When Is the Best Time to Plant Polygonatum? A Detailed Guide to the Best Planting Time

SummaryPolygonatum is generally planted around August or March. When planting Polygonatum, choose a site with abundant fertility, a relatively intact soil structure and good drainage and irrigation conditions. It can also be planted in clay or sandy soil. Artificial cultivation tends to choose semi-sunny areas, where only sufficient sunlight is needed. Usually tuber transplanting or direct seed sowing is used, with rational close planting and proper fertilization later on, which is more conducive to the growth of Polygonatum and increases the yield.

1. Site Selection and Land Preparation

1. Wild Polygonatum prefers fertile soil and sunlight. When planting, choose a site with a relatively intact soil structure, abundant fertility and good drainage conditions. It can be planted in clay soil or sandy soil.

2. Although Polygonatum likes light, when planting artificially you need to choose a semi-sunny site or build a shade structure beside it. Only sufficient sunlight is needed; the light must not be too intense, as this can easily harm Polygonatum.

3. When preparing the land, first spread a layer of base fertilizer evenly on the surface, then deep plough, level the land, then dig drainage ditches all around, and finally dig a small ditch every 1.5 m or so in the field, and then you can sow.

2. Sowing

1. Sowing time: generally sow around August or March each year.

2. Sowing methods: one is transplanting tubers, the other is direct seed sowing - two sowing methods.

3. Tuber transplanting: around March, dig out part of the tubers from the soil, divide them into small sections, let them dry, then place them evenly in rows, and cover with soil to plant them. In special cases, a layer of straw or plastic film can be covered on top.

4. Direct seed sowing: sow the seeds directly at an appropriate spacing and cover with soil, and the subsequent handling is the same as for tuber sowing.

3. Rational Density

1. Arranging the planting density properly when sowing helps Polygonatum grow better.

2. Generally, about 800-1000 Polygonatum plants can be planted per sq m, and you can plant according to the fertility of the soil.

3. In poorer soil areas, plant with a row spacing of 20 cm and a plant spacing of 10 cm.

4. In fertile soil areas, plant with a row spacing of 30 cm and a plant spacing of 20 cm, which helps increase the yield of Polygonatum.

4. Rational Fertilization

1. Polygonatum needs a relatively large amount of nutrients during its growth period. When topdressing, follow the principle of frequent applications of thin fertilizer.

2. The first topdressing is about one week after Polygonatum is planted out; its purpose is to promote seedling growth, so a certain amount of nitrogen fertilizer can be applied.

3. Especially during the peak growing season, Polygonatum needs even more nutrients. Afterwards, topdress once a month, mainly with farmyard manure, together with an appropriate amount of phosphate fertilizer and cake fertilizer. This can be done together with weeding, which further helps Polygonatum absorb nutrients.