Land Preparation

• Land is prepared to a fine tilth by thorough ploughing or digging.
• Well rotten organic manure is incorporated in the soil and seedlings are transplanted in shallow trenches/pits during May or on ridges/levelled lands during rainy season.
• Transplanted seedlings may be given temporary shade for 3-4 days during summer.

Planting

 Raising seedlings

• Brinjal is a transplanted vegetable.
• Seeds are sown in the nursery and one month old seedlings are transplanted to the main field.
• For sowing the seeds, raised seed beds of 90 to 100 cm width and convenient length are prepared in open space with fertile topsoil to which well decomposed organic matter has been incorporated. Solarization of nursery beds for 30 days prior to sowing is effective in managing damping off disease.
• After sowing the seeds, mulch with green leaves and irrigate with a rose-can daily in the morning.
• Remove the mulch immediately after germination of the seeds.
• Restrict irrigation one week before transplanting and irrigate heavily on the previous day of transplanting.
• Protray seedling can also be used

 Time of planting

• For rainfed crop, transplant the seedlings during May-June before the onset of southwest monsoon.
• Planting can also be done during September-October for irrigated crop.