When is the best time to plant ice plant?

Ice plant, also known as ice leaf sunflower, contains natural plant low-sodium salt and is rich in nutrients such as amino acids and flavonoids. It is usually used for cold raw food. Because it contains salt, it tastes a bit salty and is suitable as a salad ingredient. At present, many friends in rural areas have the idea of ​​growing ice plant. Let’s learn together when is the best time to grow ice plant?

When is the best time to plant ice plant?

Ice plant is a plant that has strong adaptability to cold climates and is suitable for planting in autumn, winter and spring. If you want to plant it in winter, you can build a small arch shed to maintain a suitable growth temperature, thereby promoting its rapid growth. It is worth noting that the yield of ice plant sown in spring is relatively low, and ice plant will enter the flowering period from May or June, so it is not suitable for planting during the high temperature period in summer.

Ice plant can not only tolerate dry environments, but also has strong salt tolerance, which allows it to grow not only in ordinary soil, but also be cultivated through hydroponics in aqueous solutions containing sodium. The growth cycle of ice plant is about half a year, and the cultivation process is relatively simple. The best time to sow is from late August to September. When using seedling trays for sowing, make sure the seeds are evenly distributed and not too dense. After sowing, cover the seeds with a thin layer of light soil to prevent too thick soil from affecting germination. To ensure good germination conditions, the temperature after sowing should be controlled between 20 and 28 degrees Celsius.

Ice plant cultivation technology

1. Transplanting seedlings

Transplanting is carried out when the two cotyledons of ice plant are fully expanded, which helps to reduce the growth time of the seedling stage and has a positive impact on the development of the plant after transplanting.

2. Planting

When the ice plant seedlings grow about 3 true leaves (about 20 to 40 days after sowing, the specific time depends on the cultivation season), they are transplanted. The recommended spacing between rows and plants is 50 cm × 100 cm. It is recommended to set up 5 beds in an 8-meter-long greenhouse , with one row planted in each bed, to facilitate plant growth and subsequent harvesting.

3. Suitable temperature

The most suitable growth temperature range for ice plant is 2 to 30 degrees Celsius, and it is more sensitive to high temperatures.

4. Fertilization and irrigation

Ice plant is relatively drought-tolerant. In the early stages of growth, water should be applied appropriately when the soil surface is dry. After the plants are closed in rows, fertilizer and water need to be added in a timely manner due to the large harvest volume. In the middle and late stages of growth, fertilizer and water supplementation is usually required 2 to 3 times. It is recommended to use fully soluble foliar fertilizers in combination with irrigation (fertilizers containing trace elements such as boron, zinc, iron, and molybdenum are more effective), and add 0.1% fine salt and mix them together to promote good growth of plants in slightly alkaline soil containing sodium ions.

5. Harvest

Use pointed scissors or a curved knife to harvest in the early morning when the temperature is low, and avoid picking directly with your hands. The first 1 to 3 large leaves can be harvested about half a month after planting, and the side branches can be harvested about one month after planting. The harvested products should be neatly placed in foam boxes, with each layer separated by paper to avoid heavy pressure. If conditions permit, pre-cooling can be carried out after harvesting. It should be kept at low temperature during transportation. If stored in a refrigerator at 2 to 5 degrees Celsius, ice vegetables can stay fresh for 7 to 10 days.

In general, ice plant has very good nutritional value and health functions. When planting it, pay attention to the methods and time.