A detailed guide to mesembryanthemum planting techniques, from sowing to management
Mesembryanthemum, also known as ice plant, was first grown in Africa and has only been introduced in recent years. It is a green vegetable that has been extremely popular in the market in recent years, rich in nutrients and delicious in taste. It can supplement the human body with nutrients and also has effects on beauty care and preventing the "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high blood lipids). So how should mesembryanthemum be planted? Let's find out together.
1. Sowing
Sowing is the most important method of propagation for mesembryanthemum. Its seeds are extremely small, so the seeds need to be soaked to promote germination before sowing. Plug tray seedling raising can be used, generally a 200-cell plug tray is used for sowing, with 3 seeds sown per cell. Because the seeds are extremely small, do not cover them with thick soil. Keep the temperature at around 20 degrees, which is conducive to seed germination. In a low-temperature environment, a constant-temperature incubator should be used. After 35-40 days of sowing, once the seedlings grow 4-5 leaves, they can be transplanted and planted out. Since the root system of mesembryanthemum is not well developed, in order to improve the survival rate, they can first be moved into nutrient cups for cultivation, and after about half a month, once the root system has grown well, they can be planted out.
2. Planting out
Mesembryanthemum has strong drought tolerance, so when choosing the planting site, choose a plot with loose soil, good drainage and good air permeability, and it can be cultivated in raised beds. When planting out, put a small amount of phosphate fertilizer into the holes already dug on the bed surface, generally with a row spacing of 40-50 cm and a plant spacing of 30-40 cm. After planting out, water thoroughly once, but remember not to use large-volume sprinkler irrigation.
3. Temperature and moisture
Temperature and moisture are relatively important when growing mesembryanthemum. It likes to grow in an environment of 20-30 degrees, and is especially sensitive to high temperatures in summer, so cooling measures should be taken in time. In addition, mesembryanthemum has strong drought tolerance, so there is no need to water it frequently when growing it; just water appropriately when the soil is dry. Overwatering will not only affect its growth, but in severe cases may also cause death.
4. Harvest
After mesembryanthemum has grown, harvesting also requires attention to method. It can be harvested directly with scissors. In most cases, it can be harvested directly two months after sowing. At this time, harvesting should start from the side branches of the mesembryanthemum. During transport after harvest, it should be kept in a low-temperature environment. In addition, after harvesting, pre-cooling should be carried out immediately. If the ambient temperature is too high, the mesembryanthemum may deteriorate.
The above is an introduction to mesembryanthemum planting techniques. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.