Cattail (Typha) cultivation techniques: plant from March to June, keep the soil moist
Cattail cultivation is generally carried out in paddy fields, marshes and shallow shoals rich in organic matter with relatively deep silt layers; the soil should be loose on top and firm below, and planting can be done after tilling the soil and applying fertilizer. Planting time is generally from March to June, and we generally use division propagation, first selecting healthy vigorous divisions and planting them in holes with both row spacing and plant spacing of 50cm; after they survive, control the water level reasonably, with the water level at about 15cm in the early stage and never exceeding 1.2m at the deepest later on, and apply additional fertilizer and control pests in good time.
1. Growing environment
Cattail does not have high environmental requirements; it has the characteristics of high humidity tolerance, low temperature tolerance, high temperature tolerance and strong adaptability. For cultivating cattail, choose places such as lakes, marshes, paddy fields and shallow shoals with relatively deep silt layers and rich organic matter, and the soil is required to be loose on top and firm below, which is good for soil and fertilizer preparation and water control. When tilling the soil, base fertilizer can be applied together with it; the base fertilizer is mainly manure or organic fertilizer, and planting can be done after tilling.
2. Propagation method and time
Cattail has two propagation methods, namely division propagation and seed propagation, and we generally use division propagation as the main method. Propagation time is generally from March to June, and the best propagation time is March to April; generally, planting can be carried out when the temperature is above 15°C. Division propagation: before planting, first select healthy vigorous divisions for planting, and when planting, dig holes with a row spacing of 50cm and a plant spacing of 50 cm and plant them, with two small plants per hole.
3. Field management
After cattail is planted, we need to strengthen field management, and the most important thing is water management. After planting, the water in the field should not be too much or too little; a water level of about 15cm in the early stage is enough, so that the surface temperature is raised and the survival rate of cattail is also increased. Note that the soil must always be kept moist, otherwise the normal growth of cattail will be affected. According to the different growth stages of cattail, we can appropriately raise the water level, and the deepest must not exceed 1.2m.
After cattail survives, if poor development or slow growth occurs, we need to apply additional fertilizer in good time, mainly decomposed farmyard manure, applied in an appropriate amount. Later, thinning and replanting of seedlings are also needed, and weeds should be removed in good time to reduce the loss of nutrients.
4. Reasonable harvesting
Cattail is a Chinese herbal medicine and can also be eaten as a vegetable; mainly its stems and leaves are eaten, and it is rich in protein and other nutrients, making it a health-giving green vegetable. If aphids appear during the growth of cattail, dimethoate can be used for control, and note that no pesticide may be sprayed within 15 days before harvest. We should harvest cattail reasonably, generally by cutting off the upper half of the cattail with a knife or pulling it by hand. In order not to affect the yield and quality of the coming year, care must be taken during harvest not to damage the roots of the cattail.