How to plant ginseng fruit seeds to make them germinate and the environmental conditions for planting ginseng fruit.

How to Plant Ginseng Fruit Seeds to GerminateGermination and cultivation environment conditions of ginseng fruit seeds, let's understand together.With the continuous improvement of living standards, people's consumption needs are increasingly diversified, and consumption concepts are also gradually changing. Distinctive features, good taste, and good appearance have increasingly become important references for consumers to select products. Against this background, some niche but distinctive fruits and vegetables are gradually gaining popularity and becoming more common, among which ginseng fruit is one.Supported by the well-known Journey to the West story, ginseng fruit is widely known in China and is associated with the beautiful meaning of "immortality." Ginseng fruit can be eaten as a vegetable before it is fully ripe, but it is usually consumed as a fruit after full ripening. Additionally, due to its high ornamental value and long fruiting period, ginseng fruit is also used as an ornamental potted plant, making it versatile in cultivation purposes.So, what are the apparent characteristics of ginseng fruit? What are the requirements for the cultivation environment? What key technologies need to be mastered for planting management?This article will provide detailed answers to these questions, hoping to provide technical references for farmers interested in cultivating this unique fruit.Ginseng fruit has an attractive appearanceI. Apparent Characteristics of Ginseng Fruit1. Overview of Ginseng FruitGinseng fruit is also known as celestial fruit, longevity fruit, or sweet melon eggplant (it has a similar fragrance to melons when ripe) and belongs to perennial herbaceous plants. Like tomatoes and potatoes, its origin is in South America, and it is a "close relative" of the Solanaceae family, similar to tomatoes and potatoes. However, ginseng fruit shares more similarities in growth and development with tomatoes.2. RootsGinseng fruit has a well-developed root system with a main root and a large number of lateral roots and root hairs. The strong root system enables ginseng fruit to have a strong absorption capacity for water and mineral nutrients. When the humidity is high, aerial roots can grow from the stem, similar to tomatoes. This is an important reason why stem cutting is commonly used for seedling propagation in production. Ginseng fruit roots can grow deep, reaching 90-100 cm, with a wide absorption range, but the main root group is distributed within 40 cm.Ginseng fruit grown in soilless culture3. StemsDepending on the cultivation management method, the height of the main stem of ginseng fruit is usually between 70-150 cm, with a diameter of about 2-3 cm. The lateral bud growth is strong, with a stem spacing of about 3 cm. There are obvious protuberances at the stem nodes, and the entire stem can root in a suitable humidity environment. Using stem cuttings is the main method of propagating ginseng fruit seedlings in production.4. LeavesThe leaves of ginseng fruit are similar to those of chili peppers, being ovate and green with a distinct petiole, about 15-20 cm in length (including the petiole) and about 5 cm in width. The leaves often appear wrinkled or curled when there is excessive sunlight, too many fruits, insufficient nutrient supply, water deficiency, improper hormone application, or weak plant growth. The leaves are not only the main functional organs for photosynthesis but also have a good leaf structure that can protect the fruit from strong sunlight, prevent sunscald, and ensure uniform fruit coloring and good appearance.Leaf shading is an important guarantee to prevent fruit sunscald5. Flowers, Fruits, SeedsGinseng fruit has a cymose inflorescence with perfect flowers. The time from fruit setting to harvest is generally between 50-80 days, depending on the temperature and light conditions of the cultivation environment. Ginseng fruit is usually heart-shaped or ovate, with a commercial fruit weight of 150g-300g. With proper management, the single fruit weight can reach over 500g, and the higher the fruit weight, the higher the commercial value.The fruit color is usually white, gradually turning to light yellow or yellow when mature. The fruit surface is smooth and glossy, with multiple longitudinal green stripes before maturity. These stripes gradually turn purple when mature. Ginseng fruit seeds are small, and seeds are generally not used as propagation material in commercial production.II. Ginseng Fruit's Requirements for Growing Environment1. TemperatureGinseng fruit does not like high temperatures and is not cold-resistant, suitable for warm environments. It can grow within the temperature range of 8-30 degrees Celsius, but the optimal day and night temperature ranges are 20-25 degrees Celsius and 10-15 degrees Celsius, respectively. High temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius can cause physiological disorders such as leaf wrinkling and curling, and severe physiological disorders can lead to plant death at temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius. Plants stop growing at 8 degrees Celsius and can die from cold damage at 0 degrees Celsius. The suitable temperature range for root growth is 18-20 degrees Celsius.2. LightGinseng fruit requires high light intensity, similar to tomatoes, with a light saturation point of about 70KLux. Continuous cloudy and rainy weather can cause ginseng fruit to drop flowers and fruits, slow growth, or even form malformed fruits, reducing commercial value. However, strong light above 80KLux (natural light intensity at noon in July and August can reach 10KLux) can cause physiological disorders such as leaf wrinkling and curling or sunscald spots on the fruit surface, reducing commercial value.3. WaterGinseng fruit has a deep root system, wide root spread, and large root mass, giving it good drought resistance. The suitable soil relative moisture content range for growth is between 70-80%. When the fruit is the size of a pigeon egg, it enters a period of rapid expansion. Providing sufficient water at this stage is important for forming high-quality fruits that are full, glossy, and large.4. Soil and FertilizationGinseng fruit is not strict about soil conditions, but acidic or alkaline soils can lead to slow growth, physiological disorders, high incidence of diseases and pests, and poor fruit development, which is not conducive to quality production. The best soil is rich in organic matter with good water retention, fertilizer retention, and aeration. Heavy clayey soil unsuitable for ginseng fruit cultivation can cause root death in rainy or continuously waterlogged conditions.Ginseng fruit likes and tolerates fertilization. Sufficient and comprehensive nutrient supply is the premise for obtaining high yields and quality cultivation. Potassium fertilizer is required the most, followed by nitrogen fertilizer, and ginseng fruit also has a high demand for calcium fertilizer. Ensuring adequate calcium supply can effectively prevent blossom-end rot and help form fruits with good resilience and surface gloss.An attractive appearance is key to achieving good economic benefits for ginseng fruit.III. Key Cultivation Techniques1. Seedling RaisingGinseng fruit is generally not propagated by seeds, and cutting propagation is the most commonly used method for rapid seedling raising. The method involves cutting a 12-15 cm long tender branch from a healthy mother plant and inserting it into a well-ventilated matrix. The daytime temperature should be around 25-28 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime temperature should be around 15-18 degrees Celsius. Under suitable temperature conditions, the seedling age is about 25-35 days, so the cutting time should be counted back 25-35 days from the planting time.2. Fertilization and Land PreparationApply about 8000 kg of well-rotted manure (commercial organic fertilizer with high salt content is not suitable for ginseng fruit cultivation) evenly per mu of land, supplemented with about 40 kg of diammonium phosphate, 30 kg of potassium sulfate, and 15-20 kg of superphosphate. The soil should be tilled to a depth of more than 25 cm.An appropriate population structure is important to ensure good growth and the formation of high-quality commercial fruits. It is recommended to use a double-row cultivation method with mulching. Specifically, make wide ridges with a ridge surface width of 90-100 cm, an aisle width of about 30 cm, and a ridge height of about 20 cm. When growing outdoors, the ridge ditch direction should be consistent with the slope to ensure good drainage. After preparing the ridge surface, cover it with plastic film to maintain soil temperature and moisture while reducing air humidity and disease occurrence.