature for the growth of eggplant seedlings is from +25 to +30 ° C.
Seedling care
When shoots appear, the film or glass cover is removed. The crops are rearranged closer to the light. To grow strong seedlings, it is necessary to provide them with favorable conditions.
Seedling care:
- Temperature. When shoots appear, lower the temperature a little - to + 15 ... + 20 ° С. Cover the seedlings with black foil at night.
- Watering. For irrigation use only warm water (+ 25 ... + 28 ° С). In the early days of the growing season, seedlings can be watered by spraying so as not to wash out the soil. In the future, water the seedlings only at the root, do not let water get on the leaves.
Watering frequency is about once a week. Focus on the condition of the soil - do not let it dry out. Increase the frequency of watering as needed. - Picking. If the seedlings are planted in shared containers, transplant them into separate containers at the cotyledon stage. It is necessary to transplant seedlings into soil that has the same composition as the soil in which they grew. Repot seedlings carefully so as not to damage the roots.
- Top dressing. Apply fertilizer at the same time as watering. Fertilize the plantings for the first time a week after the pick, and then once every 7-10 days. Apply fertilizers according to dosages. Best eggplant dressings:
- superphosphate;
- ammonium nitrate;
- potassium chloride.
- Hardening. Before planting seedlings in the ground, harden for 10-14 days. During this period, reduce the number of waterings and increase the ventilation by opening the vents for several hours. Gradually increasing the duration of airing, bring it to one day.
A week before transplanting, treat the seedlings with a 0.5% solution of copper sulfate.
Transplanting seedlings
When planting eggplants, two factors are taken into account - the age of the seedlings and weather conditions. It is impossible to overexpose the seedlings, but it is also unacceptable to plant them ahead of time, until the temperature has stabilized.
Optimal timing
Eggplants are thermophilic, and Black Prince is no exception. Its seedlings are planted no earlier than the beginning of June, when the threat of night frosts will completely disappear.
Conditions for transfer:
- Air temperature. Daytime temperatures were set at + 20 ... + 25 ° С, and night temperatures did not drop below + 15 ° С.
- Soil temperature. At a depth of 15-20 cm, the soil warmed up to +15 ° С.
- Seedling. The height of the seedlings is 20-25 cm. The age is 50-60 days. The root system is well developed, the number of leaves is 6-8 pieces.
Site selection and soil preparation
In order for the eggplants to grow and bear fruit well, you need to choose the right site and prepare the soil for planting.
Site requirements:
- Good illumination. Eggplants love sunny areas.
- Protection from winds and drafts.
- Areas with a high groundwater table, lowlands where water accumulates, and wetlands are not suitable.
- Do not plant eggplants after nightshade crops. Also, don't grow them next to fennel and garlic. Favorable predecessors are cucumbers, pumpkin, cabbage, onions, legumes.
Eggplants are planted in one place at intervals of 2-3 years.
The beds for planting eggplant seedlings are prepared in the fall. If this was not done, then the event is postponed to spring. But you need to prepare the soil at least 2-3 weeks before planting seedlings.
Add manure or humus for digging. If the land is dug up in the fall, then fresh manure can be taken, in the spring - only rotted. For 1 sq. m, add 4-5 kg of organic fertilizer and 300 g of wood ash.
Mineral fertilizers can also be applied to the soil - 20 g of superphosphate or potassium chloride per 1 sq. m.
Planting seedlings to a permanent place
Water the seedlings a couple of hours before transplanting to make it easier to remove them from the containers. Transplant in the morning or evening, in dry weather.
How to transplant seedlings:
- Prepare seedlings for seedlings. Eggplant can be planted in parallel rows or staggered. The distance between the rows is 50-60 cm, between the adjacent plants - 35-40 cm.The depth of the holes and grooves is 15 cm.
- Water the planting holes or rows with warm water.
- When the water is absorbed, transplant seedlings into the holes. Move them very carefully, along with the lump of soil, taking care not to damage the roots. Place the seedlings so that from the bottom leaves of the seedlings to the soil is 4-5 cm.
- Sprinkle soil over the roots and compact it gently with your hands. Water the plantings again and sprinkle with mulch - peat, humus, sawdust.
Outdoor care
In the first days after transplanting, the seedlings cannot be fed or watered, they must first take root. In the future, the "Black Prince" will need standard care - watering, fertilizing, loosening and other activities.
Watering and feeding
"Black Prince" is distinguished by its increased sensitivity to watering, so you should be very careful about them.
