How to Grow Trichosanthes Root? Planting Techniques and Management Methods Explained in One Article

Trichosanthes root, as one of the commonly used medicinal materials in our country, has high nutritional value and efficacy. Because of the popularity of Trichosanthes root, growing Trichosanthes root as a medicinal crop has also become a popular planting choice. So, how can Trichosanthes root be grown well, and what planting techniques are needed? Follow the editor and take a look.

Planting Techniques for Trichosanthes Root

1. Seed propagation: In northern production areas, sowing is mostly carried out between Qingming and Guyu. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water at 40°C for 24 hours, remove them, and let them dry slightly. Open holes and sow by dibbling at a row spacing of 20 cm and a plant spacing of 12 cm. The holes should be 4 cm deep, place 1-2 seeds in each hole, cover with soil, and water immediately. Keep the ground moist frequently before emergence. At a humidity of about 20°C, emergence usually occurs in about 20 days. Transplant in the following spring at a plant and row spacing of 120×150 cm.

2. Root division propagation: Select good seed plants; for the purpose of harvesting roots (Trichosanthes root), mostly male plants are chosen. During the period from Qingming to Lixia, dig out the roots, cut them into small sections of 6-9 cm, and smear the wounds with plant ash. Be careful not to damage the fibrous roots. Any section with a fresh white cut surface can be used as seed root; those with yellow fibrous streaks on the cut surface are not suitable as seed. On the already prepared furrow surface, dig holes at a plant and row spacing of 120×150 cm, place the seed roots flat, cover with 5-10 cm of soil, and press lightly. Cover with 25 cm of soil on top to preserve moisture. If the climate is normal, sprouts appear half a month after planting; level the covering soil, and the seedlings can then grow. In drought, open furrows and water.

3. Layering propagation by pressing vines: Because Trichosanthes kirilowii has the characteristic of growing adventitious roots, in summer when rainwater is abundant and temperatures are high, pull vigorous vines to the ground and press soil at the leaf bases. After rooting, the stems and branches can be cut off to form new plants. However, this method grows slowly and is generally only used for filling gaps in the crop.

Field Management of Trichosanthes Root

1. Land selection and preparation: Choose a sandy loam plot with good ventilation and light transmission, deep soil layer, loose and fertile soil, and good drainage. Apply 2000-3000 kg of farmyard manure, 40 kg of cake fertilizer, and 30-40 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu. Deep plow in late autumn and early winter, harrow finely, level in the following spring, and make furrows ready for sowing.

2. After planting, water promptly to keep the ground moist. After the seedlings emerge completely, carry out intertillage and weeding, and watering, in a timely manner. For intercropping in wheat fields, when harvesting wheat, leave wheat stubble 20-30 cm high to facilitate vine climbing, ventilation, and light transmission. Before and after the seedlings reach 0.5 m in height, apply topdressing twice. Use about 10 kg of urea (20 kg of ammonium bicarbonate) per mu each time, applied 20 cm away from the seedlings, and water at the same time.

Cultivation Management of Trichosanthes Root

1. Growth habits: Trichosanthes root prefers fertile, deep sandy soil or semi-sandy soil, fears waterlogging, belongs to semi-dryland crops, requires good drainage, is cold-resistant, and can overwinter in the field.

2. Cultivation techniques: After selecting the land, deep plow and harrow finely, spray a disinfectant plus Xin Gaozhi Mo 800-fold solution to disinfect the soil, apply sufficient base fertilizer, apply 100 kg of phosphate fertilizer per mu and a small amount of trace elements, level and make furrows; the size of the furrows depends on the land.

3. Pre-sowing seed treatment: It is best to use medium-sized seeds. After soaking the seeds in warm water for 24 hours, scoop them into a basin and cover with a wet cloth. Sow when the seed kernel has fully swollen and white sprout tips appear. Before sowing, spray the seed surface with Xin Gaozhi Mo. Between Qingming and Guyu, open furrows and sow by dibbling at a row spacing of 24-30 cm and a depth of 3 cm, placing seeds at a plant spacing of 6-7 cm, cover with soil and level it, and spray Xin Gaozhi Mo to keep warm and preserve moisture, prevent soil caking, and improve the seed emergence rate. Emergence occurs in about 20 days. During the seedling stage, water appropriately. After the furrow surface is suitably planted, rake out the floating soil to help preserve moisture.

4. Field management: During the seedling stage, pay attention to intertillage, weeding, and watering. Spray Xin Gaozhi Mo 800-fold solution at the appropriate time to prevent pathogen infection, improve resistance to natural disasters, and protect the seedlings so they grow vigorously. After the vines cover the ground tightly, water to preserve moisture. June to July is the peak growth period; apply topdressing scientifically and reasonably, and spray Yaocai Gendaling at the appropriate time to promote root growth. Yields are high.

Pest and Disease Control of Trichosanthes Root

Root-knot nematode disease: In the early stage, root galls (nematode galls) of varying sizes all grow on the main, lateral, and fibrous roots of diseased plants. The largest on the main root is more than 2 cm in diameter. After cutting open the root gall, white female nematodes can be seen. In the later stage, it causes root rot. Diseased plants are short, grow and develop slowly, and their leaves become smaller, lose green, and turn yellow. Finally, the stems and vines of the whole plant wither and die.

1. For control, physical and biological integrated methods should be used.

① During land preparation from autumn to early spring, deep plow the land and expose the soil to the sun to kill pests and diseases;

② Select disease-free tuberous roots and fruit seeds as seed to reduce artificial spread of the pathogen;

③ During the rainy season, strengthen field drainage to reduce soil moisture. When diseased plants are found, promptly dig up the soil to inspect, cut off diseased roots or pull out diseased plants, spread lime powder at the diseased holes, cover with soil and press firmly to prevent spread;

④ When necessary, use the low-toxicity fungicides polyoxin or antimycin at 100-150 ppm solution for root irrigation control in the early stage of disease incidence.

The adult cucumber beetle, Aulacophora femoralis, gathers in groups and bites and eats leaves; the larvae are semi-soil-dwelling, bite and eat roots in the soil, and even bore into the roots, causing plants to wither and die.

2. Control methods

① In the morning, manually capture and kill adults. To improve insect-catching efficiency, during the seedling stage and the non-flowering and non-fruiting stage, you can take advantage of the adults' death-feigning behavior: hold a basin containing thin flour paste under the stems and leaves with one hand, and lightly tap the trellis or stems and leaves with the other hand; the adults will fall one after another into the basin paste and suffocate to death.

② Use the biological preparation rotenone 400-600-fold dilution spray for control.

Harvesting and Processing of Trichosanthes Root

Generally, digging and harvesting are carried out 4-5 years after planting. If fertility is sufficient and management is proper, it can also be harvested in 2 years. If the production period is too long, the powdery substance decreases and quality deteriorates. Generally, the period around Frost's Descent in autumn is best. Female plants should be dug after the Trichosanthes kirilowii fruit is harvested. Wash the dug fresh roots clean of soil, scrape off the outer skin with a knife, cut large tubers into 3-4 sections or first split them lengthwise and then cut into pieces, and directly sun-dry or oven-dry. When drying in the air, prevent wetting by rain, frost, or snow, otherwise it is prone to discoloration and affects quality.

From the above, it can be seen that the planting techniques for Trichosanthes root are not difficult. As long as growers follow its methods and patterns, they will cultivate high-quality and healthy Trichosanthes root medicinal material, thereby obtaining relatively large economic returns. I hope the editor's article can provide help to those who need it.