A Detailed Guide to Dwarf Lilyturf Planting Time and Growth Cycle
When dwarf lilyturf is flourishing, it will produce some flowers. When harvesting, dig it up and you will see its most valuable part——the stem. This part is generally used as medicine. So apart from this, what else do you know about dwarf lilyturf? Let's take a look!
Dwarf Lilyturf Planting Time
Dwarf lilyturf grass seeds are suitable for sowing around March to August in the north, and around February to September in the south. The climate and temperature vary from place to place, so the best time to sow dwarf lilyturf grass should also be judged according to the actual temperature of your own region. Neither too high nor too low a temperature will do.
Dwarf Lilyturf Growth Cycle
The growth cycle of dwarf lilyturf is one year. If planted in March or April of this year, digging can begin after the Chinese New Year of next year.
Dwarf Lilyturf Planting Techniques
1. Seedling preparation and handling. Dwarf lilyturf is propagated by division. In Sichuan around Qingming, and in Zhejiang from Lixia to Mangzhong, when digging dwarf lilyturf, select dark green, robust plants, cut off the tuberous roots and fibrous roots, divide them into single plants, trim off the remaining fibrous roots, cut off part of the stem base (to the extent that a white core appears on the cut surface of the rhizome and the leaves do not fall apart), and plant immediately. If they cannot be planted in time, they must be "nursed": soak the stem base of the seedlings briefly in clean water so they absorb enough moisture, then stand them upright together on loosened soil already dug in a cool place, and cover the surrounding area with soil to preserve them. If the temperature is too high, water once a day or every other day. The seedling nursing time should not exceed 7 days.
2. Planting. In Sichuan in April, and in Zhejiang in May, choose a sunny or cloudy day to carry out planting. Sichuan uses trench row planting, with a row spacing of about 15 cm and a depth of about 5 cm. First apply dilute pig manure water into the trench, then plant seedlings at a plant spacing of 6-9 cm, with 3 plants per cluster. After planting, cover with soil, press firmly, and tread firmly so that the seedlings stand upright and stable, achieving level ground and upright seedlings. Zhejiang uses hole planting, with holes 3-5 cm deep, a row spacing of 25 cm, and a plant spacing of 15 cm, planting 9-10 seedlings per hole. Cover the base and press firmly.
3. Fertilization. Sichuan generally topdresses 3-4 times. The 1st time is in July, applying 1200 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu, plus 25 kg of decomposed rapeseed cake. The 2nd time is in early to mid-August, applying 1500-2000 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu, plus 40-50 kg of decomposed rapeseed cake and 75 kg of plant ash. The 3rd time is in early November, applying 1500-2000 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu, plus 25 kg of rapeseed cake, 75 kg of plant ash, or 20-25 kg of superphosphate. The 4th time is in late February of the second year after planting, applying 2000-2500 kg of pig manure water per mu, plus 5 kg of urea, 7 kg of superphosphate, and 5 kg of potassium chloride. Fertilization in Zhejiang is slightly different from that in Sichuan. There is a habit of "applying root-promoting fertilizer early and applying heavy fertilizer in spring and autumn." When dwarf lilyturf returns to green half a month after planting, combined with drought resistance, apply 700 kg of light human and livestock manure per mu and 10 kg of superphosphate to promote early rooting, more rooting, and early tillering. After July, apply 1200 kg of human and livestock manure and urine per mu, plus 15 kg of superphosphate. Spring and autumn are the periods when tuberous roots expand and large numbers of tillers form, so phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be applied heavily. Apply once each in March and September, with 50 kg of superphosphate or 100-120 kg of cake fertilizer, 1200 kg of human manure and urine, and 150-200 kg of plant ash per mu. After that, fertilize 2-3 times each year.
Harvesting and Processing of Dwarf Lilyturf
1. Dwarf lilyturf is harvested in early to mid-April of the 2nd or 3rd year after planting. Choose a sunny day, plow to a depth of 25 cm with a plough to turn the dwarf lilyturf out, or use a hoe to dig up clusters of dwarf lilyturf, shake off the soil, cut off the tuberous roots and fibrous roots, place them separately in baskets, and rinse the mud and sand clean in running water by treading and rubbing with the feet.
2. Processing method: Spread the washed dwarf lilyturf out on a drying yard to sun-dry. After the moisture is dry, rub it lightly by hand, then sun-dry again after rubbing. Repeat many times until the fibrous roots are rubbed off. Then sun-dry until completely dry, and sift with a sieve to remove impurities. If rainy weather is encountered, use a gentle fire at 40—50℃ to dry for 15—20 hours, take it out and leave it for a few days until the internal moisture seeps outward, then dry again until completely dry, sift out impurities, and it becomes commercial dwarf lilyturf. Generally, each 667 sq m yields 150 kg of dried dwarf lilyturf, with high yields reaching 250 kg.
The planting time of dwarf lilyturf is quite long, extending from spring to summer each year, and you can make good use of this time period. Dwarf lilyturf can generally be harvested when it has been planted for one year. Pay attention to the method when harvesting, and be sure not to dig casually. After harvesting, process it in time, and in this way its value can be created.