Fundamentals of Agriculture and Sericulture, Volume 3

Both varieties are soft, tender, and excellent; they are still used for daily food and are even tastier than autumn vegetables. Leave them to grow.

They are also suitable for harvesting. When plucking autumn leaves, one must leave five or six leaves; if they are not left, the stalk will be isolated. Leaving the leaves ensures

a large clump.
Whenever you pluck mallow original: "搯葵" (tao kui). The manual harvesting of individual leaves by hand rather than cutting the whole plant., it must be done once the dew has dissipated. The proverb says: "Do not pluck while touching dew." Do not cut mallow in the heat of midday. For leeks,

in the middle of the eighth month, cut them back. Leave the branching joints. Where there are many branches, cut one or two inches from the ground. For those with thin stalks, you may also cut four or five inches from the ground.

The regrowth original: "耕生" (gengsheng). New growth appearing after the plant has been pruned or the soil has been worked. will be lush and tender; by the time of harvest, it will be as high as a person's knee, and both stalks and leaves will be delicious. Although the clumps are not tall, the actual yield is doubled. Those that are not cut and grow early, though they may reach several feet high,

the stalks and leaves become tough and hard, making them entirely unfit for eating. The parts that cannot be used consist of the inner heart of the leaf and the attached foliage; these turn a yellow color, which is most unappealing, and they do not taste good when boiled. Although they may look plentiful,

the actual harvest should wait for the First Frost original: "霜降" (shuangjiang). A solar term in the traditional calendar, occurring when the weather turns cold enough for frost to form, usually late October.. The yield will be much less if harvested at the wrong time. If harmed by an early harvest, they rot and turn yellow. If harmed by a late harvest, they become black and astringent. Beating and bundling must all be done in the shade as exposure to the sun also makes them astringent. For the broken pieces, once the cutting is finished, immediately gather and bind them original: "糺之" (jiu zhi). To entwine or twist the loose fragments together by hand into manageable bundles. while still in the field.