Each plant needs to find its own approach. After all, some like shade and good moisture, while others like the sun and rare watering. Therefore, before you start planting any plant, you should initially study the features of its cultivation. Chufa - ground almond, planting and caring for which also requires preliminary study.
Peculiarities of culture
Chufa is a perennial herbaceous crop that reaches 1 m in height. The ground part is green narrow arrow-shaped leaves with trihedral shoots. At the very top of the plant are small inflorescences of white small flowers resembling umbrellas. The underground part is the main tuber bud (greens grow from it) and lateral tubers (shoots of a powerful root system come out of them).
The plant is pollinated by the wind. Under good conditions, the chufa nut only forms nodules in the first year, but does not bloom. Up to 1 thousand good tubers are harvested from one plant per year, which can be described as follows:
- length - up to 3 cm;
- oval shape;
- inner flesh is white;
- when drying, the tuber becomes wrinkled.
Origin
Chufa is native to North America and the Mediterranean. People were familiar with it many centuries ago, during the time of the pharaohs. Even in the famous writings of Herodotus, one can find a mention of this nut. In Russia, the plant appeared in the 18th century, but it had a different name - wintering. But later they began to call it ground almonds.
Chufa is very popular these days. India and Sudan are actively engaged in its cultivation in order to use it in cooking. In Turkey, the plant is grown to attract game. Ukraine has developed unique varieties of chufa called "culinary" and "confectionery". You can list the countries in which this crop is grown for a long time, but the main thing is that it is popular due to its benefits and versatility.
Ideal landing conditions
How does Chufa sit down? The seeds of the plant are small tubers. To get a good harvest from any plant, you need to plant it correctly. To do this, you will have to recall the climatic features of the homeland of this culture.
Perfect for Chufa:
- The soil should be loose and the land fertile. If the rock is clayey, then in the fall you need to start preparing it: add sand and peat to it. When the local soil is acidic, lime will help.
- Humidity is whatwhich is important to pay attention. Chufa peanut came to us from the tropics, which means that he needs water all the time. But you can not flood the plant, this will lead to decay of the rhizome.
- Tubers should be planted with the advent of heat, because this crop does not tolerate frost.
- If the bed is properly prepared (apply the necessary fertilizers), then the plant will not need additional feeding for the whole season. Only in cases where the soil is very poor, you will have to fertilize 2-3 times with organic infusions prepared by yourself.
Landing
Experienced summer residents know that any seeds need to be soaked before settling them in the garden. This also applies to ground almonds. The tubers are soaked in clean water for several days, while the water will have to be changed daily. If the liquid stagnates, the tubers will turn sour and become unsuitable for growing. During these days, the tubers will absorb moisture, which means they will sprout faster in the soil.
When to plant? May is the perfect time to plant. The air and the earth have already warmed up, but there is still enough moisture in the soil, which is so necessary for chufa. The beds should be small. Sometimes you have to plant tubers between vegetables in the garden and even in a flower bed where there is an extra place.
Planting instructions:
- With a chopper, make grooves 6-8 cm deep. There should be a distance of 25 cm between the ditches.
- Dry soil must be watered, and after the water is absorbed, start planting tubers.
- Between tubers in one row shouldbe a minimum distance of 20 cm.
- When everything is planted, carefully cover the seedlings with earth.
If you follow all the rules, then the first sprouts can be seen in a week.
Care
Chufa (earth almond), planting and caring for which requires vigilance, will please with its fruits if you follow two basic rules:
- water the plant regularly, especially in dry weather;
- get rid of weeds at the initial stage of growth.
The main thing is not to overdo it with watering. Excessive moisture leads to the fact that the greens become more beautiful, but this reduces the quantity and quality of tubers. During the rainy season, there should be no problems with watering.
Harvesting
If you know when to plant chufu, properly care for it, then the first tubers will appear a month after the first leaves appear. Harvest time is autumn. During this period of the year, the leaves of the plant turn yellow and dry.
Using a garden pitchfork, you need to carefully pry the bush and carefully get it to the surface of the earth. Collect all the tubers by hand and place in a sieve to sift out excess dirt. Next, you will need to wash the harvested crop and fold it to dry in natural conditions (lay out on a table that is placed in the sun). When dried, the "nuts" shrivel and decrease in size.
The largest fruits are selected for planting next season, and the rest are used. Tubers are stored for a maximum of 4 years.
Usefulproperties
Chufa (earth almond), planted and cared for correctly, will give a good and high-quality harvest. Harvested tubers are used in various fields due to their qualities.
Useful properties of "nuts":
- improve sleep;
- strengthen the immune system;
- empower a person;
- have a good effect on memory and attention, significantly improving them;
- lower blood sugar in diabetics;
- with the help of milk made from chufa tubers, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are treated;
- help the body cleanse itself of radionuclides;
- manage bladder ailments;
- relieve toothache;
- help to quickly bounce back with SARS;
- there are facts that chufa copes even with complications after childbirth.
Where use
Where, besides traditional medicine, is chufa (ground almond) used? The use of this "nut" in cooking has been practiced for a long time. Most often, oil is prepared from the tubers, which is similar to olive oil. It is used not only in cooking, but also for lubricating various tools. Overcooked tubers are suitable for making surrogate coffee.
The taste of this product is reminiscent of the familiar almonds or peanuts. Therefore, confectioners actively add chufa to sweets, cakes and other products. In Spain, they practice the preparation of ice cream and a very tasty drink from peanuts.
The leaves of the plant are used to feed livestock. It is even prepared forwinter, after drying well. Crushed nodules are also not thrown away, they are well eaten by birds.
Other uses:
- stems got used to weaving very beautiful and strong baskets;
- Leaves are used to make paper, fuel, insulation and rope;
- this plant has found application even in cosmetology - added to shampoo and toilet soap;
- fishermen use tubers as bait.
As you can see, chufa (ground almonds) is very useful. Planting and caring for this crop should not be difficult for those who enjoy growing something out of the ordinary. And if everything is done correctly, then the harvested crop can be used to treat ailments, in cooking and even in the household.
