HOW TO CULTIVATE AUBERGINES IN OUR GARDEN AND ENJOY ITS BENEFITS AND PROPERTIES

Hello friends of the farms today I am going to talk about one of the vegetables widely used in our kitchens is the eggplant, the vegetable of characteristic purple color that can be used in many dishes, as there are many ways to cook aubergines. However, many times when going to buy them at the store or supermarket it becomes very complicated. To solve this, we can plant ourselves in our garden or garden and save you a little money. Then I explain how to grow aubergines so enjoy their benefits, properties and mention some of their plague that can occur during their cultivation.

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The eggplant is a very versatile vegetable, that admits several forms of cooking offering a wide range of flavors and culinary dishes. It can be consumed roasted on the grill, fried, breaded with egg, steamed or baked. In addition to being one of the most consumed foods, eggplant is more than healthy. The eggplant, whose scientific name is Solanum melongena and belongs to the Solanaceae family, is a close relative of the tomato and is beneficial for health. However, it is important to know how to cook it well since eating it raw can bring health complications. Eggplant is grown from years before 2000 a.C.

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NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF THE BERENJENAS
The eggplant has a very high water contribution. It is important to know that this food has to be consumed always cooked and never raw. This is due to solanine, a substance that contains and can be very toxic. Its properties make eggplant an ideal food to fight cancer, cellular aging, infections, viruses and harmful bacteria:
Its water content is very high (92%).
Fiber.
Minerals: potassium, calcium, sulfur, and iron.
Vitamins of group B and C.
It contains serotonin.
It provides a large amount of antioxidant substances, such as chlorine acid or flavonoids.
It has few calories (21.2 kcal per 100 grams).
Small amounts of the alkaloid called solanine.

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BENEFITS OF THE AUBERGINE FOR HEALTH

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HELPS TO LOSE WEIGHT
Eggplant is an ideal food for weight loss diets and also treats especially the abdominal area. Why does it help to lose weight? Because it has very few calories, fights excess fat in the abdomen, is very diuretic, eliminates toxins. In addition, thanks to its sazied power it stops the desire to eat.

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PROTECTS CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH
Thanks to its high content of fiber, potassium and vitamins B and C, eggplant helps protect the health of the heart. In addition, its flavonoids reduce the risk of developing chronic cardiovascular diseases.

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KEEP CHOLESTEROL A RAYA
This is due to the chlorine acid it contains. This acid is a powerful antioxidant that decreases the excesses of lipids in the arteries.

FLUID RETENTION
Avoid fluid retention and inflammation.

[SOURCE](://www.google.com/search?q=Prevents+ aging)

ANTIAGE
Prevents aging
Reduces the risk of bone and muscle diseases
Like arthritis due to folic acid, vitamins and minerals it contains.

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STRENGTHENS CEREBRAL HEALTH
The antioxidants it provides improve memory and brain capacity. It increases the flow of blood to the brain, so it prevents cognitive diseases.

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CULTIVATION OF THE AUBERGINE

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PLANTING
The aubergine is a very demanding plant in terms of light, it requires approximately 10 to 12 hours of daily light, so it is important to define well where in your terrace or garden to grow it. As for temperature, it is a crop of hot and dry climates, which is why it is considered one of the most demanding crops in heat (even more than tomatoes and peppers). The average temperature for a good growth is between 23-25º C, although it supports high temperatures well, provided that the humidity is adequate. The ideal is to sow the seeds in late winter or early spring. The eggplant needs frank and deep soils, however it is not a demanding crop in relation to this subject, since it has a powerful and deep root system. However, the ideal is to mix the soil with a large amount of compost or compost and keep it always moist. Seeds for planting are extracted from ripe fruits. The ideal is to plant them first in pots and let them germinate around 10 weeks and then transplant them to 25-30 cm deep. The transplant must be done after all the danger of frost has passed.

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IRRIGATION
The cultivation of aubergines needs a humid soil, for that reason the irrigation must be frequent and in quantity, especially in the first part of the germination that is where the fruits grow. If you have decided to do the potting, remember to keep a good drainage so that the water does not accumulate in its roots.

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THE PRUNE
When the plant develops, the suckers and leaves that develop below the "cross" must be removed as well as the plant to be aerated. You can choose the number of arms that the plant will have depending on the plantation frame.

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HARVEST
Aubergines should be cut (not pulled) at the time the plant blooms and before they are fully grown. The fruit for its collection must present a bright and attractive appearance. Normally, the time between two consecutive collections is 5 to 10 days, depending on the environmental conditions.

PLAGUES AND DISEASES
The pests and diseases that affect the eggplant crop are similar to those suffered by growing tomatoes, let's see what they are:

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PULGONES: they feed on the sap of the plant, and it not only destroys the plant but also transmits diseases.

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BEETLE OF THE POTATO: these insects deposit their larvae on the leaves to feed on them.

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RED SPIDER: these insects destroy the leaves and their presence is detected by yellow spots and a reddish hue of the plant.

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HALLOWED: this affectation is manifested by lack of light, producing a plant without flowers and normal development.

OTHER PLAGUES AND DISEASES OF THE CULTURE OF EGGPLANT:
Nematodes
Alternaria
Cercospora
Verticillium
Botrytus

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ESSENTIAL CARE
-Try that the plant is not exposed to the cold directly, since it is quite sensitive.
-Put it in the palm of your hand and press gently with your thumb, s the shell sinks but returns to its original shape, is ready to harvest. On the contrary, if the meat is hard and does not sink, the aubergine is not ripe and it is too young. If when you press with your thumb, the shell sinks and does not return to its original shape, it is more than mature and can be very bitter and completely brown inside. Watch out!
-Monitors crops during the first stages of development, eliminating weeds to prevent diseases.
-When the plant reaches about 60 centimeters in height we recommend using guides so that the stems separate from the ground and do not have moisture problems. This also helps the plant to be better aerated.
-It is important to eliminate the inner and lower leaves so that the plant gets better lighting and ventilation.
-The aubergines do not support the storage and although they are harvested correctly they must be eaten as soon as they have been harvested.

SOURCE:
https://ecohortum.com/como-cultivar-berenjenas/
https://okdiario.com/salud/2017/09/20/berenjena-propiedades-69091
https://hogar.uncomo.com/articulo/como-cultivar-berenjenas-6585.html

Thank you for reading my article I hope it has been useful.