How to Grow Yugoslavian Snow Lotus Root from Seed
SummaryThe cultivation of Yugoslavian snow lotus root from seed is divided into sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction: refers to directly growing seedlings from lotus root seeds; first, break a hole in the seed coat at the end of the lotus seed that has a groove, then soak it in water at 20-30°C to promote germination, during which the water needs to be changed many times, and once the seed has grown 4 leaves and 1 runner, it can be transplanted. Asexual reproduction: using a whole intact lotus root, a secondary lotus root, or a lotus root tip as the seed for planting, which needs to be done when the air temperature rises above 15°C.
I. Growing Yugoslavian Snow Lotus Root from Seed
1. Sexual reproduction
(1) Sexual reproduction means propagating directly by growing seedlings from lotus root seeds.
(2) First, break a hole in the seed coat at the end of the lotus seed that has a groove, then put it in water at 20-30°C to soak and promote germination.
(3) During the soaking and germination process, the water needs to be changed frequently.
(4) After the seed has grown 4 leaves and 1 runner, it can be transplanted into the field.
2. Asexual reproduction
(1) Asexual reproduction is the most commonly used method in everyday lotus root cultivation, that is, using a whole intact lotus root, a secondary lotus root, or a lotus root tip as the seed for planting.
(2) When planting by this propagation method, it is usually done when the air temperature rises above 15°C.
(3) The planting density needs to be determined according to the variety and the fertility of the field; early-maturing varieties should be planted as densely as possible, late-maturing varieties should be planted sparsely, fertile fields slightly sparser, and lean fields slightly denser.
(4) The row spacing for each plant is about 200*200 cm, and about 400 seeds can be planted per mu.
(5) When planting, the front part of the seed lotus root needs to be inserted diagonally into the soil, and the tail can be left exposed above the water surface.
II. Cultivation Time for Yugoslavian Snow Lotus Root
1. Because snow lotus root prefers a warm and humid environment, the hot and rainy season is generally chosen for cultivation.
2. Try to choose a season when the temperature is stable above 12-15°C, and then cultivation can begin.
3. The cultivation time differs by region, and the principle of timely cultivation should be followed; the Yangtze River basin is generally from late March to late April, while the Pearl River basin is generally from late February to late March, and northern regions are from late April to late May.
4. When cultivating snow lotus root, the principle of “earlier rather than later” should be followed, because earlier cultivation allows it to adapt to the new environment sooner and also extends the growth period.
III. How to Grow Yugoslavian Snow Lotus Root in Mountainous Areas
1. When building a lotus pond, try to choose sunny open spaces on hilltops without tree shade, or wasteland at the edge of the village, abandoned homesteads, disused ponds, as well as saline-alkali land, low-lying waterlogged land, and similar sites.
2. The area of the lotus pond needs to reach 200-300 sq m, and the depth of the pond needs to be 60 cm.
3. Before planting, lime needs to be spread into the pond, and at the same time a rotary tiller should be used to till 2-3 times, so that the lime and soil are fully and evenly mixed.
4. After the soil and lime are evenly mixed, use machinery to level and compact the pond bottom and pond walls; the pond walls are generally compacted with a lime-soil ratio of 3:7.
5. Line the bottom and walls of the pond with plastic film, then smooth the pond with 2-3 cm thick concrete.
6. Then fill the pond with clay loam rich in organic matter; before planting, wheat straw, corn stalks, or weeds can also be laid at the bottom of the pond to achieve a fertilizing effect later on.