Kangkong Bamboo Leaf (2gm seeds)
Kangkong, also known as water glorybind, water spinach, water convolvulus, and swamp cabbage, is an important green leafy vegetable in Southeast Asia, Taiwan, and Malaysia. It is found throughout the fresh waters of southern China, and is cultivated in countries such as Ceylon.
Two types of culture are used: dry and wet. In both cases, large amounts of organic material (compost and manure) and water are used to advantage.
In dry culture, the plants are spaced 5 inches apart in raised beds and are supported by trellises. Kangkong is started from seed or cuttings. Plants are often grown in nursery beds for transplanting later to the garden. Taking cuttings from plants in the nursery beds is the usual method. Harvest may start 6 weeks after planting.
Where wet culture is permitted, 12-inch-long cuttings are planted in mud and kept moist. Weeds are controlled by the flooding. Harvest begins 30 days after planting. When the succulent tips of the vines are removed, lateral and upright branches are encouraged. These branches are harvested every 7-10 days.
Plants make the transition to the flowering stage with the short days of winter. During flowering, less vegetative material is available for harvest, but heavy fertilizing and pruning tend to produce more leafy growth.
The frost-sensitive plants are perennial and grow year-round under tropical conditions. Although beds will continue to grow for several years, a build-up of disease, insects, and weeds and soil fertility problems in older established beds make annual culture more desirable.
Ipomoea aquatica Forssk. (Alba Group)
CHINESE : Bai hua weng cai (Cantonese Soi ong choi).
ENGLISH : White-flowering kangkong, Cultivated kangkong.
MALAY : Kangkung darat (Indonesia), Kangkung putih, Kankung darat.
THAI : Phakbung chin (Pak boong chin).