Watering principles:
- Use only heated water. It is poured into large containers - for example, into an old tub or barrel, where it is heated by the sun.
- The best way to water is in a dimple along the perimeter of the plant.
- It is better to water eggplants in the evenings when the heat subsides.
- The approximate watering rate is 1 liter of water per bush. Frequency - once every 3-4 days.
Features of feeding eggplants:
- Fertilizers are applied 3-4 times during the growing season.
- The first time feeding is applied 3 weeks after planting. 1 liter of humus or mullein solution is poured under each bush. One or another organic fertilizer is diluted in a bucket of water - 2 and 1 kg, respectively.
- Two weeks later, a second top dressing is introduced - a superphosphate solution. In 10 l of water, 20 mg of fertilizer is dissolved. Watering rate - 1 liter per bush.
- At the stage of fruit formation, organic matter is again introduced, as in the first feeding.
- Two weeks later, the plantings are watered with a solution of a fresh mullein diluted with water 1:10.
Soil care
Loosening and weeding when growing eggplant is a must.
Soil care rules:
- The soil is loosened after each wetting - watering or rain to prevent the formation of a surface crust.
- In parallel with loosening, weed vegetation is weeded.
- After loosening, the soil is mulched with mown grass or sawdust.
Diseases and pests
The variety has good immunity. "Black Prince" practically does not suffer from late blight, phytoplasmosis and tobacco mosaic.
Diseases and pests:
- Blackleg. To prevent this dangerous disease, it is necessary to properly water and loosen the plantings. Waterlogging should not be allowed.
- Gray rot. Compliance with crop rotation, soil disinfection and harvesting of plant residues saves from the disease. They are treated by spraying the bushes with Fitosporin or Trichodermin.
- Colorado beetle. This is the main enemy of eggplant. Its larvae are capable of destroying all plants in a matter of days. Ways to fight:
- manual collection - daily or even more often;
- dusting bushes with sifted ash - 10 kg are spent on 1 hundred square meters;
- spraying with "Fitoverm" (for 1 liter of water - 1 ml) or "Akarin" (for 1 liter of water - 2 ml);
- Aphid. This insect absorbs juices from plants, reducing productivity, and even bringing it to death. You can fight aphids in different ways:
- mechanical destruction - insects are washed off with warm water;
- sprayed with soap-ash solution, garlic, onion or tobacco broth;
- are treated with Fitoverm, Aktara, Iskra, etc.
Harvesting and storage
A feature of eggplants is fruiting extended over time. But, so that it is not interrupted, it is necessary to regularly collect fruits that ripen alternately.
Eggplant picking rules:
- The fruits begin to ripen from mid-July.
- The ripeness of the fruits is determined by their appearance - they become glossy, dark purple, and reach the length characteristic of the "Black Prince". Ripe eggplants are firm to the touch, the seeds are small and few.
- Overripe fruits become hard, it is difficult to cut them, and most importantly, their taste deteriorates - bitterness appears in it.
- Eggplants are not cut off, but carefully cut using scissors or pruning shears. When cutting, leave a part of the "tail", about 2 cm long.
How to store eggplants:
- The storage area should be dry and cool. The optimum temperature is from +4 to +6 ° С.
- To keep the fruits longer, they are folded in plastic bags.
Usually, eggplants retain their marketability and taste for no more than a month. But if you create favorable conditions for them, and remove spoiled copies in time, then the storage time can be doubled.
Reviews of gardeners
Zhanna, 57 years old, housewife, Pyatigorsk. Variety "Black Prince" liked the appearance. I plant only seedlings to get the harvest early. Last year, I collected 8 kg from each square meter. I like the taste of the fruits very much, they have no bitterness at all.
Polina, 66 years old, pensioner, Vladimir region I grow the "Black Prince" in a greenhouse from my seedlings. Usually eggplants grow poorly and take root in our country, but there have been no problems with this variety yet.
Rey
Normal germination, strong seedlings. My wife and I have no complaints yet ... eggplant is like eggplant. True, the seller warned me that when grown in a greenhouse, tall ones are obtained. In the open field, it seems nothing. Now the end of July, left 5-6 of the largest ovaries, the rest of the ovaries and flowers will be removed. The harvest must be good
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Eggplant "Black Prince" has recently appeared on sale, but has already earned the attention of our gardeners. This variety is undemanding, hardy and yielding, it is equally good for both domestic and industrial cultivation.
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Russia. City Novosibirsk
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