How to grow fiddlehead ferns? Mastering these cultivation points is key

The fiddlehead fern is a wild vegetable that northerners relatively like, known as a mountain delicacy, and the price is not cheap either, known as the king of wild vegetables

Propagation

There are two propagation methods for fiddlehead ferns, namely sexual propagation (spore propagation) and asexual propagation (rhizome division propagation). In production, asexual propagation methods are mostly used. For asexual propagation, dig out the underground rhizomes, select robust ones for division and planting, with a row spacing of 70~80cm and a plant spacing of 50~60cm, and transplant when the seedlings are 10~15cm tall.

Land preparation and bed making

It is advisable to choose soil rich in humus. When preparing the land, apply leaf litter compost and barnyard manure, and make flat beds or raised beds 1m wide. Planting can be done after the soil thaws.

Field management

During the growing period, cultivate and weed frequently and irrigate. In the rainy season, strengthen drainage to avoid root rot; apply thin fertilizer multiple times, and fertilize once after each harvest. Fertilize 2~3 days after harvest; in winter, cover with dry grass to retain moisture and prevent cold; before germination in early spring, water and fertilize in time to promote the sprouting of stems and leaves.

Harvest

Fiddlehead ferns can be harvested for more than 10 years after one planting. Each year in spring and early summer, when the young stems grow to 20~25cm, the petioles are tender, and the leaflets have not yet unfolded and are in a fist-hook shape, they can be harvested. If too late, it will affect the edible value and have an adverse effect on the next year's harvest; if too early, it will reduce the yield. When harvesting, you can cut with a knife or pinch with your hands, and try to keep as close to the ground as possible. After one harvest, a second harvest can be made in 10~15 days, and 2~3 consecutive harvests can be made in a year.