THE CHINESE WATER GARDEN - Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard - page 175

DID YOU KNOW?
The lotus of Greek mythology and Tennyson's famous poem is not the water plant, Chinese lotus ( Ne-
lumbo nucifera ). It is generally believed to be a tree now known as jujube ( Ziziphus jujuba ). According
to Greek mythology, eating the fruit of this tree caused you to while away your days in dreamy languor,
forgetful of family, friends, and home. Fortunately (or unfortunately, as the case may be), the Chinese
lotus does not have this effect.
How to Grow
Getting started. Chinese lotus should be grown in full sun. The more sun, the more
freely it flowers. Less than full sun gives you some flowers, but plants do not make their
full glorious show.
Your container must be round, because lotus roots grow in a circle. The minimum
size container for a single lotus root is a bushel or 25 gallons. A single lotus root can
grow as large as 4 feet long and 3 inches in diameter if you let it. The lotus is set the
deepest of your water vegetables, so if it is grown with other plants, your main water
container needs to be deep enough to accommodate the lotus. The main container needs
to be 8 to 12 inches taller than the lotus container, as lotus plants need at least 6 but not
more than 10 inches of warm water above the soil line. Fill the container with potting
soil and fertilizer (see page 153 for advice).
Plant the lotus rhizome so it is horizontal with sprouts pointing upward at a slight angle and the end op-
posite the section with the sprouts slanting slightly downward.
Planting. Lotus plants are started from rhizomes rather than seeds. (You can grow new
plants from seeds, but it's a very slow process.) Rhizomes are shipped from April to
June, so get your order in early. When you receive the lotus rhizome from the water-
garden supplier, one or more shoots are usually growing straight up, at right angles to
the root.
Plant the rhizome horizontally, with the sprouts pointing upward at a slight angle;
the end opposite the section with the sprouts should slant slightly downward. Plant 2