Aubergines originally come from subtropical regions in Asia and love lots of sun and water. In Germany you can only grow outdoors under certain conditions. The plants need a lot of water, but rain can also harm them. Here's why.
Is rain good or bad for the eggplant?
Eggplant plants needsufficient waterfor optimal growth and a good fruit yield. However, theleaves should be able to dry quickly to prevent fungal infections from establishing themselves and damaging the plant and thus the entire harvest.
Why does rain harm the eggplant plant?
Aubergines are not sensitive to the rain per se. In fact, plants need a lot of water to thrive. However, wet leaves that cannot dry sufficiently can be damaging. As a nightshade family, eggplant plants are easily affected byfungal infections. In particular, persistent rain without warm, dry phases can cause great damage. Mud splashes bring germs from the soil onto the leaves and cause infections. Severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall orhail can also seriously damage the large leaves of the eggplant.
How do I protect eggplants from rain and wet leaves?
By cultivating it in pots, you can safely shelter the plant during strong thunderstorms. This is not possible when planting outdoors. So that the leavesdry quickly, you should cut off useless leaves. When planting, pay attention to the correct planting distance. You should also support the plants with a suitable stickNot only the fruits become heavy, but also the leaves when they get wet.
How much water does the eggplant need for a good harvest?
Aubergines should always be watered from below to protect the leaves from moisture. They tolerate neither waterlogging nor drought. In the bed you must thereforewater as needed Pay attention to the weather every day. If it is hot and dry, you need to water especially heavily. Not at all if there is enough rain. Check the soil moisture and the condition of the plants, ideally daily.
Where are eggplants best in Germany when there is too much rain?
In Germany there are different climatic conditions than those eggplants need for good growth. In the cool temperate climate zone it is usually too cold for them. They prefercontinuously warm temperaturesaround 25 degrees Celsius. Since they find similar conditions in a greenhouse, they are best placed here and at the same timeprotected from rain However, make sure there is good ventilation to avoid fungal infections caused by excessive humidity.
Tip
Which eggplant variety is best suited for growing in Germany?
Depending on the breed, there are different eggplant varieties that tolerate European climatic conditions better and are therefore more suitable. For example, “Applegreen” (greenish fruit), “Diamond” (dark purple fruit) and “Obsidian” (almost black, purple fruit) are suitable for outdoor use.
