What are the key cultivation techniques for Madeira vine (Anredera cordifolia)?
Cultivation season and cultivation methods
1) Open-field cultivation. Because the climate in the south is warm, open-field cultivation is mostly practiced. Open-field cultivation can also be carried out in northern regions, generally raising seedlings from March to April, transplanting to the open field in May, with the harvest period from June to September.
2) Protected cultivation. In northern regions, to obtain high quality and a long-term supply, solar greenhouse cultivation can be used. In a greenhouse, because perennial cultivation is possible, one planting can yield multiple harvests. It can be planted all year round, but spring and autumn planting are better.
Cultivation techniques
1) Propagation methods. ① Bulbil propagation. Break off bulbils from old plants, plant a single plump bulbil in a plug tray or nutrient pot, with the bud tip pointing up; do not plant too deep, just barely exposing the bud tip. Bulbils develop at different rates, and those that form seedlings earlier can be transplanted first. ② Cutting propagation. Madeira vine cuttings root easily, and leafy cuttings root faster; the cuttings must be taken from moderately mature two-node branches, which can produce uniform small seedlings. Branches that are too old or too tender are both unsuitable. Single-node leafy cuttings have a poorer survival rate. The seedling age is about 30 days.
2) Land preparation, fertilization, and bed making. For large-scale commercial planting, fertile land must be selected. Because Madeira vine has a long growth period, it needs abundant nutrients; apply about 5000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and 50-100 kg of compound fertilizer per 667 sq m, mix thoroughly with the soil, and make raised beds 1.5 m wide (furrow to furrow). If trellis-style cultivation is used, fertilization and planting can be done on both sides of the trellis depending on the trellis situation.
3) Transplanting. Double-row transplanting on 1.5 m high beds, with 60 cm row spacing and 40 cm plant spacing on the bed surface, transplanting 2000-2500 plants per 667 sq m.
4) Field management. In addition to general field management such as cultivating, weeding, watering, and fertilizing, Madeira vine should also receive the following management: ① Trellising. Use bamboo poles or wooden strips to build a support about 2 m high, or use greenhouse frames, to facilitate the twining growth of Madeira vine. ② Summer shading. Because light is too intense in summer, which is unfavorable for the plant's vegetative growth, shade-net cultivation with 50%-60% light transmittance can be used for shading to improve commercial quality. ③ Topping, bud removal, and flower removal. Madeira vine has extremely strong apical dominance; to increase the number of branches, topping can be used in the early growth stage to promote the growth of side branches. Bulbils and flower spikes both consume the plant's nutrients, so promptly removing bulbils and flower spikes is beneficial to leaf growth and increases yield.
5) Harvesting. Madeira vine can be harvested for leaves, tender shoots, bulbils, and tuberous roots. In the early growth stage, the focus should be on plant growth, and only sporadic harvesting should be done; harvesting too early or too heavily will seriously affect plant growth and ultimately affect yield. About 75 days after transplanting, it enters the peak production period and can be harvested in large quantities, but not to the extent of affecting plant growth. If @#@136@#@ is not smooth, the lower leaves of the plant will not age quickly and can still be sold. The length of tender shoots to be pinched off is based on the point where the base of the tender shoot is no longer tender, generally about 15 cm. Tuberous roots are generally harvested after autumn or when changing crops or for medicinal use. Bulbils can be harvested at any time after the plant has grown larger.
6) Pest and disease control. Madeira vine rarely suffers from pests and diseases. The main disease is brown spot, also known as snake-eye disease, which mainly damages leaves. The lesions on affected leaves are nearly round, with edges that are nearly purplish red and clearly defined, and perforate easily; in severe cases, the lesions are densely distributed and the leaves are unfit to eat. Control measures: ① Plant at an appropriate density, pay attention to ventilation, and do not overwater. Spray 7500-fold Zhihaosu solution to promote early and rapid plant growth. ② In the early stage of the disease, spray 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 1000-fold solution or 50% procymidone 2000-fold solution.