When Is the Best Time to Sow Shepherd's Purse Seeds? A Detailed Guide to Sowing Times
Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), also known as hù shēng cǎo, chicken-heart greens, and intestine-clearing herb. Because shepherd's purse is rich in nutritional value, it has attracted many consumers to buy it. Driven by strong market demand, the number of farmers growing shepherd's purse has gradually increased. So when should shepherd's purse seeds be sown?
Sowing Time
For artificial cultivation, the main types are the broad-leaf shepherd's purse and the loose-leaf shepherd's purse, and all three seasons of spring, summer, and autumn are suitable. For spring cultivation, sow from late February to late April; for summer cultivation, sow from early July to late August; for autumn cultivation, sow from early September to early October. In North China, two-season cultivation is possible: sow for spring cultivation from early March to late April, and for autumn cultivation from early July to mid-September. When using plastic tunnels or solar greenhouses for cultivation, sowing can be done at any time from early October to early February of the following year.
Harvest Time
Shepherd's purse is harvested in stages; at each harvest, pick the large plants and leave the small ones, and the harvested and left plants should be even and appropriate. For shepherd's purse sown in early autumn, it can be harvested once it has 10-13 true leaves, supplying the market around early September; from sowing to harvest takes 30-35 days, after which it is harvested in stages 4-5 times, with harvesting ending in late March of the following year. For autumn shepherd's purse sown in early October, as the temperature gradually drops, growth becomes slow, and it is harvested only after 45-60 days, after which harvesting can continue 2 more times. For spring shepherd's purse sown in late February, it is harvested in early April to supply the market, while that sown in late April is harvested in late May. Spring-sown shepherd's purse is generally harvested 1-2 times.