Wasabi Land Types – What types of land can you use?
This is one of the most common question that I get asked by potential growers.
The fact is, wasabi can be grown on any type of land. The flatter that it is then that the cheaper it becomes to set up the growing area in terms of structure, protection and access.
Wasabi is being grown on all types of land from very flat on the plains, to high in the mountains where roads do not go. Some wasabi is grown in the ground, in rivers and streams, in greenhouses and buildings.
The type of land to grow wasabi does not matter. It comes down to the selection of the growing method that you want to use, and this will depend on the type of wasabi that you want to grow.
If you want to grow wasabi for the fresh market then the growing method will be different to those people who only want to grow processing wasabi. The type of growing method to use is also determined by the market research that you have already carried out in the previous lesson.
The type of soil, whether it is free draining or a swamp will also affect the selection criteria with regard to the final use of the wasabi and the method of growing.
Read the topic on soil types to see what type of remedial work might be necessary to make the land suitable to grow wasabi.
The orientation of the land is also important as wasabi does not like direct sunlight. It prefers the shade, and in the northern hemisphere it would be preferable if the land faced north, and in the southern hemisphere the land faced south.
Land access is also important because if you want to grow a reasonable amount of wasabi then you will need easy access to the growing area. This is particularly true if a structure of any type needs to be constructed. In my opinion the access road should be capable of handling a three tonne truck as a minimum.
A final consideration about the land that you have selected concerns the local bureaucracy. Before starting any detailed planning or construction you need to check with your local authority that there is no restriction on the use or development of the land.
As you can see from the above, the wasabi land types required will vary dependent on many factors and should not be regarded as critical in your selection of land. Your planning and research will make it very clear what wasabi land types will be suitable for your requirements.