Tu Ren Shen, also known as Luo Lan, False Ginseng, and Ginseng Vegetable, is a medicinal plant with nourishing and strengthening properties. It is cultivated in many places and is easy to grow. Now let's take a look at the nutritional value of Tu Ren Shen.
【Nutritional Value of Tu Ren Shen】
Many villagers in rural areas dry the leaves of Tu Ren Shen and make tea with them, which tastes even better than regular tea leaves. In addition to this, Tu Ren Shen is also used in various ways in cooking.
When it matures, its roots can be used to make soup, and the leaves of Tu Ren Shen can be stir-fried, steamed, and used in almost every dish. The taste is smooth and delicious, especially suitable for women who have just given birth. It is both a "wild vegetable" and "ginseng".
Tu Ren Shen was originally an ornamental plant with thick, tender, and green stems and leaves. It is rich in potassium and low in sodium. Every 100 grams of fresh leaves contain 6.2 micrograms of selenium, making it a rare health vegetable. It can be used to make soup or stir-fried, and can also be mixed with chicken, fish, and meat to make soup dishes.
It tastes similar to wood ear vegetables, with a crisp and refreshing texture and a fragrant taste. It has the functions of tonifying the middle, benefiting qi, moistening the lungs, generating body fluids, and promoting milk secretion. It can enhance physical fitness and prevent and treat influenza, fatigue, and seasickness. Its root can also be eaten and has the effect of nourishing and strengthening the body.
【Planting Methods of Tu Ren Shen】
Tu Ren Shen belongs to the Portulacaceae family and is easy to cultivate. It has the characteristics of wild vegetables, drought resistance, almost no pests and diseases, and easy management, which are shared with the Portulaca genus.
In some places in the botanical garden, I have seen Tu Ren Shen growing in the cracks of stones by the roadside, thriving without any care.
It is convenient to propagate Tu Ren Shen with seeds. The germination temperature needs to be around 15 degrees Celsius or higher. It can also be propagated by cuttings.
This year, there was an empty pot next to the Tu Ren Shen I planted. After the capsules of Tu Ren Shen matured and split open, small black seeds splashed onto this piece of land, resulting in a large pot of wild vegetables without any effort.
Tu Ren Shen prefers warmth. If you want to try planting it this season, whether by sowing or cuttings, there is still time. If you are planting it for vegetables rather than flowers, the flower spikes should be removed as soon as possible to avoid wasting nutrients.
