Shaped more like a tomato, this is referred to in Malayalam as 'Thakkali Vazhuthana (tomato brinjal). To make Sambar, stir fry, and other traditional Kerala dishes, tomato brinjal is ideal. Tomato brinjal is typically planted during the monsoon season. However, it can be cultivated throughout the year. For up to two years, the plant produces fruit continuously. If we plant a few saplings in our kitchen garden, we can avoid frequent market visits to purchase vegetables. Tomato brinjal is a multi-branched plant that can reach a height of three metres. The plant is thornless and blooms within three months of planting. Fruits should be picked before they ripen completely. Additionally, the tender leaves of the plant are used to make curries.
Benefits/Uses of tomato brinjal
- The brinjal, also known as eggplant, is high in vitamins and nutrients.
- Vitamins B1 and B6 are found in them. In addition, potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, niacin, and folic acid are all present in significant amounts.
- The brinjal's high nutritional value makes it one of the essential vegetables.
- Tomato brinjals are high in fibre and have a low soluble carbohydrate content. As a result, they are beneficial for controlling blood sugar levels and glucose absorption and advantageous to the heart because it lowers cholesterol levels to a large degree.
- It also aids in the control of blood pressure.
- Because of the potassium content in this vegetable, the body is also kept hydrated.
- Tomato brinjal is beneficial to the brain since it includes phytonutrients, protecting cell membranes from damage and allowing message transmission from one component to another, maintaining memory function.
- Tomato brinjal contains a small amount of nicotine, which aids those who are trying to stop smoking gradually.
- Tomato brinjal contains a lot of vitamin C, making it a potent antiviral and antibacterial food.
Specifications of tomato brinjal seeds
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Common Name
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Tomato Brinjal, Eggplant
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Sunlight
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Full-Day in Sunlight
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Water
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Water on a regular basis
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Temperature
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Between 250 - 320
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Soil
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Light Sandy to heavy clay
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Fertilizer
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Regular fertilizer
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Germination
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7 to 14 days
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Harvest Season
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120-130 days
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pH
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5.5 – 6.6
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No. of seeds
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30+
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Planting and care for tomato brinjal
Sowing tomato brinjal seeds
Sowing should be performed in thin lines with a spacing of 5-7 cm between them. The seeds are usually planted in grow bags at a depth of 2-3 cm, covered with a fine layer of soil, and lightly watered with a watering can. To maintain the necessary temperature and moisture, the beds should be covered with dry straw, grass, or sugarcane leaves. Watering should be done as needed with a watering can before germination is complete. After germination is complete, the cover of dry straw or grass is removed. The seedlings can be hardened by withdrawing water for the last week in the grow bags.
Growing tomato brinjal
When the seedlings reach a height of 12-15 cm and have 3-to-4 leaves, they are ready for transplanting in larger grow bags at 4-5 weeks. Withhold irrigation to harden the seedlings. Carefully uproot the seedlings without damaging the roots. Transplanting and irrigation can be performed in the evening hours. Press the soil in large grow bags firmly around the seedlings. The spacing is determined by the soil fertility, varieties, and the season's suitability. When they have their first set of true leaves, it's time to start fertilizing. Start fertilizing with a dilute solution of Fish Amino Acid 100% Organic Concentrated - Growth Promoter or Organic Humic Acid. You can also fertilize your seedlings with organic vermicompost. Fertilize your seedlings with this dilute solution every week or so.
Harvesting tomato brinjal
The fruits are ready to harvest after 120-130 days of seed sowing, depending on the variety. The ripe fruits should be harvested as soon as they reach a suitable size and colour. Fruits are harvested when their flesh becomes dry and tough and turns a purple tint. The maturity of the fruit can be determined by pressing the thumb against the side of the fruit. The fruit is too immature if the pressed part springs back to its original form. During harvesting, a part of the calyx and the stem end is left on the fruit. Since the fruits do not all mature simultaneously, they are harvested at 8-10 day intervals.
Precautions while growing tomato brinjal
- It is essential not to plant the brinjals in a shady area of the garden.
- Sunlight should be appropriate for the plants.
- Any weeds that can grow in the plant bed must be removed from time to time.
- If any disease is detected, the plants should be sprayed with pesticides or insecticides.
- Plants taller than 24 inches should be staked.
- During the growing season, water thoroughly and add a balanced fertilizer every two weeks.
- Limit the number of larger fruits per plant to five or six.
Common Problems affecting tomato brinjal plants and solutions
Whitefly, Aphids, Jassids Use bio pest control for sucking pests measures like. You can spray Neem oil also to control these pests.
Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer:
This a significant and dangerous insect pest of the brinjal plant. A short pinkish caterpillar consumes internal tissue from the terminal shoot and bores into the young fruit through the calyx. Infestation signs can be seen on the surface. The big holes that are commonly seen on fruits are caterpillar holes. Fruits infested with insects become unfit for consumption.
Control measures:
Any insect-affected portion should be clipped along with the insect and killed, as should any fruit with holes. In addition, the use of bio pest control for biting pests is greatly recommended.
Leaf-Eating Beetle:
The beetle and catch feed on the leaves and other tender parts of the tomato brinjal, reducing the yield significantly.
Control Measures:
If the infection is limited to a few plants, handpicking the eggs and larvae is the most effective control method. In addition, the use of bio pest control for biting pests is greatly recommended.
Damping-off:
It is a severe disease that primarily affects brinjal seedlings in nursery beds. Seedlings infected with the disease rot at ground level, causing the plants to fall over. Patches of seedlings die.
Control Measures:
Before sowing seeds, the seedbed should be handled with Formalin. Fungicides should be sprayed on seedlings in the nursery at regular intervals. The use of bio pest control is greatly recommended.
Fruit Rot and Phomopsis Blight:
It is a severe brinjal disease. Above land, the fungus destroys all areas of the plants. On the stem, dark brown lesions appear, and round to oval spots appear on the leaves. Disease fruits have short, watery lesions that eventually turn black.
Control measures:
The treatments for this disease are disease-free crops, seed treatment with fungicide, and long crop rotation. In addition, the use of Trichoderma Viride or Pseudomonas Fluorescens biofertilizers is greatly recommended.
Little Leaf of Brinjal:
The affected plant develops a large number of tiny Yellow leaves but no fruit. As a result, the leafhopper spreads the disease.
Control measures:
The disease-affected plants should be killed, and the insect vector should be managed by spraying the crop with bio pest control is greatly recommended.
No. of Tomato Brinjal Seeds - 200+
