Ⅰ. Product Details

Variety Characteristics

Willow-Leaf Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) is an annual aquatic or semi-aquatic herb of the Convolvulaceae family with a growth cycle of 40-60 days. It features slender, willow-shaped leaves (3-5cm wide, 10-15cm long) and hollow stems that can grow up to 1-2m in length. The variety has strong heat tolerance and waterlogging resistance, suitable for cultivation in wetlands, ponds, and even hydroponic systems throughout the warm season.

Quality Advantages

• Stems and leaves are crisp and tender with mild flavor, rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, dietary fiber and antioxidants, with functions of clearing heat and detoxifying.
• Rapid growth: Can be harvested multiple times (3-5 harvests per planting), with high yield and good regeneration ability after cutting.
• Adaptable cultivation: Can be grown in soil, water, or hydroponic systems, suitable for both commercial production and home gardening.

High-Yield Characteristics

Under proper cultivation management, the yield per mu can reach 3000-5000kg per season. The variety has strong branching ability, with each plant producing multiple lateral shoots, and can be harvested continuously for 3-4 months in warm conditions. It has good resistance to diseases and pests, requiring minimal pesticide use.

Anwendungsszenarien

• Fresh food market: Popular leafy vegetable in Asian cuisine, widely used in stir-fries, soups, and hot pots;
• Hydroponic farming: Ideal for soilless cultivation systems due to its aquatic nature;
• Urban agriculture: Suitable for container gardening, balcony hydroponics, and small pond cultivation;
• Environmental remediation: Can be used to purify water quality in aquaculture systems and wastewater treatment.

Selection & Storage Suggestions

• Selection skills: Choose young stems (15-20cm long) with bright green color, crisp texture, and no yellow leaves or insect damage;
• Storage method: Wrap with damp paper towel and store in refrigerator crisper for 3-5 days, or keep in water (1-2cm depth) at room temperature for 2-3 days. Best eaten fresh for optimal taste and nutrition.

Ⅱ. Planting Methods

Planting Preparation

1. Site Selection

Willow-Leaf Water Spinach thrives in warm, humid environments with full sunlight (6-8 hours daily). For soil cultivation, choose fertile, loamy soil with good water retention and pH 5.5-7.5. For hydroponic cultivation, use nutrient-rich water with temperature 20-30℃. Avoid cold, windy locations and water with high salinity.

2. Propagation Materials

• Seed propagation: Use fresh seeds (germination rate ≥85%), with seed consumption of 1-1.5kg per mu;
• Cutting propagation: Use 15-20cm stem cuttings from healthy plants, with 3-4 nodes per cutting;
• Seed pretreatment: Soak seeds in 40-45℃ warm water for 24 hours, then germinate at 25-30℃ for 3-5 days until white buds appear.

Planting Methods

1. Sowing Time

• Spring sowing: April to May when temperature ≥15℃;
• Summer sowing: June to August (optimal growth period);
• Autumn sowing: September to October in southern China;
• Greenhouse cultivation: Can be planted year-round with temperature control (≥18℃).

2. Planting Techniques

• Soil sowing: Make furrows 1-2cm deep with row spacing of 20-30cm, sow seeds evenly and cover with fine soil, water thoroughly;
• Cutting planting: Insert cuttings 5-8cm into soil or water, with spacing of 15×20cm, keep soil moist or water depth of 5-10cm;
• Hydroponic cultivation: Use nutrient solution with N:P:K ratio of 3:1:2, maintain water depth of 10-15cm and pH 6.0-7.0;
• Rice field intercropping: Plant in rice fields after harvesting early rice, with spacing of 20×30cm.

Field Management

1. Wasserwirtschaft

• Soil cultivation: Keep soil moist at all times, water once every 2-3 days in dry weather, maintain shallow water layer (2-3cm) in rainy season;
• Hydroponic cultivation: Change water every 7-10 days, maintain dissolved oxygen ≥5mg/L, keep water temperature 20-30℃;
• Avoid drought stress which causes stem lignification and poor quality.

2. Fertilizer Management

• Base fertilizer: Apply 2000-3000kg of decomposed organic fertilizer + 20kg of compound fertilizer per mu before planting;
• Topdressing: Apply 10-15kg of urea per mu 15 days after planting, then apply 5-10kg of urea + 5kg of potassium sulfate per mu after each harvest;
• Foliar fertilizer: Spray 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution every 10-15 days during rapid growth period.

3. Temperature & Light Management

• Optimal growth temperature: 25-30℃, growth slows below 15℃, stop growing below 10℃;
• Requires full sunlight (6-8 hours daily), shade with 30% shade net in extreme heat (≥35℃);
• In greenhouse cultivation, maintain day temperature 25-30℃ and night temperature ≥15℃.

4. Disease & Pest Control

• Downy mildew: Spray with 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder 600x solution or 58% metalaxyl manganese zinc 500x solution;
• Anthracnose: Use 50% carbendazim wettable powder 800x solution for spray control;
• Aphids and spider mites: Control with 10% imidacloprid wettable powder 1500x solution or neem oil;
• Caterpillars: Use Bt emulsion 500x solution or 2.5% deltamethrin 2000x solution for spray control;
• Weed control: Remove weeds manually or use mulch to suppress weed growth.

Harvesting

• Harvest time: First harvest at 30-40 days after planting when plants reach 30-40cm height, subsequent harvests every 15-20 days;
• Harvesting method: Cut stems 10-15cm above ground with sharp knife or scissors, retain 2-3 nodes for regrowth;
• Post-harvest treatment: Wash stems and leaves, remove old leaves and roots, bundle into 250-500g portions for sale. Can be stored in refrigerator for 3-5 days or eaten fresh immediately.