Northern Blues is an early-maturing eggplant variety known for its high yield and superior taste. The plant is semi-spreading, reaching up to 170 cm in height in greenhouses and about a meter in open ground. The fruits have an oval shape, weighing from 230 to 270 grams, with a bright lilac color at technical maturity and brown at biological maturity. The flesh is snow-white, without bitterness, and has increased sugar content, making the eggplants particularly tasty and suitable for pickling and salting.
This variety is characterized by its resistance to temperature fluctuations and unfavorable weather conditions, allowing it to be grown even in northern regions. Northern Blues prefers fertile, well-drained soils with a neutral reaction, while acidic soils require liming. For successful cultivation, it is recommended to place the plants in well-lit and wind-protected areas. Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out at the end of February to the first half of March, and transplanting into greenhouses or under film cover is done in May when the soil temperature is above 14°C.
Care for the plants includes moderate watering and feeding with mineral fertilizers, the first of which is carried out 10-15 days after seedling transplanting, and the second at the beginning of fruit formation. For feeding, compost and complex mineral fertilizers with a small nitrogen content and equal amounts of phosphorus and potassium are recommended. When forming the bush, it is important to tie each branch to avoid breakage from the weight of the fruits. Northern Blues is a hardy and light-loving variety that is excellent for growing both in greenhouses and in open ground.
