Why is it so hard to replicate the ideal conditions are plants like truffle or wasabi? Like I get they can only grow under certain conditions but what about it’s surroundings is so hard to replicate?
In: 14
I’m a crop geneticist. I have no specific experience with wasabi, but, [according to these people](https://www.thewasabistore.com/thewasabistore/r6z2brm2hzzmyh45c5swst6wy955c8) who sell starts, they say it is not actually difficult to grow. The two tricks they claim are that it does need full shade, and it does need a lot of water, but apart from that, it can (again, according to them) grow in a barrel in your own backyard (assuming you’re in an environment that doesn’t exceed its frost hardiness). They specifically have a picture of a barrel full of wasabi plants in their home’s backyard. [This unrelated page](https://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-wasabi-anywhere-growing-in-pots/) recommends that if you’re in a highly temperate or highly variable climate, you should grow it indoors, ideally in a northern spot where shade can be maintained. The other thing they say is that it doesn’t like fluctuating temperatures.
Honestly, based on the description, it sounds to me like it might be the ideal plant to grow indoors… except for the fact that it takes 12-24 months til harvest. Thriving in full shade is unusual for a crop plant. A plant with those parameters definitely would be difficult to grow at commercial scale in most places, but it doesn’t strictly require a pristine forest river.
Latest Answers