Detailed Explanation of the Planting Methods and Technical Points for Shungiku

Shungiku has a rich chrysanthemum fragrance and a unique flavor when eaten, with a slight sweetness. It is cool and refreshing, and tastes very refreshing. So how do you plant shungiku?

1. Planting Conditions

First, shungiku has relatively strict requirements for soil planting conditions. It needs fertile land with loose soil and good drainage. Sandy loam soil can be chosen. After the planting land is selected, the soil must be prepared and deeply plowed, with deep plowing of about 25 cm. During deep plowing, base fertilizer should be applied to improve the soil texture. It is necessary to choose 1000 kg of manure fertilizer, or 500 kg of farm compound fertilizer. After applying the fertilizer, fine raking is needed to level the soil, removing all large stones, weeds, and pests, and then making raised beds. If the terrain is not very flat and has some undulation, short beds can be made. If the terrain is flat, level beds can also be made, depending on the local planting conditions.

2. Seed Treatment

Shungiku is generally grown by sowing seeds. Before sowing, if you want to reduce the seed storage time and speed up germination, you can use the seed germination treatment method. That is, one week before sowing, the shungiku seeds need to be soaked in warm water for about 20 minutes. After the water temperature cools, soak them for another 24 hours. Then remove the seeds, air-dry them, and place them in a greenhouse at 25 to 30 degrees for germination. During germination, do not leave them unattended. They need to be rinsed with clean water twice a day. This is to prevent bacterial growth that could cause the seeds to spoil. If they are new seeds, special treatment is needed, and their dormant state must be broken to increase their vitality, also to improve the germination rate and growth speed of shungiku.

3. Sowing Time

The sowing time for shungiku can be in the early spring season, or after autumn for autumn sowing, and spring sowing can be done in open fields according to suitable temperatures, or with plastic film mulching. In autumn, staged sowing can be used, or seedbeds can be used for sowing. There are also two sowing methods: drilling and broadcasting. When drilling, sow seeds at a row spacing of about 15 cm, using 1/3 of the seed amount used for broadcasting. For broadcasting, the seed amount per mu can be as high as about five kg. When sowing in spring, note that after sowing, the seeds should be covered with a thin layer of soil. This is to prevent disease in the seedlings. Seedling management takes 30 days. When shungiku grows to four leaves, thinning and transplanting can be carried out.

4. Growth Management

Generally, under suitable temperatures, shungiku will show signs of emergence seven days after sowing. At this time, note that the soil moisture must be maintained, and water must be regularly irrigated and sprayed. When the shungiku seedlings grow to about two cm high, thinning can be carried out, with the plant spacing maintained at about two cm. If dense seedlings or thin, poorly developed seedling leaves are found, they need to be removed in time to save nutrient consumption.

During thinning, cultivation and weeding work should also be coordinated, with a cultivation distance of about five cm. When the shungiku seedlings grow to 4 leaves, the transplanting work can be completed, with a plant spacing of about six cm per plant. Whether thinning or final singling, water should be irrigated and an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer should be applied. This can promote the growth of shungiku roots and stems and make the leaves grow more robust.

5. Pest and Disease Management

During the growth of shungiku, pest-control drugs also need to be sprayed. The insects most likely to infect it are green worms and aphids. Therefore, when shungiku grows to a height of about ten cm, 50% pest-control drugs should be diluted and evenly sprayed, which can effectively prevent pest breeding.

At present, shungiku is planted in small amounts in both northern and southern China, but it has effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, cooling blood, lowering blood pressure, and regulating the stomach to stimulate appetite. It is suitable for planting and eating.