Brinjals are also known as eggplants and aubergines. This Vegetable thrives well in warm weather and can be harvested in mid to late summer. Apart from this, if you want the best taste of brinjal, then harvest it when they are young.
As we know, this is a perennial plant that grows wild in the homeland of South Asia. Most gardeners treat brinjals as annuals because of these warm-season vegetables. However, brinjals Farming require high temperatures, given their tropical and subtropical heritage. They thrive fastest when temperatures are between 70 °F to 85°F (21 and 30°C).
How to Start Brinjal Farming in India
Brinjal Farming is very profitable for every farmer. Therefore we take further steps to understand how to start and when it will be done. Apart from this, you should also know which equipment is essential for this farming. However, you know that tractors take the first preference among the implements. So you should choose a reliable and well-known tractor brand model. You have many options and you can choose the Mahindra yuvo 575 and many more.
When to Plant Brinjal
- Begin sowing seeds indoors in flats or peat pots 8-9 weeks before the last spring frost date. Seeds germinate quickly at temperatures between 70 and 90°F. Alternatively, buy 6- to 8-week-old nursery transplants just before planting.
- Do not transplant brinjals into the garden until after the last danger of frost has passed.
- If buying implants: Buy high-quality specimens. Don’t buy tall, spiky plants or young plants with flowers, or your yield will be low.
Preparing and Choosing a Planting Site
- For the best outcomes, choose the duration of the sunny spot.
- Brinjal grows best in well-drained sandy loam soil, which is fairly high in organic matter.
- You should keep the pH soil between 5.8 to 6.5 for ideal growth.
- To warm soil, use the covering of black plastic mulch before setting out transplants.
- Brinjal needs numerous amounts of fertilizer. Before planting, mix 1 inch or well-rotted manure or a general fertilizer like 5-10-10 throughout the planting bed.
- (Apply 2 – 3 pounds per 100 square feet or apply 1¼ pounds per 10 ft row of 10 when row spacing is 4 ft)
- If you grow brinjal in pots, use a darker container that will absorb more sunlight. Each plant requires a five-gallon (or larger) pot and should be placed in full sun and outside to be pollinated. Along with this, use a premium potting mix to avoid disease.
How to Plant Brinjals
- Prune the plants immediately (just an inch or two from the plant) to provide support for climbing, and you should avoid disturbing the soil later.
- Consider using row covers to keep the brinjal warm and sheltered if you reside in a cold climate. Leave the ends row covers open on hot days so bees can pollinate.
- During the transplanting, set 3 to 4-inch tall seedlings 1 to 2 feet apart in rows.
- After planting this Vegetable, water well, add a layer of mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
How to Grow Brinjal
- Once the fruit-laden brinjal falls, make sure to stake tall plants or use a cage to hold the plants upright. If growing brinjal in containers, then stake the stems before the fruit forms.
- For larger fruits, they are limited to five or six per plant.
- Pinch off the terminal’s growing points for a bushy plant.
- You should water in the soil thoroughly to a depth of at least 6 inches so that the soil is moist but never soggy. Consistent watering is best, and a ground-level drip system is ideal.
- The hard period for moisture of brinjal is during fruit development and fruit set. Therefore, mulching can help conserve water, uniform moisture, and reduce weeds.
- During the growing season, apply a balanced fertilizer. Side-dress when the first fruits are the size of a quarter, using 3 ounces of calcium nitrate per 10 feet of row. Sidedress again in about two three weeks.
Pests/Diseases
- Flea beetles are most probably the common pest, but healthy brinjal should be able to withstand the damage caused by its tiny pores. The damage is usually severe only on young seedlings. Grow the plants under row covers until they are large enough to tolerate leaf damage. Remove the debris in the fall to remove any overwintering beetles.
- Powdery mildew can affect brinjals. It appears as white, powdery spots on leaves that may turn yellow and die. Plant resistant varieties when available, planting in full sun, and providing good air circulation. Give the water at the soil level, not on leaves.
- If flowers form on your brinjal but then drop, or if the fruit does not develop, most likely the problem is that the temperature is too cold.
- If the fruits are too small and not growing, it is probably too cold. Brinjals like the hot temperature. Daytime temperatures should be 80° to 90° Fahrenheit, and nighttime temperatures should not fall below 60° to 65° F or their growth has stopped too slowly. Wait for warmer temperatures; You may have to re-plant depending on the variety.
- Oddly shaped brinjals are the result of inconsistent watering or low humidity.
Need the Equipment in the Brinjal Farming
When you want to get knowledge about cultivation, you should also know the tools that will help in increasing the yield. Rotavator, cultivator, tiller and tractor are essential in every farming. However, of all the equipment, the tractor is the most important. That’s why we recommend the Sonalika 35 tractor for brinjal cultivation in India.
For more information regarding brinjal cultivation Blog in India, stay tuned with us.