Where is the origin of water chestnuts?

Chestnut, also known as horseshoe, water chestnut, chestnut, etc., for Cyperaceae water chestnut perennial root herbs, purple-black, fleshy white, sweet and juicy, crisp and delicious, with the reputation of "underground snow pear", northerners call it "Jiangnan ginseng", which can be eaten raw as fruits and vegetables as well. Let's take a look at where the water chestnuts are from.

Where is the origin of water chestnuts?

Water chestnuts are native to India. There are about 150 species of water chestnuts in the world, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Cultivation has been recorded in China since the Western Han Dynasty. At present, there are more than 20 species and some varieties, mainly distributed in low-lying areas such as Guangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi and Guizhou, and also in some areas of Hebei. Baihu Town, Lujiang County, Anhui Province is rich in high-quality water chestnuts, which is the largest "hometown of water chestnuts" in China. Qingshan Town, Lipu County, Guilin City, Guangxi is a nationally recognized "hometown of horseshoes". Lechang water chestnut in Shaoguan area of Guangdong Province is famous for its large size, thin skin, tender meat, sufficient moisture, sweetness, no residue and crispness and delicacy. In addition, Maoli Town, Shayang County, Jingmen City, Hubei Province is also a producing area of water chestnuts, which has been sold overseas and famous.

Growth environment of water chestnut

Water chestnuts are born in ponds or cultivated in paddy fields. Bulbs, also known as fruit balls, are used for asexual reproduction. Like warm, wet and cold, it is suitable to grow in loam where the plough layer is soft and the subsoil is solid. In cultivation, a ploughing layer of 20 cm to 25 cm is required, which is not only conducive to the growth and development of the corm, but also does not cause the corm to drill deep, and the ontogeny is uniform and uniform, and it is also conducive to digging. The plough layer is too sticky, which is not conducive to the expansion of the corm, too much humus, lower sugar content of the corm and poor sweetness. It is suitable to grow in shallow water. In terms of nutritional requirements, it requires less nitrogen fertilizer and more phosphate fertilizer. Adequate light is required throughout the growing period.

Cultivated varieties of water chestnut

1. Guilin Horseshoe: a local variety in Guilin, Guangxi, with a plant height of 100cm to 120cm and a development degree of 20cm. The bulb is oblate, 2.4 cm high, 4 cm in horizontal diameter, the terminal bud is stout, and the two lateral buds often stand side by side, so it is known as "three masts". The skin is reddish brown, the flesh is white, and each weighs 30 grams. Mainly fresh food, but also cooked food and processing, high sugar content, crisp meat, excellent quality. Vigorous and strong anti-lodging ability. The seedlings were raised with bulbs from June to July, the seedling stage was 25 days, the growing period was 130-140 days, and the yield was 1500-2000 kg per mu.

2. Water horseshoe: Guangdong local variety, plant height 70cm 90cm, degree of development 1520cm. The corm is oblate, 2 cm high, 2.5 cm in transverse diameter, the terminal bud is longer, the skin is dark brown, and the flesh is white. Each weighs 10 grams. The content of starch is high, mainly cooked food and starch. Vigorous growth, strong stress resistance, moisture resistance, not resistant to storage. The seedlings were raised with bulbs from June to July, the seedling stage was 25 days, the growing period was 130-140 days, and the yield per mu was 1500 kg.

3. Cardamine: Cardamine is native to the Philippines, with a height of 110cm and 120cm. The bulb is large, oval, transverse diameter 4cm, vertical diameter 2.6cm, single weight 25g, crisp taste sweet, good quality, mainly fresh food, yield more than 2000 kg per mu.

4. Cardamine Xiaogan: Cardamine Xiaogan is a local variety in Xiaogan City, Hubei Province, with a plant height of 90cm and 110cm. The bulb is flat and round, bright red, with an average weight of 22 grams, thin skin, sweet taste, less fine residue, mainly fresh food and good quality. The yield is 1000-1500 kg per mu.

5. Cardamine: Cardamine is a local variety in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, with a plant height of 100cm to 110cm. The bulb is oblate, the tip of the bud is apical, the navel is flat, the skin is thin, the flesh is white, and the weight is about 15 grams. It is suitable for canning. The yield is 750-1000 kg per mu.

6. Cardamine Yuhang: Cardamine Yuhang is a local variety in Yuhang County, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, with flat and round bulbs, thick and straight terminal buds, flat navel, brownish red skin, thin skin, sweet taste, and a single weight of about 20 grams. It is suitable for processing canned and fresh food, with a yield of 1000kg to 1200kg per mu.

7. Guanghong water chestnut: Guanghong water chestnut is a local variety in Shetianqiao Town, Shaodong, Hunan Province. due to Guanghong's special soil, the water chestnut produced every winter is white, red and thin, crisp and sweet. It's the right size. Every year, tourists rush to buy the production date, and the locals also call it "Cigu son".