Growing Methods and Key Technical Points for Gynura bicolor
Gynura bicolor is a common organic vegetable. At first bite it tastes of chives, and as you chew it in turn reveals flavors of garlic, scallion, slight bitterness and sweetness, and it has the effect of clearing dampness and removing stagnation. So, what are the growing methods for Gynura bicolor?
1. Soil selection
Gynura bicolor has extremely strong stress resistance, tolerates poor soil, is easy to cultivate, and suffers from few pests and diseases, so it can be grown all year round. Because this vegetable is mainly supplied to supermarkets, hotels and restaurants, the requirements for the product are relatively high. The production base should be chosen in a place with fresh air, pure water, uncontaminated soil and good ecological conditions for Gynura bicolor. At the same time, fields with deep soil, high organic matter content and a strong capacity to retain water and fertilizer are required, which favors a bumper harvest.
2. Cutting propagation
Because adventitious roots readily form at the nodes of Gynura bicolor, cutting propagation is generally used, and spring and autumn are the best seasons because they favor rooting. Within 3-7 days after cutting, shade netting should be used for coverage during the day, which helps retain moisture, promote rooting and ensure early establishment. Usually water lightly but frequently. Spray carbendazim once every 3-5 days at a concentration of 600 times; generally, roots form after 20 days and the plants can be transplanted.
3. Fertilizing and making beds
Gynura bicolor is generally grown mainly under protected cultivation and has a relatively long growing period, so sufficient base fertilizer must be applied before transplanting. Generally, per mu, apply 1500 kg-2000 kg of commercial organic fertilizer, 50 kg of BB fertilizer or compound fertilizer, 5 kg of urea and 40 kg of superphosphate, then plow and prepare the land into beds.
4. Planting management
When the new roots of Gynura bicolor have grown to about 10 cm after 20 days of cutting, it is the right time to transplant. Before transplanting, be sure to water thoroughly and transplant with the pesticide treatment. When planting, set 4 rows per bed, with a row spacing of 40 cm and a plant spacing of 35 cm, planting 3000-3200 plants per mu. After planting, add 600-times carbendazim to the water used for settling the roots, then cover with soil.
5. Field management
After planting, water Gynura bicolor once promptly to help the seedlings recover. Water once more after the seedlings have recovered. When the fleshy roots have grown to about 1 cm in diameter, water promptly so the soil stays consistently moist. Apply fertilizer once 15—20 days after planting, using 15—20 kg of compound fertilizer per mu. Pull weeds promptly. After the seedlings recover, spray the leaves 1—2 times with a 0.1—0.2% borax solution 7—10 days later, with each application at 50—75 kg per mu. For open-field overwintering cultivation of Gynura bicolor, if plastic film mulching or arched-shed film cultivation is used in winter, the harvest can be brought to market earlier. For planting in summer and early autumn, rainproof and sun-shading facilities are needed.
6. Pest and disease control
Gynura bicolor has very strong resistance and serious pest or disease damage rarely occurs; aphids occasionally appear and should be controlled promptly.
7. Timely harvest
Generally, harvest begins 5—7 weeks after planting (80—90 days after sowing for direct-seeded cultivation), when the fleshy roots are more than 3.5 cm thick (transverse diameter), and they are supplied to the market successively. The yield is generally 1500—2000 kg per mu, and can reach more than 2500 kg at high yields.
In addition, Gynura bicolor leaves are relatively fibrous and are suitable for shaded cultivation, so direct exposure to the sun should be avoided.