A Detailed Guide to the Economic Value and Cultivation Techniques of Finger Citron
AbstractEconomic value: Finger citron is usually used as traditional Chinese medicine, and can also be eaten as a vegetable. The chayote has a high yield; planting 100 plants per mu can produce as much as about 3000-5000 kg, with returns reaching tens of thousands of yuan. Cultivation techniques: Finger citron is generally planted in March or August-September. The soil should be well-drained, fertile and slightly acidic. The suitable growing temperature is around 20-25°C. Fertilizer and water should be applied according to the principle of small amounts applied frequently, and the branches and leaves need to be pruned reasonably throughout the year.
I. Market Prices
The price of finger citron varies according to region and variety. The general market price is about 2-5 yuan per jin. In addition, the prices of the three more common varieties of finger citron are as follows: the green-skinned chayote is relatively cheap, at about 1.5 yuan per jin; the foreign melon is about 2-3 yuan per jin; and the white-skinned finger citron is slightly more expensive, at about 5 yuan per jin.
II. Planting Prospects
1. Finger citron is generally used as traditional Chinese medicine, and can also be eaten fresh as a fruit or eaten as a vegetable. Its shape is rather peculiar, like two palms pressed together, carrying a meaning of Buddhist blessing, and it has a certain ornamental value, so it is very popular among people.
2. The chayote has a relatively high yield. It can flower seven times a year and bear fruit three times. Planting 100 plants per mu can produce as much as about 3000-5000 kg per mu, and the returns can reach tens of thousands of yuan, higher than the profits of ordinary fruits and vegetables, making it a good planting project.
III. Planting Methods
1. Planting time
(1) There are mainly three methods of planting finger citron: seed propagation, cutting propagation and layering propagation. Different planting methods have different planting times.
(2) For seed propagation, sowing is generally done around March. For cutting propagation, planting is generally carried out in March and August-September. For layering propagation, the planting time is similar to that of cuttings. In addition, a suitable planting time can be reasonably chosen according to the climate of different regions and specific conditions.
2. Soil requirements
Finger citron has relatively good adaptability, but it still has certain requirements for soil. It is best to choose well-drained, highly permeable, fertile and slightly acidic soil for planting. It should not be planted in soil that is too alkaline.
3. Temperature
(1) Finger citron has relatively high temperature requirements. The suitable growing temperature for finger citron is around 20-25°C. The maximum temperature should not exceed about 32°C, otherwise the finger citron will be scorched or even die. The minimum temperature should not be lower than 5°C; if the temperature is too low, its growth will be affected.
(2) Many regions in China have four distinct seasons with relatively large temperature differences. When planting, attention should be paid to keeping warm and protecting against the cold in winter and cooling down appropriately in summer.
4. Fertilizer and water
(1) Finger citron is a shallow-rooted plant, and its ability to absorb water and nutrients is relatively poor. Therefore, when applying water and fertilizer, the principle of applying more frequently but in small amounts should be followed.
(2) During the spring growth period of finger citron, fertilize once every 7 days, which can be done together with intertillage, weeding and watering. Summer is the peak growing season for finger citron, and the water requirement is relatively large, so the intensity of water and fertilizer should be appropriately increased. In autumn, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be applied as a top dressing, with a small amount of watering. After winter begins, it is only necessary to keep the soil at a certain humidity.
5. Pruning
(1) If a newly planted finger citron blooms, the flowers need to be removed so as not to affect the normal growth of the plant. In addition, pruning finger citron is different from pruning other plants; its branches and leaves grow relatively quickly, so reasonable pruning is needed throughout the year.
(2) Excessive pruning can easily cause the plant to age faster, thereby affecting the yield.