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Posted on 6:54 PM by Wanto and filed under
By Greg Bailey
Synonym is Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott
Common names are African Spinach, Indian Spinach, Spinach, Amaranth, Bush Greens, Chinese Spinach, Green Leaf, Spinach Greens (Eng.); Amarante (Fr.); Bledo (Sp.); Badi Chauli, Chota Chaulai (Ind.); Kulitis (Philipp.).
Local forms are selected for specific areas.
Indigenous to India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, not widely cultivated but occurs wild in some areas.
Widely grown in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa; Zaire; the West Indies; and Indonesia.
A large, erect herb, 24 m in height. Corm: a modified form of stem, growing immediately below the surface of the soil, black or dark brown in colour. Stems: thickened, up to 3 m or more in height and 20 cm in diameter. Leaves: large, sagittate, up to 1 m in length, without a marginal vein; petiole 1-1.2 m in length. Leaves in line with the main axis of the petiole. Both stems and leaves contain a viscous, milky fluid. Flowers: a spathe, with separate male and female section in spadix. Fruit: a berry, red when ripe.
A wide range of soil type is suitable but fertile barns, with good water retention are preferable. Soils liable to waterlogging are unsuitable but crops are often established on river banks. Stable high temperatures are required for optimum growth since Alocasia is sensitive to low temperatures. Rainfall should be reasonably distributed throughout the year and normally in excess of 2000 mm. Elevations below 1000 m are generally suitable.
Seeds, which are often mixed with dry sand to ensure uniform distribution, are normally sown broadcast on prepared beds at a rate of 3-10 g/m2 (1.5-2 kg/ha). They may also be sown on nursery beds and the seedlings transplanted to rows 20-30 cm apart, 10-15 cm between plants. Very vigorous species or cultivars may be transplanted to 30-40 cm X 3040 cm square spacing. Broadcast sown seedlings may also be thinned to 15-22 cm apart each way, or at more liberal spacings if they have a very branching habit. A grass mulch is sometimes used for covering freshly sown seeds to protect them from heavy rain. This mulch may be removed.
Most species and cultivars of Amaranthus grow rapidly and may be harvested 30-50 days from sowing when they are 15-20 cm high. Either the whole plant may be uprooted, or established plants may be cut back to within 15 cm of the base to encourage lateral growths which will provide successive harvests. Yield: Entire plant harvested : 20-25 t/ha; shoots only (successional harvesting): 30-60 t/ha. Seed production: Cross-pollination by wind-borne pollen is normal although some selfing often occurs. Plants for seed production are planted at 40 cm X 70 cm spacing may be headed back after about 4 weeks to stimulate lateral branching. Seeds mature 3-5 months from planting. Seed yield is approximately 200 kg/ha (A. tricolor).
Any roots are trimmed and the plants may be washed before being tied into bundles. Where available, crushed ice may be scattered over the top layers of the basket or container to prevent wilting. Care should be taken to avoid overpacking of the container.
The leaves and young shoots of both forms are used in soups and stews.
Common names are African Spinach, Indian Spinach, Spinach, Amaranth, Bush Greens, Chinese Spinach, Green Leaf, Spinach Greens (Eng.); Amarante (Fr.); Bledo (Sp.); Badi Chauli, Chota Chaulai (Ind.); Kulitis (Philipp.).
Local forms are selected for specific areas.
Indigenous to India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, not widely cultivated but occurs wild in some areas.
Widely grown in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa; Zaire; the West Indies; and Indonesia.
A large, erect herb, 24 m in height. Corm: a modified form of stem, growing immediately below the surface of the soil, black or dark brown in colour. Stems: thickened, up to 3 m or more in height and 20 cm in diameter. Leaves: large, sagittate, up to 1 m in length, without a marginal vein; petiole 1-1.2 m in length. Leaves in line with the main axis of the petiole. Both stems and leaves contain a viscous, milky fluid. Flowers: a spathe, with separate male and female section in spadix. Fruit: a berry, red when ripe.
A wide range of soil type is suitable but fertile barns, with good water retention are preferable. Soils liable to waterlogging are unsuitable but crops are often established on river banks. Stable high temperatures are required for optimum growth since Alocasia is sensitive to low temperatures. Rainfall should be reasonably distributed throughout the year and normally in excess of 2000 mm. Elevations below 1000 m are generally suitable.
Seeds, which are often mixed with dry sand to ensure uniform distribution, are normally sown broadcast on prepared beds at a rate of 3-10 g/m2 (1.5-2 kg/ha). They may also be sown on nursery beds and the seedlings transplanted to rows 20-30 cm apart, 10-15 cm between plants. Very vigorous species or cultivars may be transplanted to 30-40 cm X 3040 cm square spacing. Broadcast sown seedlings may also be thinned to 15-22 cm apart each way, or at more liberal spacings if they have a very branching habit. A grass mulch is sometimes used for covering freshly sown seeds to protect them from heavy rain. This mulch may be removed.
Most species and cultivars of Amaranthus grow rapidly and may be harvested 30-50 days from sowing when they are 15-20 cm high. Either the whole plant may be uprooted, or established plants may be cut back to within 15 cm of the base to encourage lateral growths which will provide successive harvests. Yield: Entire plant harvested : 20-25 t/ha; shoots only (successional harvesting): 30-60 t/ha. Seed production: Cross-pollination by wind-borne pollen is normal although some selfing often occurs. Plants for seed production are planted at 40 cm X 70 cm spacing may be headed back after about 4 weeks to stimulate lateral branching. Seeds mature 3-5 months from planting. Seed yield is approximately 200 kg/ha (A. tricolor).
Any roots are trimmed and the plants may be washed before being tied into bundles. Where available, crushed ice may be scattered over the top layers of the basket or container to prevent wilting. Care should be taken to avoid overpacking of the container.
The leaves and young shoots of both forms are used in soups and stews.
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