Detailed Explanation of the Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques of the Emu Egg Fruit

The emu egg fruit is a type of vine wild fruit in the Lardizabalaceae family, with the scientific name Stauntonia obovatifoliola. It is distributed in southern China and the Yangtze River basin. Because its fruit resembles a bull's genitalia, it is called "emu egg fruit" or "September yellow" in places such as Hunan and Jiangxi, and is also called "na teng bao" (transliteration) in the Fujian region.

Growth habits of the emu egg fruit

The emu egg fruit prefers shady and moist conditions and is relatively cold-tolerant. It often grows in grass among forests on low-altitude hillsides. It grows well in slightly acidic yellow soil rich in humus, and can also adapt to neutral soil. Its stems and vines often grow creeping along the ground. Although the posture of Stauntonia trifoliata is not as elegant as that of Akebia quinata, its leaf shape and leaf color have a distinctive charm, and it is tolerant of shady and moist environments.

Methods of planting the emu egg fruit

1. Selection of the planting base

Choose fertile soil with a relatively thick soil layer, neutral to slightly acidic soil, on both banks of rivers and streams, forest edges, hillsides, or farmland, and cultivate in places with good ventilation and light transmission, irrigation conditions, and convenient transportation;

2. Preparation before planting

Deeply plow the planting land 20~30cm, and according to soil fertility, evenly apply 1000kg~1500kg of decomposed farmyard manure, 20kg~40kg of ammonium bicarbonate, and 40kg~60kg of superphosphate per mu, plow them into the soil, harrow finely and level, then make beds 15cm~20cm high and 150cm~160cm wide, and dig ditches about 30cm wide between the beds;

3. Seedling raising from seeds: Take the harvested ripe fruit and remove the seeds,

Wash repeatedly with clean water, rub off the residual pulp on the seeds, remove the shriveled grains by floating, take them out and dry them, then mix the seeds with clean fine river sand at a ratio of 1:3, place them in a wooden box for indoor storage or dig a pit in the field, control the sand moisture at 30%~40%, observe regularly, water regularly to maintain moisture, transplant them into pre-made nutrient pots, then place them in a greenhouse for emergence, and after emergence let the seedlings continue to grow in the greenhouse. When the seedling stems grow to about 60cm, transplant them into the field for final planting. After sowing, maintain a suitable temperature, water once after the surface covering soil dries, provide shade for 10d~15d after the young seedlings emerge completely, and ventilate to cool down when the temperature is above 20°C

4. Final planting of young seedlings

Carry out final planting according to the root growth conditions of seedlings obtained by different propagation methods, and water thoroughly after planting. The field planting time for cuttings and layer-propagated seedlings should be in spring and winter.

Spring planting should be before budding, that is, from mid-to-late February to early March; winter planting should be after leaf fall, from late November to early December. For seedlings propagated by cuttings and layering, seedling lifting and transplanting can be carried out in December or early March of the following year. Seed-raised seedlings can be transplanted throughout the year. The planting point should be 15cm~20cm from the vertical projection of the trellis wire. Dig a planting hole 30cm~40cm in diameter and 25cm~30cm deep. Mix the excavated soil with decomposed farmyard manure and backfill half of it into the hole, form a steamed-bun-shaped mound of soil at the bottom of the hole, place the seedling in the hole, spread out the roots, then backfill the remaining soil. The plant spacing and row spacing should be 90cm×130cm for final planting. Do not plant randomly; be sure to standardize.

During the seedling stage, water regularly, especially in high-temperature seasons such as summer, and pay attention to plant ventilation. Also pay attention to fertilization: do not spread fertilizer directly. Instead, spread the fertilizer in the ditch used for watering the plants and use water to deliver fertilizer to the plants, so that the plants can grow better. Also pay attention to frequently checking whether there are weeds and remove them in time.