When do water chestnuts (water caltrop) generally mature and hit the market?

Water caltrop is the fruit of the water caltrop, an annual herbaceous aquatic plant of the genus Trapa in the family Trapaceae. Its nutritional value is extremely high, containing abundant starch, protein, glucose, unsaturated fatty acids, multiple vitamins, and trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus, and iron. The ancients believed that eating more water caltrop could nourish the five internal organs, eliminate all diseases, and lighten the body. Now let us take a look at when water caltrop matures and hits the market!

When is water caltrop available on the market?

Water caltrop generally hits the market from July to September. Water caltrop begins to grow tender leaves in April in spring, begins to bloom in May, begins to grow tender water caltrop in June, matures in July, and the water caltrop ages and falls off in August. Therefore, water caltrop in July is the most crisp, tender and delicious. Moreover, fresh water caltrop actually cannot be eaten for very long, lasting at most about ten days or so, and the water caltrop that comes out afterward will gradually become old.

How much does water caltrop cost per jin?

The price of water caltrop is about 3 to 5 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on variety, place of origin, market, season, and other factors. Water caltrop is cultivated most in the Taihu Lake area of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Pearl River Delta in China. The artificially cultivated ones are larger, up to the size of a matchbox, while the wild ones are smaller, some only the size of a fingernail. The colors include green, red, and purple, and the horns include hornless, one-horned, two-horned, and four-horned types.

What types of water caltrop are there?

1. Wonton water caltrop: Produced in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, and other places. A late-maturing variety, sown at Qingming and harvested from Autumn Equinox to Frost Descent. High quality and high yield, sweet and glutinous in taste, with a yield of 1000 to 1200 jin per mu. The fruit skin is greenish-white, with 40 to 50 fruits per jin.

2. Small white water caltrop: Produced in Wujiang, Suzhou, Jiangsu, and other places. A mid-to-late-maturing variety, sown at Qingming, harvested from White Dew to Frost Descent, with a yield of 600 to 1200 jin per mu. The fruit shape is relatively small, suitable for cooked eating, with 60 to 70 fruits per jin.

3. Large green water caltrop: Produced in Wujiang, Wu County, Yixing, Jiangsu, and other places. A mid-maturing variety, with sowing and maturity periods the same as small white water caltrop, with a yield of 1000 to 1200 jin per mu, medium quality, large fruit shape, with 20 to 25 fruits per jin.

4. Water red water caltrop: Produced in Suzhou, Hangzhou, and the Jiaxing area. An early-maturing variety, sown at Qingming, tender water caltrop harvested starting at Start of Autumn, old water caltrop harvested at End of Heat and Frost Descent, with a yield of 800 to 1000 jin per mu. The fruit shape is relatively large, with 25 to 35 fruits per jin.

5. Bat water caltrop: Produced near Nanjing. An early-maturing variety, sown at Qingming, harvested at End of Heat and Cold Dew. The growth vigor is relatively weak, the leaf surface is light green, the back is reddish-brown, the fruit shape is medium, and the skin color comes in red and green types, with about 40 fruits per jin.

6. Nanhu water caltrop: Produced in Nanhu, Jiaxing, Zhejiang. An early and mid-maturing variety, sown at Qingming, harvested from End of Heat to Frost Descent. Good quality, firm flesh with a japonica-like texture, greenish-white skin, degenerate four horns, medium fruit shape, with about 40 fruits per jin.