Morphological Characteristics of Tsaoko, Planting and Harvesting Time, and Key Cultivation Techniques

Tsaoko, also known as tsaoko kernel and tsaoko fruit, is one of the major varieties of medicinal and edible Chinese herbal medicine. It is distributed in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guizhou and other provinces and regions of China.So what does tsaoko look like? When is it planted and harvested? What are the key cultivation techniques?

What does tsaoko look like?

1. Tsaoko is a perennial herb with clustered stems, reaching up to 3 m tall, with a pungent aroma throughout the plant, and the underground part somewhat resembling ginger. The leaves are oblong-elliptic or oblong, 40-70 cm long and 10-20 cm wide, with acuminate apex and attenuate base, dry membranous margins, smooth and hairless on both surfaces, sessile or with a short petiole; the ligule is entire with a bluntly rounded apex, 0.8-1.2 cm long.

The spike is unbranched, 13-18 cm long and about 5 cm wide, with about 5-30 flowers per inflorescence; the peduncle is 10 cm long or longer, covered with dense scales; the scales are oblong or oblong-elliptic, 5.5-7 cm long and 2.3-3.5 cm wide, with a rounded apex, leathery, brown when dry; the bracts are lanceolate, about 4 cm long and 0.6 cm wide, with an acuminate apex; the bracteoles are tubular, 3 cm long and 0.7 cm wide, split on one side to the middle, with a 2-3-toothed apex; the calyx tube is about as long as the bracteoles, with a bluntly 3-toothed apex; the corolla is red, the tube 2.5 cm long, the lobes oblong, about 2 cm long and about 0.4 cm wide; the labellum is elliptic, about 2.7 cm long and 1.4 cm wide, with a slightly toothed apex; the anther is 1.3 cm long, and the connective appendage is 3-lobed, 4 mm long and 11 mm wide, with the middle lobe square and the lateral lobes somewhat narrower.

2. The capsules are densely clustered, red when ripe and brown when dry, indehiscent, oblong or oblong-elliptic, 2.5-4.5 cm long and about 2 cm wide, hairless, with the persistent remains of the style at the apex, and with shrunken longitudinal lines when dry; the fruit stalk is 2-5 mm long, usually with persistent bracts at the base; the seeds are polygonal, 4-6 mm in diameter, with a rich fragrance. Flowering period: April-June; fruiting period: September-December.

When is tsaoko planted and harvested?

Tsaoko flowers and fruits 2 years after planting, and yields are relatively high after 6-7 years. The flowering period is April-June; the fruiting period is August-September in Guangdong and November-December in Yunnan. Harvest when the fruit turns reddish-brown but has not yet split, then sun-dry or dry over a low fire, or blanch the fruit in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and then store it in a dry, ventilated place.

What are the key cultivation techniques for tsaoko?

1. Site selection: Tsaoko should be planted in woodland with dense cover of trees and shrubs, accumulated fallen leaves, and loose, fertile, moist soil.

2. Land preparation: After selecting the plot, clear weeds in spring, and at the same time remove excessive undesirable shade trees; for hillsides with insufficient shade, plant additional trees for shade, and carry out full reclamation and soil loosening in August-September to improve the woodland environment, increase soil fertility, and ensure the survival and good growth of seedlings. In October, dig planting holes with the specification length×width×depth=30 cm×30 cm×30 cm; after digging the holes, planting can begin.

3. Timely transplanting: Transplanting from early June to early August is most suitable.

4. Reasonable close planting: Generally, the transplanting spacing between plants and rows is 2 m×1.5 m, with 150 to 200 holes planted per mu. Woodland with fertile soil and good management conditions should be planted more sparsely, while plots with thin soil and poor management conditions should be planted more densely. Flat land should use square plant-row spacing, and steep slopes should use triangular planting along contour rows.

5. Transplanting method: Select seedlings that are robust, 35-40 cm tall, with a stem base diameter of more than 1 cm, 8-12 roots, and no pests, diseases, or mechanical damage. When transplanting, first fill the hole with 20-22 cm of fine soil, then place the seedling in the hole so that the roots spread naturally, then fill with 8-10 cm of fine soil to cover the seedling roots tightly, and press down with the foot so that the seedling roots and soil are firmly combined.