Fill in the polypots and water them thoroughly. Verify the moisture first, and then make a hole in the middle of polypots. Sow two seeds per pot and water the soil lightly so that a thin layer of soil covers the seeds. Cover the seeds with a damp treated gunny bag, to enhance germination. Once 50% of seeds have burst, remove the cover. Thin out when the cotyledon leaves have come out. Hardening should be carried out by exposing the seedlings to full sun and reducing the amount of times they are watered, ten days before transplanting. When the seedlings produce 4-5 true leaves, which usually happens 3-4 weeks after sowing, transplant them to a raised bed.
In order to transplant the eggplant, a plot area has to be carefully selected. Clear all visible vegetation and other plant debris. Ensure that the planting area is completely free of stones or other coarse materials. Irrigate the working area, and then plough. Demark the plot. Afterwards, install a micro sprinkler irrigation system; irrigate the planting area thoroughly enough to soak the soil to depth of 30cm. 2-3 hours irrigation is required prior to bed making. Shape land into beds; raise them in 1.2m wide and 30cm high. Lay down irrigation drip lines for two rows on a bed with 90 cm spacing. Dig the holes to the distance of 50cm, intra-row spacing. Place well decomposed poultry manure in the hole at the rate of 15t/ha (1.5kg/m²) three days before transplanting. Cover manure with a thin layer of soil. Level and irrigate the beds immediately after applying manure.
Back to " How to grow eggplants"
