What Is Allium mongolicum? A Detailed Guide to Growing the "Ganoderma of Vegetables"

Allium mongolicum, also known as Mongolian leek, is a perennial herbaceous plant commonly found in deserts, arid hillsides and sandy land. Because its leaves and flowers are edible and it has the effects of stimulating the appetite, killing insects and aiding digestion, it is widely cultivated. So what is Allium mongolicum? What are its growing techniques?

I. What Is Allium mongolicum?

1. Allium mongolicum is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Allium that lives in deserts or arid regions. It looks like a scallion and is divided into several parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruit. Its roots are slender, its bulbs grow densely in clusters and are cylindrical with a brownish-yellow outer skin, its leaves are cylindrical, and its flowers grow in hemispherical to spherical umbels. The flowers are white, light purple, light red, purplish red and so on, and the fruit it produces is a black oval.

2. Allium mongolicum looks like a scallion and grows relatively well in arid regions. It combines medicinal, edible and ornamental uses, has the effects of stimulating the appetite, aiding digestion and killing insects, and regular consumption can treat indigestion, favus and other diseases. It is known as the “Ganoderma of vegetables”.

3. Allium mongolicum is a drought-tolerant plant with low water requirements. It can generally be planted in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, Shaanxi and other places, but if it is too dry, its growth will stop, so it is often used to green deserts.

II. What Growing Techniques Are There for Allium mongolicum?

1. Choosing and preparing the land: what soil is suitable for planting?

Allium mongolicum is a drought-tolerant plant and generally grows best in deserts and arid hillsides at an altitude of 800-2800 m, so when choosing a site, try to pick a place with good ventilation and good light. After choosing the site, plow the soil deeply to make it more airy.

2. Sowing and raising seedlings: when is the best time to sow?

(1) Seed selection and treatment: it is best to choose seeds with an undamaged appearance, no disease and bright luster, then soak the seeds in water overnight, and finally take them out and put them in a potassium permanganate solution to disinfect and sterilize them, which benefits their later growth.

(2) Sowing time: spring to early autumn is best.

(3) Sowing method: evenly broadcast the treated seeds over the seedling bed, water lightly, and cover with a thin layer of soil. Of course, you can also dig small holes yourself, plant 5 seeds in each hole, and finally cover with soil and water a little.

3. Field management techniques: how to manage it?

(1) Weeding: after a period of time, the seeds will sprout. At this point, according to the condition of the plot, the weeds that have grown should be removed in time to ensure that Allium mongolicum has sufficient nutrients.

(2) Reasonable watering: Allium mongolicum is drought-tolerant, but that does not mean it does not need water, so in summer water it a bit more, and when watering try to avoid the midday period.

(3) Reasonable fertilizing: Allium mongolicum has low fertilizer requirements, and the amount of fertilizer is generally determined according to the growth of the plants.

(4) Pest and disease control: during the growth period of Allium mongolicum, various diseases will appear, so preventive and control measures should be taken well. For diseases, you can go to the market and choose the corresponding chemicals to control them.

In general, Allium mongolicum is a kind of scallion that grows in deserts and arid slopes. It is not only edible but also has a relatively high desert-greening effect. It is relatively common in Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Qinghai and other places in China, so it is easy to grow. As long as you do a good job in disease control and water and fertilizer management, it can grow well.