Detailed Guide to White Lotus Planting Techniques: A Step-by-Step Tutorial on Growing White Lotus Well

White lotus is an excellent health food used both as medicine and food. It features white color, large grains, sweet taste with a delicate fragrance, rich nutrition, high medicinal value, easy softening when stewed, and clear soup with tender flesh. As a “treasure among lotuses”, it has always sold well at home and abroad. Below is an introduction to white lotus planting techniques.

1. Selecting the Lotus Field

To plant white lotus, the first step is to select the lotus field. The lotus field should be a loam plot with relatively deep soil layers, medium-to-upper fertility, abundant sunlight, and good water source conditions. White lotus remains waterlogged throughout its entire growth period, so soil permeability should be taken into account. For land preparation, generally two plowings and one harrowing is best.

2. Selecting Seed Lotus Rhizomes

For seed lotus rhizomes, choose plump and sturdy lotus rhizomes with three nodes bearing daughter rhizomes on the lotus whip as seed; those with grandchild rhizomes are even better. The mother rhizome used as seed should have at least one main bud and two lateral buds. When digging seed lotus rhizomes, first consider the previous year's variety and the yield situation of that field, and whether there was any disease. If the field had disease in the previous year, even the best variety should not be used.

3. Transplanting Seed Lotus Rhizomes

Around the Spring Equinox, first spread 50 kg of quicklime per mu over the field and turn it under to decompose. Around Qingming, transplant the seed lotus rhizomes. The planting density is generally 100—120 plants per mu, with a plant-to-row spacing of 2.3×2.6 m, and 3—4 buds per seed rhizome. Seed lotus rhizomes are generally transplanted in a plum-blossom pattern, with the terminal buds all facing toward the center of the field. The terminal buds are buried 6—8 cm into the mud, and the rear end is tilted up 10 cm above the water surface at a 40° angle. After transplanting, irrigate with shallow water and block the gaps well.

4. Weeding and Cultivating the Field

When the main stem of the white lotus produces two or three standing leaves, weeding and cultivating the field can begin. Before cultivating, drain the water first, keeping only a thin film of muddy water. Pull out all weeds around the lotus clumps, then cultivate the field. Generally cultivate twice; afterward, only pull weeds without cultivating. After cultivating, restore shallow water.

5. Irrigating the Lotus Field

Before the start of flowering, irrigate 3-6 cm; during the vigorous growth period, deepen it to 10-12 cm; from late July onward, it can be deepened to more than 12 cm. After the lotus seeds are harvested, maintain a thin water layer.

6. Fertilizing the Lotus Field

In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer during land preparation, topdressing is also needed later. When the white lotus produces two or three standing leaves, apply a light seedling fertilizer, then restore water to about 5 cm after fertilizing. When the white lotus begins to flower, apply an appropriate initial flowering fertilizer, then restore water to 6-7 cm after fertilizing. When the white lotus begins to be harvested, apply a heavy flower-and-seedpod fertilizer, and afterward supplement fertilizer as needed according to seedling conditions. When fertilizing, apply more organic fertilizer and less chemical fertilizer, apply an appropriate amount of alkaline fertilizer and less acidic chemical fertilizer, do not over-apply, and apply nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as well as medium and trace elements such as sulfur and boron in combination.

7. Controlling Diseases and Pests

The main diseases of white lotus include lotus rhizome rot, lotus leaf blight, and lotus brown spot, while insect pests include lotus cutworm, lotus aphid, and lotus thrips, among others. Spray pesticides in time for control.