Detailed Guide to Chuanxiong Planting Techniques and Management Methods
Chuanxiong (Ligusticum chuanxiong) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, often used to invigorate blood and promote the flow of qi, and to dispel wind and relieve pain. The planting techniques for Chuanxiong are not complicated, so here is a brief introduction.
1. Site selection and land preparation
Choose a shady, cool, relatively high-lying sunny plot. Chuanxiong is suited to sandy soil. Before planting, weed and till the land, and make beds 1.5 m wide.
2. Planting time
Start planting in early August, no later than the end of August, otherwise the temperature will affect the growth of the seedlings, and in severe cases will cause the seedlings to wither and die. When planting, try to choose a sunny day.
3. Planting
Dig up some healthy, immature underground rhizomes whose stems and leaves have withered, and open furrows on the bed surface for planting at a spacing of 30×20cm. Place the seed rhizomes flat in the furrows, cover them with compost or manure soil after planting, and then spread a layer of rice straw to keep them warm and moist.
4. Field management
Carry out intertillage and weeding every month, and pay attention to careful observation and fill in gaps with seedlings as appropriate. Within two months after planting, apply topdressing 2-3 times to ensure sufficient nutrients. In winter, when the temperature is cold, cut off the withered aboveground stems and leaves, then loosen the soil and weed before covering with a layer of fine soil to ensure it can overwinter safely.
5. Harvesting and processing
The harvesting time is generally in May of the second year after planting. This is the best harvesting time. If dug too early, the rhizomes are not fully developed and the yield is relatively low; if dug too late, the fully ripe rhizomes will rot, causing a decline in quality.
Chuanxiong is widely distributed. It is mainly produced in Sichuan (Pengxian, now Pengzhou City; the current genuine-production area has shifted somewhat), and is cultivated in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Hebei and other provinces and regions.