How to plant ice plant and in what season?

Ice plant is a vegetable with high nutritional value, rich in amino acids, antioxidants, sodium, potassium, carotene , etc. Nowadays, more and more ice plants are cultivated artificially. So how to plant ice plants and in what season should they be planted? Let’s take a look with the editor below.

1. In what season is ice plant planted?

1. Spring planting

Spring is the best time to plant ice plant , and sowing is generally carried out between March and May. Spring-sown icebergs can grow quickly in warm conditions and be harvested before summer arrives.

2. Autumn planting

Autumn is also a good time to plant ice plants, which are generally sown from August to October. Ice plant sown in autumn can grow in winter and spring and is suitable for planting in an environment with lower temperatures.

2. How to grow ice plant?

1. Site selection and land preparation

Ice plant likes to grow in fertile, well-drained soil. Before planting, the soil needs to be tilled, loosened, and weeds and roots removed to improve soil aeration and water retention. According to the soil fertility, add appropriate amount of organic fertilizer or well-rotted farmyard manure as base fertilizer.

2. Seed treatment

Choose high-quality, plump seeds that are free of pests and diseases for planting. To increase germination rates, soak the seeds in warm water for about 20 minutes and then dry them. Seed treatments can also be used to prevent the occurrence of pests and diseases.

3. Planting seeds

Sprinkle the seeds evenly on the prepared soil, cover with an appropriate amount of fine soil, and compact lightly. Keep the soil moist after sowing to facilitate seed germination. Or you can evenly spread the seeds in the small holes of the seedling tray, cover them with soil slightly and water them. Wait until the seedlings grow to a certain size before transplanting.

4. Moisture management

Ice plant needs to maintain a moderate amount of humidity during its growth period, but do not overwater to avoid causing root rot. When the leaves of the plant show signs of wilting in the morning, you can spray water on the leaves around 9 am.

5. Temperature management

Ice plant has a strong ability to adapt to temperature, but the most suitable growth temperature is around 25℃. The temperature cannot be lower than 7℃ or higher than 30℃, otherwise it will affect the growth and quality of the plants.

6. Fertilization management

Depending on the growth of ice plant, after one harvest, if the leaves turn yellow and grow slowly, you can apply appropriate amounts of fertilizers containing nitrogen, calcium, potassium and other elements. It is usually supplemented by root irrigation or foliar fertilizer .

7. Pest and disease control

Check the ice plant regularly to detect and treat diseases and pests in a timely manner. Common diseases and pests include powdery mildew, aphids, and spot disease. Appropriate pesticides can be used for control, or biological control methods can be adopted.

The above is an introduction to how to plant ice plant and in what season to plant it. Ice plant is not widely planted in my country at present, and the planting area is not large. Most of them are propagated by sowing. The best sowing time is late April in spring. Generally, the first harvest can be carried out about 50-60 days after sowing.