Where is kudzu suitable for growing? A detailed guide to planting time
Kudzu is a fairly well-known Chinese medicinal herb, and it has a very long history in our country. Kudzu has high edible value, so it is deeply loved by consumers. That is why many people now want to grow kudzu. But before planting, everyone surely wants a full understanding of where and when to grow it!
Where kudzu is suitable for growing
1. Kudzu is a legume, and it is currently distributed in many places in our country. Apart from cold places such as Xinjiang and Tibet where kudzu cannot grow, this plant can be found in most other parts of our country. Common places include Sichuan, Liaoning, Hebei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Shaanxi and other areas, so there are relatively many places of origin.
2. Wild kudzu likes to grow in moist places. Most people generally dig up kudzu in autumn and winter, and the harvesting process is not very difficult and the yield is relatively large, so the price of kudzu is comparatively cheap and it is widely available on the market.
When to plant kudzu
1. When planting kudzu, the choice of time is very important. When planting, try to avoid frost, so that low temperatures do not damage the seedlings and cause slow growth or even death of the kudzu seedlings. On the premise of avoiding frost, the earlier kudzu is planted, the higher its yield will be relatively speaking.
2. Generally in South China, the late frost ends around mid-to-late March each year, so the best planting time for kudzu seedlings is around the Spring Equinox to Qingming. In some early-warm-spring areas such as Guangdong, Guangxi and Yunnan, planting can be done as early as around February each year.
3. In the areas north of the Yangtze River in our country, early spring temperatures are relatively lower, and the late frost is usually about 15 days to one month later than in South China. It is not suitable to plant too early, in case of a “late spring cold spell”, so the best kudzu planting time is around Qingming to Guyu (mid-to-late April on the solar calendar). Everyone needs to grasp this best time for planting.
Kudzu planting methods
1. Choose a suitable place: when planting kudzu, it is best to choose sandy loam soil, and drainage must also be handled well.
2. Before the seedlings are planted, the work of land preparation and fertilising must be done well. Land preparation starts in mid-to-late February. First clear the shrubs, weeds, stones and so on from the planting site, then according to the soil drainage conditions, make beds 1-2 m wide, and then dig planting holes in the beds. Each hole is 40-50 cm in length, width and depth, with 1-1.2 m between two holes, and 400-600 holes per mu. Apply organic fertiliser (farmyard manure) in the holes at more than 1000 kg per mu, mix thoroughly with the soil, and backfill it into the holes to make kudzu mounds 30 cm higher than the ground, which will be more favourable for its growth.
3. Plant at the right time. The best planting period is decided according to local conditions, from mid-to-late March to early April (the midday temperature must not be lower than 10°C). Plant the seedlings (with roots) or cut seedlings (containing 2 stem nodes, without roots) diagonally into the soil at a 30-degree angle to the ground. Note that the growth point at the stem node of the seedling must be left exposed above the soil surface; for cut seedlings, one of the two stem nodes must be inside the soil and one outside the soil. After planting, press and firm the soil, and water thoroughly to settle the roots. According to the weather, keep the soil moist frequently; if the weather is dry, it is best to cover with a layer of straw or similar material for warmth and moisture retention, which can prevent frost and also ensure rapid growth.
4. After planting, management work also needs to be strengthened. After the seedlings are planted, check them and replant dead seedlings in time. When the seedlings grow to 25 cm long, apply urea or human and livestock manure to promote seedling growth, and afterwards apply 1-2 more topdressings depending on the growth. The amount of fertiliser also needs attention, and it should not be too much or too little.
Kudzu likes to grow in warm and moist places, and dry and cold places are not conducive to its growth. When planting kudzu, you must do a good job of choosing the site, and then plant at the right time. After planting, management also needs to be strengthened, so that its growth can be guaranteed.