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