Can ice plant be grown in summer?

Ice plant, also known as ice grass and crystal ice plant, is a new internet celebrity vegetable . The transparent vacuoles on its leaves contain salt, which present an ice crystal effect under sunlight, hence the name. It has high nutritional value and unique taste, and has broad planting prospects. So is summer suitable for growing ice plant? Let’s learn more about it below.

Can ice plant be grown in summer?

Ice plant can be planted in summer, but the suitable growth temperature of ice plant is 20-30℃. It is more sensitive to high temperature, so planting it in summer can easily affect its normal growth. If planting it, it is best to take shade and avoid the sun, and also water it more. Generally speaking, ice plant is more suitable for planting in spring and autumn.

How to grow ice plant?

1. Soil preparation

Ice plant is suitable for growing in sandy soil with good drainage and good air permeability. The soil pH should be between 6.0-7.0, with neutral or slightly acidic soil being preferred. Before sowing, the land should be deeply plowed, weeds and stones removed, and an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer applied to increase soil fertility.

2. Sowing and seedling raising

The seeds of ice plant are very small and are generally transplanted by seedling raising. There are two methods for raising seedlings: spot sowing in hole trays or broadcast sowing in flat trays. One day before sowing, put the seedling nutrient soil into the hole tray or flat tray, water it thoroughly, and sow 2-3 seeds in each hole after the water is drained.

3. Planting at the right time

When the leaves grow to the 4th to 5th leaves, about 20 to 40 days after sowing (depending on the cultivation period), it is the appropriate time to fix the value. Ridge planting can be adopted, with a row spacing of 35×45 cm, leaving an aisle width of 40 cm in the middle, and an average of about 3,000 plants per mu.

4. Field management

Ice plant prefers sufficient sunlight, which is crucial to improving yield and quality. At the same time, the suitable growth temperature is 20-30 degrees. It is necessary to prevent high temperature burns and take shading, ventilation and cooling measures. Ice plant is drought-resistant and watering should be moderate to avoid excessive humidity. It grows rapidly and has few diseases and pests, but it is easily invaded by pests, such as aphids and beetles . It can be controlled by setting up insect-proof nets, insect-attracting boards and other measures to achieve high-yield and high-quality cultivation.

5. Harvesting method

The harvest period of ice vegetable is generally about 60-70 days after sowing. When harvesting, choose the morning or evening, and avoid harvesting when the temperature is high, so as not to affect the quality and preservation of ice plants. You can use scissors or a blade to cut the stems of the ice plant, but do not pull out the roots to avoid damaging the leaves of the ice plant.

Generally speaking, ice plant can be grown in summer, but it is much more troublesome, so it is better to choose to plant it in spring and autumn. In addition, in the actual planting process, various planting environment factors need to be considered comprehensively, such as temperature, light, water, etc., to ensure that ice vegetable can grow in the best condition.