Dandelion Planting Methods, Precautions for Artificial Cultivation, and Analysis of Benefits and Risks

Dandelion is one of the plants we saw more often in childhood, and in recent years it has become increasingly rare in cities. As a perennial herbaceous plant, dandelion is hard to forget for many people because of the beauty of its seeds drifting with the wind. So how should farmers plant dandelions? What should be noted when artificially cultivating dandelions? What are the benefits and risks of planting dandelions?

I. How to plant dandelions?

1. Dandelion is a perennial root-propagating plant. Under wild conditions, biennial plants can bloom and set seed. Early summer is the flowering and seeding period, and the number increases with the number of years of growth. Some individual plants produce more than 20 flowers, and superior varieties can produce more than 20 flowers per plant. After flowering, the seeds mature in 13 to 15 days.

2. When the outer shell of the flower head changes from green to yellow-green, and the seeds change from milky white to brown, they can be harvested. Do not wait until the flower head splits open before harvesting, otherwise the seeds are likely to scatter and be lost, causing relatively large losses. Generally, each capitulum contains more than 100 seeds. The thousand-seed weight of large-leaf dandelion seeds is about 2 grams, and the thousand-seed weight of small-leaf dandelion seeds is about 0.8 to 1.2 grams.

3. When collecting seeds, the dandelion flower heads can be picked off and kept indoors for one day of after-ripening. After the flower heads have fully opened, dry them in the shade for 1 to 2 days until the seeds are half-dry, then rub off the down at the tips of the seeds by hand, and dry the seeds in the sun for later use.

4. In places where wild dandelion resources are abundant, the roots of wild dandelions can also be directly dug up for cultivation. Usually in October, after digging up the roots, they are planted together in a greenhouse at a spacing of 8 cm × 3 cm. After planting, water thoroughly, and by February of the following year new leaves will sprout. At this time, apply organic fertilizer once more, and once they have grown to a certain extent, the leaves can be harvested for market.

II. What should be noted when artificially cultivating dandelions?

1. Seed harvesting: dandelions can bloom and set seed after two years of planting. The longer the growth period, the more flowers they produce, with a maximum of more than 20 flowers. After flowering, the seed maturation period is very short, generally maturing in half a month. Whether the seeds are mature depends on color changes. When the outer shell of the flower head changes from green to yellow, and the color of the flower head changes from white to brown, it means the seeds are mature and can be harvested.

2. Dandelion is both drought-tolerant and alkali-tolerant, and likes loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam soil.

3. If you want to bring it to market earlier and seize the market, you can dig up roots in the wild and then plant them in a greenhouse, achieving twice the result with half the effort. Plant the roots at a row spacing of 15 cm and a plant spacing of 5 cm, and bury them to the level of the original root surface. By controlling the temperature, you can control the growth of the dandelion. If you want dandelions to reach the market during the peak demand season, control the greenhouse temperature to restrict plant growth, and satisfactory results can be achieved.

4. If seedlings need to emerge earlier after sowing, soak them in warm water at 50-55°C, stir until the water cools, then soak for another 8 hours, remove them, wrap the seeds in a wet cloth, and place them in a spot at about 25°C. Cover them with a wet cloth on top, and water once each morning and evening with warm water at 50°C. After 3 to 4 days, once the seeds begin to sprout, they can be sown. The sowing rate is 11.25 kg per hectare.

5. During the growth period, dandelions should be watered frequently to keep the soil moist. After dandelion seedlings emerge, they need a large amount of water, so maintaining a moist soil state is key to dandelion growth.

6. For sown dandelions, applying chemical fertilizer is not advocated. Although applying chemical fertilizer makes the young plants and leaves dark and causes rapid growth, it loses the essence of a green plant and also loses the wild flavor and style of dandelion. Generally, 9000 to 10500 kg can be produced per hectare.

III. Benefits of planting dandelions

Dandelion leaves, roots, and stems can all be used as medicine. Each mu can produce about 600 kg of dried product. Calculated at 6 yuan per kg, the benefit per mu is about 3600 yuan. Dandelion is a perennial herbaceous plant. After two consecutive years of growth, its roots can be dug out and dried. The price of the roots is more than twice that of the stems and leaves. The root yield per mu can reach about 300 kg, and the price is 13 yuan per kg, so the benefit per mu can reach 3900 yuan. In addition, it can be eaten as a vegetable, so the benefit per mu is around 7000-8000.

IV. Risks of planting dandelions

At present, planting Chinese medicinal herbs is a good project, with higher economic benefits than previous grain crop planting. However, too many people follow the trend, causing dandelion seed prices to rise sharply. Also, not everyone can grow good dandelions. The planting region and planting techniques are extremely important, so there are certain risks in planting dandelions. Planting should be suited to local conditions, and good planting techniques should be mastered.