The appearance of the ground melon is plump, so it is often called milk melon or nanny melon in many places. The ground melon has high medicinal value, it can not only be used as a green vegetable, but also as a medicinal material. Let's take a look at the planting methods of the ground melon.
Ground melon image
【Medicinal characteristics of ground melon】
The ground melon is a perennial herbaceous drought-tolerant plant. It is suitable for growing on sandy and gravelly soil. It grows plump and looks a bit like a gourd. It is often called ground flower or milk melon by rural people.
Ground melon can be found in sandstone beaches, forest edges, grasslands, wastelands, slopes, and fields in rural areas of Northeast China, North China, Northwest China, and the Jiangnan region.
Ground melon is common in the north and rare in the south, and in some places it is not found at all. It belongs to a drought-tolerant plant and generally grows in the vegetation of typical grasslands. It usually grows on sandy and gravelly soil and can be found in wastelands or fields in rural areas.
The appearance of the ground melon is interesting, it looks a bit like a water droplet, with two pointed ends gradually tapering and a bulging middle, like a spindle.
The stem of the ground melon is relatively slender, but it is soft in texture and has a low degree of lignification. Some animals like to eat ground melon, such as goats, camels, and sheep.
Ground melon image
【Nutritional value of ground melon】
Ground melon is nutritious and can be used as both medicine and food. It grows vigorously and is less prone to diseases and pests. Therefore, it is regarded as a green food and nutritious vegetable. It has a long history of being eaten raw, and it can also be washed and cold mixed, which tastes even better and is favored by local residents.
Ground melon can be eaten when it is tender, but not when it is too old. When it matures and cracks open, it will fly out flying cotton-like fluff, similar to dandelions. Its stem is relatively slender, soft in texture, and has a low degree of lignification, which is beneficial for livestock to feed on.
Ground melon is favored by camels, goats, and sheep when it is young and fresh. These animals especially like to eat its tender pods. After it becomes dry and the leaves fall off, its palatability decreases slightly.
From a chemical composition perspective, ground melon has a high nutritional value. Its protein content is close to that of alfalfa and is equivalent to wheat bran. It is also rich in crude fat and ash.
Calcium content is particularly high, close to the level of general legume forage grasses, and the content of indigestible nutrients, such as crude fiber, is very low. Ground melon not only has a relatively rich protein content, but also has good protein quality.
Ground melon image
【Planting methods of ground melon】
1. Water
Ground melon mainly grows in many provinces in northern China, where water resources are relatively scarce. It can grow in relatively dry environments, indicating that the ground melon has strong drought tolerance. Therefore, apart from watering a little during the vigorous growth period, water should not be a major concern during other times.
2. Light
As we all know, the northwestern region of China has little precipitation, so the sunshine duration is relatively long, providing sufficient sunlight for plants. Therefore, what we need to do is not to shade the plants too much and let the ground melon enjoy the sunlight better.
3. Soil
The soil suitable for this kind of plant is sandy or gravelly soil. Ground melon mainly grows in dry valleys, sand dunes, and other places, mainly because the soil in these places is often sandy or gravelly.
