When is the best time to plant licorice? High-yield cultivation methods explained

Licorice, also known as sweet grass root, red licorice, powder licorice, and Ural licorice, is a common Chinese herbal medicine. It is cultivated in most regions of China, but to achieve high yields of licorice, you must master the cultivation techniques. So when is the best time to plant licorice? How do you plant it for high yields?

Planting time:

Licorice is a Chinese herbal medicine with a particularly notable effect on treating coughs. Currently, wild licorice is relatively scarce, and it is mainly cultivated artificially. Its sowing time is quite broad, and it can be sown in all three seasons of spring, summer, and autumn, making it quite flexible.

Of course, not every place can sow in all three seasons. Generally, northern regions, because of their colder climate, can only sow in two seasons, spring and autumn, while southern regions with better climate conditions can sow in all three seasons.

Cultivation techniques:

I. Cultivation methods

1. Site selection and land preparation: Licorice mostly grows in dry calcareous soil, prefers dry conditions, and is cold-tolerant. Therefore, it is best to choose loose sandy soil with a low water table and good drainage for planting. In this type of soil, the main root tends to extend downward, resulting in straight roots with abundant powder content. After selecting the site, apply decomposed barnyard manure or compost as base fertilizer, then plow deeply 60-100 cm, harrow fine and level, and make beds 1-2 m wide.

2. Propagation: There are two methods, seed propagation and rhizome propagation. For seed propagation, spring sowing is around Grain Rain, and autumn sowing is between Start of Autumn and White Dew, but autumn sowing is better than spring sowing. Licorice seeds have a gelatinous layer on the outer coat, which makes them difficult to absorb water. Before sowing, soak them in warm water at 40°C-50°C for about 3 days, changing the water frequently, so the seeds fully swell. Then open furrows 20-30 cm apart and deep, evenly scatter the seeds in the furrows, cover with 3 cm of soil, press down slightly, water, and cover with straw curtains to keep moist; remove them immediately after germination. Use about 2.5 kg of seeds per mu. Whether seed propagation of licorice can achieve satisfactory results,

Before and after sowing, the following must be noted: First, do a good job of deep plowing and land preparation, storing water and preserving soil moisture, and expanding the space for root activity. Second, sow early at the right time, sow while there is moisture, or sow early and wait for rain, promptly using soil moisture to promote rooting and germination and extend the growth period. Third, apply sufficient base fertilizer to help accelerate seedling growth later. Fourth, strictly control sowing depth in actual operation. This is the key to emergence and seedling survival. Rhizome propagation involves selecting plants that have grown for many years and have many adventitious buds on the roots, digging them out in spring or autumn, using thick roots for medicine, and cutting thin rhizomes into 15 cm segments. Each node has 1-2 buds; cut and plant as you dig. Open furrows 15 cm deep at a row spacing of 60-100 cm, place the cut rhizomes flat along the furrows at a plant spacing of 15 cm, and cover with soil and press firm.

II. Field management

After the seedlings emerge uniformly, thin them if too dense. Throughout the growing period, pay attention to loosening the soil and weeding. Each year, in conjunction with intertillage and weeding, apply topdressing 1-2 times.

III. Pest and disease control

1. Diseases: Mainly powdery mildew and rust, mostly occurring from May to August, which can be sprayed with 0.3 degrees Baume lime-sulfur mixture.

2. Pests: Mainly red spider mites, which can be sprayed with 1:2000 dimethoate emulsion; cutworms can be trapped and killed with poison bait.

IV. Harvesting and processing

Licorice has a relatively long growth period, and the harvest time can be determined according to local climate conditions, growth, and management. Generally, seed-propagated plants are harvested after 3-4 years, and rhizome-propagated plants after 2-3 years. Harvesting is generally carried out in spring and autumn; digging can be done before licorice seedlings emerge around Grain in Ear or after aboveground stems and leaves wither around White Dew. Because harvest times differ, quality also varies. Autumn-dug roots are firm, heavy, rich in powder, and of good quality. When digging, remove all roots, remove mud and sand (do not wash or soak in water), and process while fresh. First cut off branch roots and fibrous roots from the main root, then scrape off the upper nodules, and sort into large, medium, and small grades according to root thickness and length for drying. During drying, protect from rain to avoid moisture, mold, and deterioration. Dry until half-dry, tie into small bundles, and continue drying until completely dry.