Eggplant purple or better known as scientific name Solanum melongena is one type of plant that is used as a vegetable. Purple eggplant itself is known to originate from the mainland of Sri Lanka and India which then spread to all countries that have a similar climate.
Purple eggplant itself is a kind of eggplant plant whose fruit has a purple color with rounded shape lengthwise with large leaf size. Color flowers ranging from white to purple accompanied by stems of plants that have thorns. This plant can grow up to reach a height of about 40 cm to 150 cm.
There are several ways to grow a good purple eggplant. How to plant a purple eggplant? Is it difficult or is it actually easy? In this article will explain more about how to grow a good purple eggplant. Congrats!
Purple eggplant is commonly used as a vegetable ingredients processed by way of pan-fried, fried, or even burned. The purple eggplant that is usually used as a vegetable ingredient does not merely have an evocative taste, but purple eggplant also has a myriad of health benefits. Purple eggplants are known to contain vitamin K, minerals, calcium, and bioflavonoids. Here are some of the benefits that can be felt if eating purple eggplant.
Selection of Superior Seeds of Purple Eggplant
The first step in how to grow purple eggplant is choosing superior seeds from purple eggplant. Superior seedlings you can get by buying at the nearest seed shop or from local farmers. Seeds of aubergine are usually sold seeds or seeds. Some ways to determine that quality purple eggplant seed is to pay attention to some of the following.
The seed condition is clean and shiny
The seeds have gone through a process of adequate rest
Water content contained in the seed is quite enough
The size, shape, and color of the seed are uniform and not different
Seeds are not dirty and mixed with poor quality seeds (defective, empty, or other plant seeds)
Has the power of sprouts or power to grow quickly, about 80%
If the characteristics of the above seeds have been met, then the next step is to prepare the right planting media to plant or sow the seeds of purple eggplant.
Preparation of Planting Media
Preparing the right planting media is the first step in the process of planting the purple eggplant and playing a significant role. Causes of planting media can cause plants to fail to grow. Therefore prepare the right planting medium, as follows.
Soil with loose conditions and rich in organic matter
Rice husk
Medium or large-sized pot or polybag, and has been given a hole in the bottom
Cetok
Water sufficient to water the seed
A little information about the selection of pots or polybags. It is advisable to use large pots or polybags for the purpose of seeding in one container. This is an alternative for those who do not have a vast land to sow the purple eggplant seeds.
Seedling Purple Eggplant in Pot or Polybag
When you already have the purple eggplant seedlings and the planting medium as above, then the next step is to seed the purple eggplant seeds. Seedlings can be done by following the following techniques.
Soak the purple eggplant seeds in lukewarm water for about 15 minutes.
While waiting, mix the soil and rice husk, and stir well with cetok.
Add a mixture of soil and rice husk with a 1: 1 ratio to the pot or polybag.
Make the holes thin with a distance of at least 1 cm.
Put the purple eggplant on the holes that have been made.
Cover the seeds with the remaining mixture of soil and rice husk with sufficient quantities.
Tighten the soil by gently tapping.
Flush or sprinkle the seeds with enough water gently.
Do it regularly in the morning and evening.
Put it in a place that is exposed to enough sunlight.
Wait until the purple eggplant seeds germinate.
Usually need to wait about a month.
Removal of Purple Eggplant Breeding
When purple eggplant seedlings already show the growth of sprouts from seeds grown, it means the seeds are ready to be moved to a larger planting medium. Purple eggplant seedlings that are ready to move usually marked by the growth of leaves that have appeared as many as 4 strands.
In this case, the seeds can be moved into polybags or pots of the same size but with a portion of one pot for one plant seed. Some steps to be taken to remove purple eggplant seeds are as follows.
Prepare some polybags or pots that have been given a hole in the bottom. Adjust the number of seeds you have.
Mix the soil medium with manure and husk.
Put the mixture into the pot or polybag that has been provided.
Make a hole in the tenganya as deep as approximately 5 cm.
Raise the purple eggplant seedlings that have germinated slowly from the media seedlings.
Plant the seeds in the holes that have been made.
Tighten the soil by gently tapping.
Flush with enough water regularly, ie in the morning and evening.
Purple Eggplant Plant Maintenance
Once you know how to grow the eggplant purple, the process of purple eggplant maintenance becomes an important key to producing a quality purple eggplant and avoiding harvest failure. Some tips on taking care of purple eggplant plants are as follows.
Pure the purple eggplant plants regularly, ie twice a day every morning and evening.
Do the following fertilization. Choose organic fertilizer, avoid the use of chemical fertilizers.
Check out the leaves of purple eggplant. If there is a disease, immediately to be picked or thrown away.
Unplug the weeds that roam around the purple eggplant plant. For you who planted purple eggplant directly on the land or soil (not in pots or polybags), the tendency of weed growth will be higher, so we need regular weeding activity.
Attach and tie the bamboo to the plant. Bamboo serves as an unplanned eggplant holder
If the process of planting and maintaining purple eggplants is done according to good and proper procedures, undoubtedly the purple eggplant you plant will flourish and bear fruit just in time, or even faster, which of course can not be separated from weather factor and condition around the planting area. Purple eggplant that is ready for harvest usually has entered the age of three to four months.
The purple eggplant plant can produce the fruit actively until about the age of five to six months. If this phase has been achieved by your purple eggplant plant, then prepare yourself to harvest the purple eggplant.