How to Grow Agastache rugosa? Detailed Explanation of Planting Methods and Technical Key Points
Agastache rugosa is fragrant and pleasant, and also has mosquito-repellent and medicinal benefits, so quite a few people grow a few pots of Agastache rugosa at home. So how do you grow Agastache rugosa? Let's take a look together.
1. Propagation methods
There are two propagation methods: seed propagation (new Agastache rugosa) and perennial root transplanting (old Agastache rugosa). New Agastache rugosa is grown from seed, and the whole herb can be harvested in July of the same year. Old Agastache rugosa refers to new Agastache rugosa kept for seed production; after the seeds are harvested, its old roots are left to overwinter in place, and after the new seedlings emerge the following spring they are moved to the field to obtain the whole herb. It is generally believed that new Agastache rugosa has more leaves and the sliced pieces are of better quality; old Agastache rugosa has more stems and the sliced pieces are of poorer quality. Therefore, seed propagation is mostly used in production, and seed propagation is divided into spring sowing and autumn sowing.
2. Soil
Agastache rugosa does not have strict soil requirements and can grow in general soil, but deep, fertile and loose sandy loam or loam is best. It fears waterlogging; when planted in low-lying areas prone to water accumulation, the roots rot easily and the plant dies.
3. Temperature
When the temperature is kept at 20-25°C, seedlings emerge in 10-15 days. When the emergence rate reaches 70%, remove the film. The suitable growth temperature is 18-25°C. For Agastache rugosa sown in spring of the same year, when the seedlings are 12 cm tall and the main stem has 5 pairs of leaves, branching begins to occur from the leaf axils at the base. After June, as the temperature rises and the rainy season arrives, Agastache rugosa enters a period of vigorous growth.
4. Water and fertilizer
Both the stems and leaves of Agastache rugosa are used medicinally, so it is best to apply “complete fertilizer” (including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), such as human and livestock manure and oil cake. For the first topdressing, after loosening the soil when the seedlings are 3 cm tall, apply 1.5-2 kg of decomposed dilute human and livestock manure water per sq m. After that, when the seedlings are 7-10 cm, 15-20 cm and 25-30 cm tall respectively, after intertillage and weeding, apply 1500 kg of decomposed human and livestock manure water per mu each time, or apply 10~12 kg of diammonium phosphate per 667 sq m. Water should be applied after fertilizing, and no more topdressing is done after the rows close. In the dry season, water promptly to resist drought and protect the seedlings; in the rainy season, dredge the ditches and drain promptly to prevent root rot caused by water accumulation.
5. Other
1. Thinning: when the seedlings are 3 cm tall, promptly remove overly dense seedlings, or carry out seedling separation, with a plant spacing of 6-8 cm for separated seedlings. For Agastache rugosa sown in holes, keep 3-4 plants per hole; for drilling, thin according to a plant spacing of 10-12 cm, with the two rows staggered when finalizing the stand; where seedlings are missing, replant on cloudy days, and after planting pour 1 application of dilute human and livestock manure water to help them survive. Before the first harvest, carry out intertillage and weeding 2~3 times, respectively when the seedlings are 3 cm, 12-15 cm and 21-24 cm tall. When the seedlings are 25-30 cm tall, after the second harvest, earth up 6 cm to protect the roots.
2. Pests and diseases: pay attention to preventing and controlling root rot, fusarium wilt, angular leaf spot, brown spot and pests such as aphids and red spider mites, and use different pesticides according to the actual growth conditions.
The planting benefits of Agastache rugosa are very high. The tender stems and leaves can be eaten, the parts above the roots can be used medicinally, and it can also beautify the landscape. It is a crop with very good economic value.