When Is the Best Time to Plant Codonopsis? A Detailed Guide to High-Yield Cultivation Methods

Codonopsis, also known as lion's head ginseng, Zhongling grass, yellow dang, etc., is one of the most common medicinal herbs found in mountain forests and thickets. It is currently cultivated in southwest China, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, northeast China and other regions. So when is the best time to plant Codonopsis? How do you plant it for high yield?

Planting time:

1. Winter sowing: Winter sowing is done between “Frost's Descent” and “Start of Winter”. The seeds need no treatment that year; after being soaked by winter rain and snow, they sprout early and grow vigorously the following year, with strong drought resistance. Because Codonopsis seeds are small, they must be covered with only a shallow layer of soil. If strong winds occur during winter sowing, the seeds are easily blown away, resulting in gaps in the seedlings.

2. Spring sowing: Spring sowing is best done around the “Spring Equinox”. The seeds must be treated first. Select plump, mold-free seeds, put them in a cloth bag, place the bag in 40°C warm water, and immediately rub them for about half an hour, until no yellow water flows out. Then take out the bag, cover it with a wet burlap sheet, and place it in a spot at 25-30°C for germination. Wash once each morning and evening with 40°C water to keep them moist. After 4-5 days, when the seeds have sprouted, they can be sown.

Planting techniques:

1. Site selection and land preparation

For the seedling bed, choose a semi-shaded slope with loose, fertile soil, rich in humus, and well-drained sandy loam.

Apply 2000-3000 kg of barnyard manure per mu, 20-30 kg of diammonium phosphate, and 30-50 kg of superphosphate, then plow, harrow fine, and level to make flat beds 3-5 m wide, with length depending on the terrain. The transplanting site should face shade; on hillside plots, beds are usually not made, and the slope surface is simply leveled.

2. Seedling raising and transplanting

Codonopsis has two propagation methods, direct sowing and seedling transplanting; generally, the seedling transplanting method is better.

The seedling bed should be deeply plowed and finely harrowed so the soil is fine, crumbly, and loose. If conditions permit, apply decomposed compost and plant ash as base fertilizer; if these are not available, apply 50 kg of ammonium phosphate or compound fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer.

Seedlings can be raised by spring sowing or autumn sowing, with autumn sowing being better. Use seeds produced in the current year and sow around “White Dew”; the germination rate can reach 85%.

Choose a fertile, shaded plot for the seedling bed, deeply plow, level, and harrow fine, then water thoroughly. Evenly scatter the seeds on top, harrow lightly once, and cover with wheat straw for shade. The seedbed should be sprayed with water frequently to keep the soil moist. Codonopsis seedling beds are not top-dressed, to prevent excessive vegetative growth. After the seedlings emerge completely, remove the covering. When the seedlings are about 6 cm tall, thin them appropriately to prevent overcrowding from affecting growth, and pull weeds promptly.

3. Field management

1. Cultivation, weeding, and top-dressing:

For Codonopsis after seedling raising or transplanting, carry out the first weeding when the seedlings are 6-10 cm tall; when the seedlings are 15-18 cm tall, carry out the second weeding together with top-dressing.

During the growing period, Codonopsis should not receive excessive water; when drought is severe, water moderately, and apply 10-15 kg per mu of urea or phosphate fertilizer as top-dressing.

2. Trellising and seed collection:

When the Codonopsis seedlings are 30 cm tall, insert bamboo poles or tree branches between the rows so the stems and vines can twine around them. Where the stems and vines are too dense, thin the branches appropriately to improve ventilation and light penetration.

When the fruits turn from green to yellow-white and the seeds inside become yellow-brown, cut the stems and vines, dry them in the sun, shake out the seeds, remove impurities, store them in a cloth bag, and keep them in a dry, ventilated place for later use. If seeds are not being collected, trellising is unnecessary; once the stems and vines exceed 30 cm, cut them off at any time to promote root growth.

4. Harvesting

One year after transplanting, around late October at “Frost's Descent”, the underground part of Codonopsis stops growing and can be dug up. In higher-altitude areas, harvesting is mostly done before “Frost's Descent”; in lower-altitude areas, harvesting is mostly done after “Frost's Descent”.