How to Grow Osmunda japonica? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Techniques
Osmunda japonica is a type of wild vegetable. It looks very similar to bracken fern, and many people cannot tell them apart, but they are indeed two different wild vegetables. Osmunda japonica is a green, pollution-free health vegetable, so it has become very popular in the market in recent years. So do you know how to grow Osmunda japonica? And how much do you know about Osmunda japonica? Let us learn together about the artificial cultivation techniques for Osmunda japonica.
1. Soil Improvement
Osmunda japonica is highly adaptable to its environment, but it still has certain requirements for its growing conditions. Generally, it can only grow when the temperature is around 8 degrees, and the optimal temperature for growth is around 15 degrees. When the temperature is above 30 degrees, it stops growing. Secondly, it has relatively strict water requirements; it likes moisture and is not drought-tolerant. Also, the soil at the planting site should preferably be acidic, with relatively sufficient humus content, and the soil texture should preferably be loose on top and firm underneath. It is best to choose a half-shade, half-sun area, or an area with some shade cover. After choosing the planting site, we need to apply fertilizer to improve the soil, generally at about 600 jin per mu, mainly using farmyard manure such as chicken manure, pig manure and cow manure, combined with deep ploughing. Finally, dig trenches and make beds to prepare for planting.
2. Propagation Methods
There are mainly two propagation methods for Osmunda japonica: spore propagation and division propagation. For spore propagation, seeds are generally collected around the end of May, then placed in a suitable environment for germination. Once most of the spores have sprouted and differentiated, they can be sown. Division is relatively simple; generally, the day before planting, the divisions of Osmunda japonica are dug out and planted. However, note that it is best to dig them out together with the base soil, as this gives a higher survival rate.
3. Planting and Transplanting
When planting, we can use the hole-sowing or drill-sowing method. For hole sowing, the spacing between each hole is about 30 to 40 cm, while for drill sowing, planting is done with a distance of 40 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants. When planting, note that each hole should have at least two to three seedlings, and the planting density of Osmunda japonica per mu is about 4,000 to 5,000 plants. We must reasonably control the planting density, because too dense or too sparse planting will affect the later economic returns of Osmunda japonica.
4. Later Stage Management
Osmunda japonica likes a moist environment, so after planting, we should water frequently to keep the soil moist, but we should also control the amount of water; it should not be too much, otherwise the roots of Osmunda japonica will rot. At the same time, in the rainy season, we should also drain water in time to ensure the normal growth of Osmunda japonica. Secondly, we need to clear the weeds in the field. About half a month after the seedlings emerge, we should carry out one round of intertillage and weeding. This not only reduces nutrient loss, but also improves soil permeability, promotes nutrient absorption, and increases the growth rate of Osmunda japonica. Also, we should reasonably apply topdressing, mainly according to the growth characteristics of Osmunda japonica. Especially in the harvest season, its fertilizer demand is very large, and generally topdressing is needed once every three to four days. Finally, in order to promote the growth of Osmunda japonica, we had best build a shade shed in the field and reasonably control daily sunlight, which is also very beneficial to the growth of Osmunda japonica.
Normal Osmunda japonica can generally grow to about 60 to 100 cm, and it is not harvested in the same year; it is only harvested in the second year. Harvesting should be done in batches, and topdressing is needed after each harvest to increase the yield of Osmunda japonica and improve its quality. Finally, the editor also reminds everyone that after harvesting Osmunda japonica, shade cloth should be covered in time to prevent the plants from ageing, which would affect the yield of the coming year.