How to Grow Astragalus? Detailed Explanation of Planting Methods and Key Techniques
Astragalus has very strong adaptability and can be grown in general soil. It is relatively drought-tolerant and afraid of waterlogging. It is cold-resistant and can overwinter in the field, but deep, loose, fertile soil can yield high production. Continuous cropping is prohibited.
Cultivation management: ① Planting method: Propagate by seed. Both pre-winter sowing and spring sowing are possible. Pre-winter sowing is done at the Frost's Descent to Start of Winter solar terms, and spring sowing at the Spring Equinox to Grain Rain solar terms. It should be noted that the seeds have many hard seeds, poor water absorption, and a relatively low germination rate, so the seed collection season and collection period should be well controlled. Harvest when the seeds turn brown; when the seeds are fully mature and turn black with spots, they become hard seeds and rarely germinate. To improve the germination rate, seed priming treatment should be done before sowing. Soak the seeds in warm water at 50°C, stirring constantly until cool, with the amount of water just enough to cover the seeds. After soaking for 6—12 hours, remove the seeds, put them into a cloth bag to promote germination, and then sow. Astragalus seeds generally germinate in 3 days. If sowing cannot be done in time, losses will be caused, so generally no germination-promoting treatment is done and seeds are sown directly, but a germination test should be done in advance. Use 1—1.5 kg of new seeds per mu. Before sowing, choose sandy soil with high terrain, deep soil layer, good drainage, and strong water permeability, apply sufficient base fertilizer, plow and harrow finely, make wide beds and level them. After watering and 3—5 days, when one can enter the bed to work, use an iron rake to level the bed surface, open shallow furrows 2 cm deep at a row spacing of 23—27 cm, evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, push along the furrows once with the corner of a large hoe, and closely combine the seeds with the moist soil at the bottom of the furrows. Then rake the loose soil on the bed surface level and fine. Due to different varieties, some produce only stems and leaves in the first year, do not bloom or set seed, and only bloom and set seed after the second year, while some varieties bloom and set seed in the same year. People customarily call them hard-stem and soft-stem Astragalus. ② Field management: Keep the soil moist before emergence; after emergence, water less and loosen the soil more to promote downward root growth. When the seedlings are 6—7 cm tall, thin to a plant spacing of 10—13 cm. When the seedlings are 17—20 cm tall, apply topdressing, with 10—15 kg of ammonium sulfate and 25—40 kg of fermented cake fertilizer per mu. When about to bloom, water demand gradually increases, so the number of waterings can be appropriately increased. The seeds mature at Minor Heat, and at this time watering should be reduced or stopped. If there is a lot of rain, drain promptly to prevent root rot. Harvest and processing: In the autumn of the planting year or the autumn of the second year, dig and harvest when the aboveground stems and leaves wither. Carefully dig out the roots, shake off the soil, remove the reed stems, dry in the sun, tie into small bundles, and sell. Generally, the yield of dried product per mu in the same year is 250—300 kg.
Main diseases and insect pests: Red root disease (also called yellow flower purple root rot) easily occurs in July—August. Insect pests include stem borers and cutworms. Treat the disease accordingly.