The Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial for Athyrium crenatum (Monkey Leg Vegetable)
Monkey leg vegetable (Athyrium crenatum) is one of the famous edible and medicinal wild mountain vegetables, also known as Athyrium fern vegetable, green-stem vegetable, purple vegetable, etc. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Athyriaceae family, containing various nutrients, more nutrient-rich than cultivated vegetables. Its flavor is delicious and unique, and its medicinal value is similar to that of the fern vegetable (Pteridium aquilinum). It has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, moistening the lungs and regulating qi, tonifying deficiency and soothing the meridians, and stopping bleeding and killing insects. Let's take a look at the cultivation techniques for monkey leg vegetable!
Apply Sufficient Base Fertilizer
The native habitat of monkey leg vegetable is under forest with rich humus. It is naturally fond of fertilizer and suitable for growing in loose soil. Therefore, before making the bed, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied. It is best to use decomposed pig manure, followed by horse manure, applied at 75,000 kg per hectare and turned into the soil 20 cm deep below the bed. If the manure source is insufficient, fallen leaves can also be covered, which also has a certain effect.
Rhizome Transplanting
The rhizome of monkey leg vegetable can be collected one month after its above-ground parts wither. Dig about 20 cm deep, that is, dig up the roots of monkey leg vegetable in clumps, minimizing damage to the plant roots, and transport them to the greenhouse for later use. After the spring thaw, move the rhizomes out of the greenhouse and plant them in the prepared beds behind the greenhouse. Since monkey leg vegetable likes fertilizer and water, and mostly grows under forest with shade-loving habits, after planting the rhizomes, cover with rice straw for shading and moisture retention.
Temperature Management
Monkey leg vegetable is a warm-loving plant, but it is not tolerant of high temperatures. It can germinate when the air temperature and soil temperature reach 8°C. When the air temperature reaches 15°C and the soil temperature is above 12°C, the leaves grow rapidly. The suitable temperature for germination is around 20°C, and the suitable temperature for tender leaf growth is 17-20°C. Growth stops when the air temperature exceeds 30°C, and tender leaves suffer frost damage when the air temperature is below 5°C.
Light Management
Light is an important factor in the growth and development of monkey leg vegetable. When light is strong, cell elongation is hindered, the petioles are short and small, and the edible value is low. When light is weak, photosynthesis is poor, photosynthetic products accumulate insufficiently, and the quality is poor. The suitable light intensity is 10,000-13,000 lux. If the light is strong, shade nets can be hung.
Water Management
After planting and during the harvest period, monkey leg vegetable should be frequently sprayed with water using a watering can, ensuring watering every other day, always keeping the soil moist, especially in the dry northern winter air. During the rainy season, strengthen drainage to avoid root rot. Before germination in early spring, water and apply additional fertilizer in time to promote stem and leaf germination.
Timely Harvesting
When the tender leaves of monkey leg vegetable emerge from the soil for 6-10 days, harvest the first crop in a timely manner. After another 7-10 days, when the second crop of tender leaves emerges and grows to about 20 cm, with the leaflets not yet unfolded and in a fist-like shape, they can be harvested. When harvesting, get as close to the ground as possible, pinch by hand or cut with a knife. In protected areas, generally 23 harvests can be made, but the growth vigor is slightly weaker in the later stage. By controlling the timing of planting in the greenhouse, the harvest period can be controlled around the Spring Festival to obtain considerable economic benefits.