Mushroom herb
On the distant island of Papua New Guinea, an amazing plant grows - mushroom grass (Rungia klossa). For local tribes, the plant is one of the main sources of food.
It is a herbaceous plant with straight stems and oval-shaped leaves. Mushroom grass contains many nutrients, it is incredibly rich in proteins, the content of vitamins A and C - makes it a real storehouse of useful substances.
Fans of delicacies will like this herb because its taste is very distinctly reminiscent of mushrooms. Our culinary experts claim that in combination with potatoes and meat, mushroom grass has a great taste, and it can also be safely added to various salads and soups.
Mushroom grass can be grown in three ways: planting seeds, seedlings, and cuttings.
How to plant mushroom grass?
For planting mushroom grass - ordinary earth with an admixture of sand is suitable, be sure to drain it. Seeds are laid to a depth of no more than 1 cm.
Be sure to water with water, maintain a balance between too moist and dry soil. The plant does not tolerate severe frosts, so be sure to wait until warm.
Seedlings of mushroom grass are grown in pots on sandy loam soils, this method is suitable in cold regions. Also, mushroom grass grows well indoors, but the temperature should not be lower than 12 degrees.
Rungia propagates well by cuttings - several cuttings are needed, all leaves are removed from their surface, except for the top, loose soil will be needed for planting, and the earth should also be fertile.
The shoots are stuck vertically, caring for the mushroom grass consists in moderate watering and observing the temperature regime (at least 23 degrees), be sure to protect it from drafts and wind.
Fertilizers are perfect for feeding, which include: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. In case of poor development and growth, mushroom grass can be fed with superphosphate and potassium sulfate. But not more than three waterings for the whole season.
Be sure to consider the location of the bush - on the sunny side, the plant will give more green and juicy leaves. Watering the mushroom grass must be regular, but stagnation of water must not be allowed, so good drainage should be considered initially.
For the winter, you can save the rhizomes, only during warm winters, at more than 10 degrees - the mushroom grass (Rungia) will die.
The harvest of mushroom grass can be harvested when the first solid greenery appears, the main thing is not to bare the bush by more than two-thirds.