Harvesting the "Oriental Divine Fruit":Hunan Nutramax Cultivation Experiences Sharing of Monk Fruit

As the 2024 monk fruit harvest season approaches, Hunan Nutramax?is filled with joy and anticipation, ready to embrace this year's bountiful harvest. Nestled within these vibrant fields are secrets of nature and technology, each one encapsulated in the plump, ripe fruits.

Monk fruit, a member of the gourd family, thrives in cool, humid, and misty environments. It is predominantly cultivated in the southwestern regions of China, where conditions such as significant temperature fluctuations, a long frost-free period, and ample rainfall contribute to its growth. The commercial value of monk fruit is closely tied to professional cultivation techniques and management experiences, making every growth stage—from seedling to fruiting—crucial.

Soil Preparation: After weeding, sterilizing, and pest control, apply well-rotted organic fertilizer as a base. Recommended bed dimensions are 3.6 meters wide and 30 cm high, with 40 cm drainage ditches between beds. Create planting mounds with a diameter of 80 cm and a height of 10-20 cm.

Trellising: As monk fruit vines are long and hang from the trellis, it is essential to construct a sturdy support system. Maintain a post spacing of 2.4 m by 3 m to prevent collapse. The suggested height for the trellis is between 1.7 m and 1.9 m.

Seedling Cultivation:?Start sowing seeds in March under a greenhouse, maintaining a temperature of 15-32°C and humidity around 70%. Seedlings should reach a thickness of at least 3 mm before transplanting.

Transplanting: Around April, when temperatures stabilize above 15°C, transplant the seedlings. Since monk fruit is dioecious, plant female and male seedlings in a 50:1 ratio to facilitate manual pollination. Apply necessary water-soluble fertilizers 5-7 days after planting.

Orchard Management:

1.Once seedlings reach 20 cm, select the thickest vine as the main stem, removing side shoots. Secure the main vine to the trellis and promptly remove all new growth from the base and leaf axils.

2.Fertilization should be light before flowering and heavier during the flowering period, using organic fertilizers combined with well-rotted farm manure.

3.Water management is critical: monk fruit prefers moist conditions but is sensitive to waterlogging and drought. Ensure proper drainage during the rainy season and adequate irrigation during dry spells.

4. As male flowers are not attractive to pollinators, manual pollination is necessary. Collect male flowers early in the morning and gently transfer pollen to the female flowers during optimal temperature conditions (22.5°C to 28.5°C).

5. To achieve high yields, focus on developing secondary vines and timely pruning to control the main vine.

6. Monitor for diseases such as white silk disease, bud rot, viral infections, and blight.

?

Harvesting: Typically, fruits begin to mature 75 days post-pollination. Harvest when the stems turn yellow, the skin becomes firm and elastic, and the fruit has a high content of mogrosides. After drying for 10-15 days, the fruits can be packaged and roasted at 70-80°C. Quality indicators include dryness, a brownish color, and a lack of decay.

The commercial quality and grade of monk fruit are generally categorized according to the circumference of the fruit's equatorial section as follows:

Extra Large Fruit: greater than 18 cm

Large Fruit: between 17.4 cm and 18 cm

Medium Fruit: Circumference between 16.5 cm and 17.4 cm

Small Fruit: between 14.1 cm and 16.5 cm

Substandard Fruit: Circumference less than 14.1 cm

Additionally, fruits that produce a sound when squeezed (known as "ringing fruit") will be classified one grade lower than their original classification. Damaged fruits will be assessed based on weight.

At the Hunan Nutramax?Wu Gang monk fruit cultivation base, our mature agricultural techniques and unwavering spirit are projected to yield significant harvests in 2024. Despite challenges from heavy rains in May and June and drought in July and August, we have implemented drainage and irrigation strategies to ensure the successful flowering and fruiting of our monk fruit.

As we celebrate this harvest season, Hunan Nutramax?collaborates with local farmers to witness the blooming and ripening of monk fruit. Each fruit represents the hard work and dedication of our team, reflecting our love and commitment to agriculture.

Looking ahead, Hunan Nutramax?will continue to deepen our engagement in the monk fruit industry, striving to be a leader in natural sweeteners. We are committed to using our self-cultivated monk fruit base as a model to promote cultivation across various provinces, aiming for a balanced supply and demand of monk fruit raw materials. Our goal is to foster win-win development across the entire industry chain, continuously advancing agricultural technology, helping more farmers increase their income, and contributing to the great cause of rural revitalization.