Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Create the Right Environment
• Method 2 of 3: Planting and Caring for Wasabi
• Method 3 of 3: Harvesting and applying wasabi
• Tips
• Warnings

Wasabi is one of the most capricious plants. It needs moisture and a moderate temperature, and when grown in large quantities, this plant often gets sick. However, the benefits of wasabi are more than inconveniences, because it is very beneficial for health and has a special fresh, pungent, pleasant taste that has no analogues. If you are up to the challenge and confident that you can recreate the conditions in which this plant lives in the wild, you will be able to grow wasabi.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Create the Right Environment

1. 1 Find a place that is humid and warm enough. Wasabi is native to Japan and thrives best in humid and warm climates (temperatures between 7 and 21 degrees Celsius). Wasabi is a very picky plant and cannot grow where temperatures are outside this range.
   • In its natural environment, wasabi grows in places where there are many trees, in conditions of high humidity and in well-drained soil.
   • There are few places in the world that are suitable for growing wasabi in their natural environment.
2. 2 Think about how to adjust the temperature. If you live in a region with an unsuitable climate, you will need to artificially recreate the required conditions. It is best to use a greenhouse - it will trap heat and humidity inside and allow you to keep an eye on the temperature. If you decide to buy a greenhouse, set it up so that the temperature inside is always kept within 7-21 degrees Celsius.
   • If you live in a region with a climate that suits wasabi, you can do without a greenhouse. In hot climates, cover the bed with a tarp or cloth to keep the plant from overheating. If there is a slight frost in your area, also cover the plant with something when it gets colder.
3. 3 Choose a place in the shade. Wasabi cannot grow in the open sun - it needs shade. In the wild, wasabi dwells under trees that block the sun, but still let in enough rays for the plant to develop. At home, try to recreate this environment by planting wasabi under trees or using a simple canopy to protect the plant from the sun.
   • It is important to create shade in the greenhouse as well. Place the wasabi under tall plants or near opaque windows to keep the sun from shining directly on it.
4. 4 Fertilize the soil. Use a mixture of organic and sulfur fertilizer. Plow the soil 25 centimeters deep and add fertilizer to it - you will have a healthy and nutrient-rich soil for the plant. The PH level of the soil should be 6-7 - this soil is most suitable for wasabi. Nutrient-rich organic soil with the right pH will help the wasabi survive under artificial conditions.
5. 5 Make sure the soil drains well. Wasabi loves moisture, but not mud and swamp. To see if the water is leaking well, water a piece of land and see how the water is absorbed. If it is slow, use more compost, if it is fast, the soil is right for you.
   • It is best to plant wasabi near a natural body of water or river, because the soil will be moist there, but the water will drain regularly.
   • You can also plant wasabi near a waterfall, which will spray water on the plant all the time.

Method 2 of 3: Planting and Caring for Wasabi

1. 1 Buy seeds in late fall. Wasabi seeds are difficult to buy from local vendors, so many people order them online. It is best to do this in late autumn, because in winter wasabi takes root in the ground. When the seeds are delivered, put them in a damp place and plant them within 48 hours of receiving.
2. 2 Plant the seeds. In the evening before planting, place the seeds in a small bowl and cover with distilled water. Soak the seeds in water overnight. This will soften the seed coat and make the wasabi easier to take root. Plant the seeds 3-5 centimeters apart and gently press into the soil.
3. 3 Moisten soil and seeds. Wasabi is a semi-aquatic plant that needs moisture. Moisten the soil and seedlings with fresh, cool water every day to recreate the natural conditions in which natural water sources wash over the plant. If the wasabi dries up, it will wither.
   • It is important to maintain the correct moisture level, but not to submerge the wasabi in water all the time. Don't flood the plant with buckets of water - spray it a couple of times a day instead (especially if it's hot and dry outside).
   • Since wasabi needs moisture, mold and bacteria often grow on this plant. If the plant becomes sick (begins to wilt and discolor), immediately remove it from the soil so that it does not infect other plants.
4. 4 Water the beds. Get rid of the weeds so that the wasabi roots have room. Since the soil is moistened almost all the time, weeds quickly grow in it. If you weed the soil every day or every other day, you will be able to cope with this problem.

Method 3 of 3: Harvesting and applying wasabi

1. 1 Harvest in two years. Wasabi does not develop its characteristic rich taste until 24 months later.During this time, the plant will reach 60 centimeters in height and 60 centimeters in width. At a certain moment, it will stop growing upward and will direct all its forces to the development of a long rhizome underground.
2. 2 Dig up the ripe rhizome. A rhizome that has reached 17-20 centimeters is considered ripe and ready to eat. Dig out one root to check the length before digging out all the roots. Use a long, thin spatula or pitchfork, and be careful not to hit the root itself when digging.
3. 3 Leave some plants in the soil so they can spread the seeds. Wasabi left in the ground will throw the seeds into the soil without you having to plant them yourself. Leave a few plants in the ground and you will have a new crop in the next couple of years.
   • When new shoots appear, plant them at a distance of 30 centimeters from each other so that they are not crowded. If allowed to grow crowded, many plants will wither and die.
4. 4 Use wasabi. Peel the wasabi root and discard the leaves. Cut as much of the excess as possible from the root, leaving the core. Wasabi will lose its sharpness after a few hours, so it is best to only chop as much as you need at a time.
5. 5 Put the wasabi in the refrigerator. Fresh wasabi should be refrigerated for 1 to 2 months - it will rot later. If you want to keep wasabi longer, dry it and make a powder out of it. The resulting powder can be mixed with water to create a paste.

Tips

• Wasabi seeds should be kept moist in the refrigerator. If they dry out, they will not be able to germinate.
• Wasabi likes high humidity and does not grow well in dry and hot climates. If you live in a hot region, you will need a fogger.
• If you have poor soil, add compost and lime to it.
• Finding wasabi seeds is not easy. Find a wasabi farmer and ask him to sell you seeds. You can order seeds from a specialized Chinese or Japanese website.

Warnings

• Aphids love wasabi. Treat the plant with a special aphid repellent.
• Wasabi roots can rot, so don't leave the plant in flooded ground.
• Wasabi leaves and stems are very vulnerable. The smallest damage can slow down or stop the development of the plant.
• Some cats like wasabi leaves.
• Slugs are often found on wasabi, especially at the very beginning of plant growth. Find them and get rid of them.