A Detailed Guide to Burdock Planting Techniques and Management Methods
Burdock, also known as e shi, da li zi, dong yang shen, and other names. It has been eaten as a vegetable in Taiwan, China for many years, and Taiwan, China is known as the birthplace of burdock. Today I will introduce burdock planting techniques.
1. Site selection and land preparation
Burdock is suitable for growing in deep, well-drained, fertile soil. The previous crop is best as rapeseed, broad beans, and the like. Before planting, prepare the land and apply farmyard manure, superphosphate, and an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer, then rake it fine and level it.
2. Seed treatment
Select plump seeds free of pests and diseases, soak them in warm water for one day, then take them out and place them in a warm spot until the seeds sprout, after which they can be sown.
3. Sowing
Dig holes at a plant-to-row spacing of 30×60cm. Generally sow about 5 seeds per hole. After sowing, cover with soil and press down lightly, then cover with soil to retain moisture.
4. Field management
After the seeds germinate, remove the mulch on cloudy days or in the evening. But when the seedlings grow to 2-3 leaves, thin them in time, leaving one plant per hole. During thinning, carry out cultivating and weeding. Burdock grows slowly, and too many weeds will affect its growth and may even cause death, so cultivating and weeding are extremely important. Cultivate and weed 4-5 times throughout the growing period.
5. Fertilizer and water management
In April of the second year after sowing, apply farmyard manure and diammonium phosphate as a top dressing, spread them on the ground, and turn them into the soil along with cultivating. During the flowering period, spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar fertilizer, which can promote flowering and fruiting. Water promptly during drought, and drain promptly during the rainy season to avoid excessive water accumulation causing root rot.
Burdock is mainly distributed in China, Western Europe, the Kashmir region, Europe, and other places. The main production areas of burdock in China are distributed in Jiangsu Province and Shandong Province. Feng County and Pei County in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, and Cangshan in Shandong Province have a long history of cultivation and relatively large planting areas.