Cultivation

Eggplant in Protected Cultivation

Solanum melongena L.

Growing eggplant in protected cultivation requires strict adherence to thermal regimes and specific plant training, as plants can reach heights of 3–5 meters.

In the reference 214 varieties crop Eggplant, where this is mentioned in the description.

Eggplant is the most thermophilic Solanaceae crop, sensitive to temperature fluctuations, with an optimal range of +24…+28°C. In professional greenhouses, plants reach significant heights, requiring the removal of suckers and limiting the number of shoots to 4–6 for tall varieties or 2–3 for dwarf varieties, as well as thinning fruits to 5–7 per plant.

Due to a weak root system, grafting onto tomato rootstock is widely used in protected cultivation, and soil cultivation is replaced by mulching to prevent root damage. The crop is highly demanding of consistent irrigation with warm water: water deficit or overripening of fruits stimulates the accumulation of solanine, which causes bitterness; meanwhile, high air humidity and water contact with leaves are unacceptable due to the risk of fungal diseases.

General information about the subject — on the page Protected cultivation.

Sources7

Varieties of Eggplant mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.