GeDian BaiHu Cai

GeDian BaiHu Cai

　　GeDian BaiHu Cai is a specialty of Echeng District, Ezhou City, Hubei Province.

　　GeDian BaiHu Cai is grown in BaiHu Town of the GeDian Development Zone in Ezhou City, and is commonly found around low-altitude villages, roadsides, wastelands, or fields. Also known as White Flower Vegetable, BaiHu Cai thrives in sunny, warm conditions, is relatively drought-resistant, has a short growing season, and boasts strong regenerative ability. The seedbed is chosen from fields with loose soil and good drainage. Each mu (approximately 0.067 hectares) is treated with 1,500 kg of well-rotted stable manure and 1,000–1,250 kg of human and animal manure as base fertilizer. After sowing, the seeds are covered with moist fine soil and shaded with a net. Once seedlings emerge uniformly, a thin layer of fine soil is applied around the roots to prevent exposure and lodging. When the seedlings have 2–3 true leaves, they are transplanted for about 15 days at a spacing of 6.6 cm × 9.9 cm. GeDian BaiHu Cai utilizes vertical cultivation techniques, intercropping the vegetable (White Flower Vegetable) with other crops, allowing for 3–4 sowings per year, with multiple harvests possible after each planting. BaiHu Cai is rich in amino acids as well as essential minerals such as calcium and iron. This vegetable has a unique flavor and is a renowned local specialty. Its stems and leaves can be pickled and eaten, making it a popular summer pickle that can be stir-fried with meat or eggs, or cooked on its own. It has a fragrant, delicious taste that refreshes, stimulates saliva production, whets the appetite, and aids digestion. The entire plant also has medicinal uses. Traditionally pickled White Flower Vegetable has a distinctive aroma, rich texture, and unforgettable aftertaste, making it a beloved dish and condiment on the dining tables of Ezhou locals. The GeDian BaiHu Cai products available in Ezhou markets are ready to eat straight out of the bag or bottle. Their production and processing combine traditional methods with modern technology for pickling.