What are the key cultivation techniques for Madeira vine? Explained in one article

Madeira vine, also known as Ceylon spinach, belongs to the Basellaceae family and is a perennial climbing plant native to Brazil. It is grown in many regions of China, especially in the south. It is easy to cultivate, has few pest and disease problems, is highly nutritious and good-tasting, and is rich in vitamin A and vitamin C. It has effects such as nourishing the body, strengthening the waist and knees, dissipating phlegm, promoting blood circulation, and protecting the stomach and liver. It is a natural green health food and medicinal food, and is well worth promoting, cultivating and eating.

Madeira vine is heat-tolerant, prefers a warm, humid, semi-shaded climate, and dislikes strong light. It is not demanding about soil and is tolerant of drought and waterlogging. It has vigorous vitality; even if the leaves are not picked, the lower leaves do not turn yellow, and the leaves grow larger and larger. Its optimum growth temperature is 25-30°C. When exposed to temperatures below 0°C or frost, the aboveground parts die. In southern regions, the underground parts can overwinter, while in northern regions the underground parts cannot overwinter. Therefore, open-field cultivation is mostly used in the south, while greenhouse cultivation is mostly used in the north.

Madeira vine can be propagated in March to April by bulbils or cuttings. When the seedlings are about 30 days old, they can be transplanted to fertile, semi-shaded plots. Before transplanting, apply 3000-5000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 50-100 kg of compound fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer, and make raised beds 1.5 m wide, with double-row planting and a plant spacing of about 40 cm.

After the plants survive, timely cultivating, weeding, watering and fertilizing should be carried out. Topping in the early growth stage can promote the development of side branches. Bulbils and flower spikes should be removed in time, otherwise they consume the plant's nutrients. In the hot summer, when the light is too strong, a shade net with 50-60% light transmittance can be used for shading, which is beneficial to the plant's vegetative growth and improves commodity quality.

Madeira vine can be harvested for leaves, tender shoots, bulbils and tuberous roots. In the early growth stage, leaves and tender shoots can be harvested sporadically; in the peak production period, leaves and tender shoots can be harvested in large quantities, but only to the extent that plant growth is not affected. When harvesting, the standard is that the product has not become old and tough. Tuberous roots are generally harvested after autumn or when changing crops for auxiliary medicinal use; bulbils can be harvested at any time after the plants have grown larger.

Madeira vine rarely suffers from pests and diseases. Its main disease is brown spot. The lesions on affected leaves are nearly round, with edges that are nearly purplish red and clear boundaries, and are prone to perforation. In severe cases, the lesions are densely distributed and the leaves cannot be eaten. Control methods:

First, plant at an appropriate density, pay attention to ventilation, and control the amount of watering;

Second, spray 7500-fold diluted Zhibaosu solution to promote early and rapid growth of the plants;

Third, in the early stage of the disease, spray 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 1000-fold dilution or 50% procymidone at 2000-fold dilution.