What kind of vegetable is ice plant? A detailed guide to ice plant cultivation techniques for eating in hot pot

These days, when eating hot pot, everyone loves to order a relatively novel green vegetable. Many people try it for the first time after seeing the name, yet are deeply drawn in. Ice plant has exactly this kind of magic. The scientific name of ice plant is Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, a green plant that combines edible value with ornamental value. It can be eaten raw or blanched in hot pot, and every country has a different way of cooking it. So what kind of vegetable is ice plant? What are its cultivation techniques? Let's take a look together.

1. What kind of vegetable is ice plant?

Ice plant belongs to the Rosidae subclass and the Aizoaceae family, and is currently mainly distributed in southern Africa. In recent years, our country has introduced and cultivated it, and many large hot pot restaurants have ice plant on their menus. In Europe or Africa, ice plant is relatively common. Local people eat it as a vegetable, either mixed directly into salads or eaten raw, and it is delicious either way. Ice plant has high nutritional value, containing rich amino acids, antioxidant substances and so on. The nutritional value that other vegetables have is concentrated in ice plant, so its selling price after being introduced to our country is also relatively high. Ice plant has visible “ice beads” on its surface, and eating it produces a lot of moisture in the mouth, giving it a very good texture. Because it naturally has a salty taste, there is no need to add extra salt when cooking.

2. Ice plant cultivation techniques

1. Soil selection

Ice plant can be cultivated in open ground. Because of its special nature, ice plant has the ability to absorb heavy metals, so when choosing soil, pay attention to whether it has been polluted. It is best to combine sandy loam and peat soil. This combination can ensure air permeability during the ice plant growing process, and drainage performance is also better.

2. Watering and fertilizing

After the ice plant seedlings are established, attention should be paid to water control. Within ten days after planting, there is no need to water additionally. If the leaves show a tendency to wither, a little water can be added, mainly by watering the soil thoroughly. Because of the special nature of ice plant, more fertilizer needs to be added in the later stages of cultivation, so as to provide the necessary nutrients.

3. Light

The most suitable growing temperature for ice plant is within 30°C. In high-temperature summer weather, if necessary, a shade shed can be built to cool things down, ensuring ventilation throughout the planting environment, and the greenhouse should not be kept closed for long periods. Ice plant likes sunlight, so after temperature control is done well, it can be allowed to enjoy plenty of light.

That is all for today's introduction to ice plant. Its popularity is still not as high as that of other vegetables, but friends who have truly tasted it find it hard to forget. At present, China's ice plant market still has very good prospects. If you are interested, you can learn more about it in detail, and then decide whether to cultivate and plant it.