A Detailed Guide to Polygonatum Cultivation Techniques and Growth Habits
AbstractGrowth habits: It grows wild in shady, damp mountain shrublands and grassy areas at forest edges. It is cold-tolerant, and seedlings can overwinter in the field, but it is not suitable for growing in dry areas. Seeds take a long time to germinate, with a germination rate of 60-70%, and a lifespan of 2 years. Cultivation techniques: In April, June, September and November of each year, carry out intertillage and weeding, and apply reasonable topdressing in combination with intertillage. Keep the field moist, water promptly in dry weather, and drain promptly during the rainy season. Remove the flower buds promptly before the flower buds form, and actively prevent and control pests and diseases.
The appearance of Polygonatum is irregular, and it is generally more commonly yellowish-brown. Polygonatum is famous for its extremely high utility value and is a common variety in traditional Chinese medicine. At present, Polygonatum is cultivated in many places in China, and many people want to grow it. Therefore, before planting, it is necessary to have an in-depth understanding of Polygonatum.
Polygonatum Cultivation Techniques
1. Choose a moist plot with sufficient shade. The soil should preferably be loam or sandy loam with a loose texture and good water retention. Before sowing, deep plow once, and in combination with land preparation, apply 2000 kg of farmyard manure per mu, plow it into the soil as base fertilizer, then rake finely and level, and make beds 1.2 m wide.
2. During the early growth stage, carry out intertillage and weeding frequently, once each in April, June, September and November every year. Shallow hoeing is advisable, with appropriate hilling; in the later stage, simply pull weeds. If drought occurs, or if it is planted in a relatively sunny and dry place, timely watering is needed. Each year, apply topdressing in combination with intertillage and weeding. Polygonatum dislikes water and prefers shade, so attention should be paid to drainage and intercropping with corn.
3. The quality is best when harvested in autumn. After 3——4 years of cultivation, harvest after the aboveground part of Polygonatum withers,
4. Generally, it can be harvested in spring and autumn, and the quality is better when harvested in autumn. After 3——4 years of cultivation, harvest in autumn after the aboveground part withers. Dig out the rhizomes, remove the aboveground parts and fibrous roots, wash off the soil, steam in a steamer until they appear glossy, then take them out and sun-dry or oven-dry, or boil them in water, then remove and sun-dry or oven-dry.
5. Polygonatum can be propagated by rhizomes and seeds, but in production it is better to use rhizome propagation. In late autumn or early spring around late March, select healthy, disease-free plants, dig out the underground rhizomes as propagation material, and plant them directly.
Growth Habits of Polygonatum
Polygonatum grows wild in shady, damp mountain shrublands and grassy areas at forest edges. It is cold-tolerant, and seedlings can overwinter in the field, but it is not suitable for growing in dry areas. Seeds take a long time to germinate, with a germination rate of 60%-70%, and a seed lifespan of 2 years.
Field Management of Polygonatum
1. Intertillage and weeding: During the growth period of Polygonatum plants, intertillage and weeding should be carried out frequently, once each in April, June, September and November every year. Shallow hoeing is advisable to avoid damaging the roots, and appropriate hilling should be done to promote strong plants; in the later stage, simply pull weeds.
2. Reasonable topdressing: Each year, apply topdressing in combination with intertillage. Each time, apply 1000-1500 kg/mu of high-quality human and livestock manure. Before winter each year, apply another 1200-1500 kg/mu of high-quality farmyard manure, mixed with 50 kg of superphosphate and 50 kg of cake fertilizer.
3. Timely irrigation and drainage: Polygonatum prefers moisture and fears drought. The field should often remain moist. In dry weather, water promptly, but during the rainy season, prevent water accumulation and drain promptly to avoid root rot.
4. Removing flowers: Polygonatum flowers and fruits consume a large amount of nutrients and affect rhizome growth. Therefore, remove the flower buds promptly before the flower buds form, to promote the concentrated transfer of nutrients to the harvested rhizome part and increase yield.
5. Disease control: For Polygonatum leaf spot, use a 500-fold dilution of 65% zineb wettable powder. For black spot, spray 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture. For white grubs, use 75% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate to treat seeds at 0.1% of seed weight, or during the occurrence period, drench with a 1000-fold dilution of 90% trichlorfon.
Processing and Harvesting of Polygonatum
Harvesting: Polygonatum can be harvested in both spring and autumn. The rhizomes harvested in late autumn and early winter are plump and full, with the best quality.
Processing: After digging, remove the stems and leaves, wash clean of sand and mud, and remove the fibrous roots. If large, they may be divided into 2-3 sections as appropriate. Place in a steamer or wooden rice steamer and steam for about 12 hours, then take out and sun-dry or oven-dry only when they appear glossy (smokeless, low heat); or boil in water, then remove and sun-dry or oven-dry. Processing by steaming is better.
Before planting Polygonatum, you must first understand its growth habits, and in the later stage of cultivation, strengthen field management. Although Polygonatum cultivation is rather complicated, every step is key. Only by doing this work well can the growth of Polygonatum be ensured, and only then will there be good economic benefits later.