Wasabi or wasabi japonica is Japanese horseradish and belongs to the family of Brassicaceae. However, there are regarded as the toughest plant to grow. Here, in this article, I have tried to explain how you can grow wasabi easily with a minimum effort.
Growing wasabi in your backyard can be troublesome. It does not grow in an unsuitable climate. Moreover, it is susceptive to disease and takes almost two years to become mature.
However, people are crazy about growing wasabi. In fact, we got mails from our subscribers at regular intervals. That's why we have decided to write this guide.
Page Contents
As we already know this plant belongs to the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae plant family. Another commonly known plant from this family is the mustard plant, IE: dwarf shrubs.
Growing wasabi is profitable because they are highly-priced. So, growing this is profitable like growing lavender.
A paste is being prepared from the rhizomes on the ground and is being plucked. It is made out of these wasabi rhizomes that are generally used in many of the Japanese home-or restaurants made dishes such as sushi and other food items. The uniqueness of wasabi lies in its strong and spicy taste that it emits when used in any dish.
Some of the physical advantages that you may enjoy if you have Wasabi regularly ;
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Wasabi is very selective about the environment. If the environment is ok for growing, then you can follow this guide. I will try to make it easily understandable. Let's begin.
As an introduction, there are about 2 varieties that you can choose from to grow in your backyard or pots. However, you can only grow two types of Wasabi plants from the seeds which are the Duruma and Mazuma.
The other types of seeds that you can choose to grow are the Takai, Shimane, Sanapo, Izawa, Daruma, Medaka and Hangen.
The best option to grow the wasabi plant is to set up a small irrigation project. Be sure not to soak the soil as this may lead to the growth of fungus or root rot that can rapidly escalate across the other plants
It will not grow well if it doesn't get the right temperature, humidity and water content A full wasabi plant grows into a full plant within two years. It can develop into a full plant in very soggy circumstances. Also, it is important to make sure that the plants have the best nutritious soil for growth.
Select an area that has a proper shelter facility: The place should not get direct sunlight because they generally grow on the forest floors in the wild. For this, it is best to plant them under the trees so that they do not get too much of the sunlight.
You can use the roto-tiller or shovel to plow up the soil patch. Do the plowing to almost 25 cm deep. Then, add compost (organic/fertilizer, compost) into the soil. It will make the soil healthy and rich enough for the wasabi plants to spring up graciously from their seeds.
Before, planting you have to make sure the soil is fertile, and create shade to protect it from the direct sunlight.
If you plant the wasabi seeds during the winter is also not a bad thing.
Doing so, you will be giving them enough time to strengthen their roots. Of course, do not plant them immediately after you receive them.wait for at least two days before you proceed with the plantation process.
This is because if you apply too much water to the plants then their roots will eventually rot and damage the plant -on the other hand, if you do not water the plant properly it will dry out and eventually die.
If you are planting the wasabi seeds in a pot.
You may have liked the taste of wasabi paste that you have distinguished from the bowl of sushi you may have had at a restaurant a few days ago. Now you have hit up with a plan to grow these plants at home so that you can use the grow the homegrown wasabi to prepare the paste that you will add while cooking any of your dishes. So the first thing you must know is the materials you will need to get on the quest.
If presented to too much moisture or humidity, it would die; Also the incorrect nutrient planning could lead to a similar fate.
Once you plant a Wasabi seedling, you do not need to care much about it except the weather and soil conditions of course as mentioned earlier above. Also, pests or insects will not disturb the plat too much either. Although aphids can be seen very rarely, also like the mildew, they will not damage more than just a few leaves.
The size of the plants will be almost close to two feet tall and almost two feet wide after it has completely grown.
The wasabi plants do grow in full size by the summer that can be distinguished by the large heart-shaped leaves and its tall structure does make other plants around it scuffle for light.
The leaves do live on for the next six months until the winter season and the plant's materials do travel downwards into the rhizomes located beyond the ground where it is conserved.
First and foremost, dig up the rhizomes to make sure that the plant is ready for harvest. Be extra careful while digging up the rhizomes and make sure not to cut them out while digging them. Place the seeds at a considerable distance from each other(approximately 330 cm from each other).
Other precautions you can take before harvesting the seeds are as follows:
These are swollen stems that can all the essentials so that the plant can survive the harsh winter season and regrow again during the spring season.
You can consume the leaves and stems that you can put into any dish to spice it up. The white flowers that appear during the spring season on the stems can be used as fragrant as well as consumable raw or fried.
How to make the paste from the Wasabi Plant?
Answer: Now that the Wasabi Plant has grown completely and is ready to use, you may want to know how to use the plant to make the paste from it.
Use it as a finger grater to mince the wasabi root. Place the grated wasabi to a mortar to slice it off further and eventually prepare a smooth creamy paste.
How long can it take for the wasabi plant seeds to germinate?
Answer: Approximately 15 to 20 days
Can wasabi be grown using hydroponic techniques?
Answer: Yes and many who are producing the plant commercially are using this method.
How long can it take to grow the wasabi Plant hydroponically?
Answer: Approximately 18 months
What to do when you see dark spots on the Wasabi leaves?
Answer: This generally happens due to the frost and you can cure this by moving the plant to somewhere warm and shady or a greenhouse where you can regulate its temperature.As it is hard for the wasabi to tolerate the frost or cold weather it is best to plant it inside the house if you do not have a greenhouse.
Conclusion
As this plant is very sensitive about the weather, and environment you should always take good care of them. Moreover, for large scale growing, the greenhouse is suggested.
If you follow this guide, you can grow wasabi successfully. However, if you feel any difficulties, write a comment below, we will try our best to help you.