How to Grow Mugwort (Ai Ye)? Detailed Explanation of Planting Methods and Key Techniques

Mugwort is a traditional Chinese medicine name. It is harvested in summer before the flowers bloom, cleaned of impurities, and dried in the sun for medicinal use. So how do you grow mugwort?

1. Planting Time

Mugwort is generally planted around March each year. Before planting mugwort, the seeds need to be pre-germinated. If this step is not carried out, mugwort seedlings will emerge relatively slowly, thereby affecting the yield of mugwort. However, farmers in many places choose to transplant mugwort rhizomes in November.

2. Soil Selection

Choose fertile soil with strong drainage. Although mugwort has relatively strong overall adaptability and can be grown in many plots, the climate must not be especially cold or especially dry. If mugwort is grown on a large scale, it is suitable to choose hillsides for planting mugwort.

3. Planting Management

Generally, when mugwort seedlings emerge 5 cm above the ground, they must be transplanted. Only about 2 plants can be planted per hole; any extra must be moved away. After 10 cm, it is no longer suitable to transplant seedlings, because this is the best period for mugwort root development, and this stage determines its future height.

4. Fertilizer and Water Management

When fertilizing mugwort, more livestock manure can be applied as base fertilizer. After transplanting, fertilizer should also be applied once. When mugwort seedlings grow to 50 cm, it can be applied once more. The fertilizer is mainly some water-soluble fertilizer.In the early stage of mugwort growth, the main method is spraying water. After the mugwort plants grow tall, the spraying method can no longer be used, because it is easy to break its stems.

Mugwort has many uses. It can be used medicinally and can also repel mosquitoes. It is something that everyone can use in many aspects of daily life.