How to Grow Polygonatum: A Full Breakdown of Growing Conditions and Methods

SummaryGrowing conditions: For the soil, choose a loose-textured sandy loam and apply plenty of base fertilizer; the light must not be too intense, so choose a shaded spot under trees, in thickets, or on a shady hillside; water every 3-5 days, and pay attention to drainage during the rainy season. Growing methods: The sowing method is carried out in March, when you open a shallow furrow, scatter the seeds evenly into the furrow, cover with a thin layer of soil, water thoroughly, and then cover with grass; for rhizome propagation, select the rhizomes of mature plants, cut the young tender parts into several pieces, let the wounds dry, then plant them, and water thoroughly after planting.

1. Growing Conditions

1. Soil: Polygonatum grows best in a moist, shaded environment, so for artificial cultivation it is best to choose a sandy loam or loam that holds water well and has a loose texture.

2. Light: It likes shade, so you need to choose a shaded spot under trees, in thickets, or on a shady hillside, and it must not be exposed to strong direct light for long periods.

3. Watering: The soil needs to stay moist, but not waterlogged; on sunny days water once every 3-5 days, and during consecutive rainy days pay attention to drainage.

4. Fertilizing: Apply plenty of base fertilizer before planting, about 2000 kg per mu of planting land; during the growing period carry out 3-4 topdressings, and for each mu you can evenly mix 1500 kg of farmyard manure, 50 kg of superphosphate, and 50 kg of cake fertilizer and apply it into the furrows between rows, then cover with soil after applying.

2. Growing Methods

After choosing the planting site, the soil should be deep-plowed to make it loose, which helps Polygonatum grow normally; after preparing the land, base fertilizer can be applied, mainly organic fertilizer or farmyard manure, at about 2000 kg per mu. Be careful to prevent the fertilizer from harming the seedlings, and fertilizer that has not been fully decomposed should not be applied. In addition, to reduce the incidence of pests and diseases, the soil can be sterilized and disinfected.

Polygonatum can be propagated by seed and by rhizome, and the more common method is seed propagation.

1. Seed propagation

In August, stratify the harvested seeds in sand, and by March of the following spring they can be sown. First open shallow furrows on the seedbed surface with a row spacing of about 15 cm, then broadcast the seeds evenly into the furrows, cover with a thin layer of soil, water thoroughly after sowing, and then cover with grass. After about a year of cultivation they can be transplanted and established; seed propagation has a long cycle and is generally used to raise seedlings.

2. Rhizome propagation

First select the rhizomes of mature Polygonatum plants, cut the young tender parts into several pieces, and plant them once the wounds have dried; it is similar to the sowing method, and during this period just keep the soil moist.

3. Cultivating and Weeding

1. Once the seedlings emerge, weeding can begin. Generally about 3-4 weedings are needed each year to prevent nutrient loss and ensure the seedlings grow normally.

2. When the seedlings have grown to a certain stage, they should be cultivated appropriately to keep the soil loose and prevent it from compacting, which helps promote root growth. Especially in the rainy season, the soil easily compacts, which affects root respiration. After the seedling stage, to avoid exposing the roots, cultivation should be done together with hilling to prevent the plants from lodging.

4. Later-Stage Management

1. Watering: Generally after Polygonatum is transplanted, to keep the soil moist, water once a week. If the sunlight is fairly strong, shade it promptly so it does not affect the plant's normal growth.

2. Fertilizing: Fertilizing the plants can be done together with weeding. After the first weeding, fertilizer should be applied promptly, and afterward apply fertilizer once every 1-2 months. When fertilizing, be sure to control the concentration and amount to avoid burning the roots.

3. Pest and disease control: Polygonatum generally is prone to underground pests during the seedling stage, which bite through the seedling roots and cause death, doing considerable damage, so if disease or pests appear, control must be carried out promptly.