When to plant water chestnuts? A detailed guide to yield per mu and planting prospects

Water chestnut, scientific name Eleocharis dulcis, of the sedge family and genus Eleocharis, also known as water chestnut. It has excellent medicinal and health benefits, and its seedlings, roots, and fruits can all be used as medicine. So, when are water chestnuts planted? How many jin per mu? What are the planting prospects?

1. When are water chestnuts planted?

Water chestnuts are suited to growing in frost-free periods, with a total growing period of 10~240 days. The planting time for water chestnuts is relatively flexible. In the Yangtze River basin, sowing and raising seedlings can be done from early April to early July, but early planting is preferable, so that the plants can produce tillers and ramets from early May to late July and form corms after autumn. Generally, those planted from Grain Full to Grain in Ear are called “early water water chestnuts” and harvested around the Start of Winter; those planted from Minor Heat to Major Heat are called “summer water water chestnuts” and harvested around the Winter Solstice; those planted around the Start of Autumn are called “late water water chestnuts” and the harvest period can be extended to the Qingming of the following year. South China has a long frost-free period and can plant appropriately later, but planting should be done no later than the End of Heat.

2. How many jin per mu do water chestnuts yield? What are the planting prospects?

According to Uncle Xu, a grower in Guangxi, the water chestnuts he plants can reach a yield of about 5000 jin per mu. Because his water chestnuts are large, high in sweetness, and juicy, they are quite famous in the surrounding area. Every year many people come to buy them, and the purchase price is 3 yuan per jin, which means the income per mu is 15000 yuan. After deducting costs, the net income per mu is over ten thousand yuan. This kind of “underground fruit” in rural areas can sell for 3 yuan per jin, with an income of 15000 yuan per mu.

Water chestnut planting has broad prospects and is easy to grow. Water chestnuts are highly nutritious. Whether eaten as a fruit or cooked in soup as a vegetable, they are very sweet. They can also clear heat and detoxify, and lower blood pressure and blood lipids.