Where does evening primrose grow? An introduction to its benefits, effects and cultivation methods

Evening primrose is a species in the genus Oenothera, family Onagraceae. It is native to North America (especially Canada and the eastern United States), was introduced to Europe early on, and then spread rapidly through the world's temperate and subtropical regions. So, where does evening primrose grow? What benefits and effects does it have? How is it cultivated?

1. Where does evening primrose grow?

Evening primrose often grows on open barren slopes and roadsides. It is drought-tolerant and tolerant of poor soil, and black soil, sandy soil, loess, young forest land, lightly saline-alkali land, wasteland, riverbank land and hillside land are all suitable for planting it.

2. What benefits and effects does evening primrose have?

Evening primrose can dispel wind-dampness and strengthen the tendons and bones. It is mainly used for wind-cold-dampness impediment; aching and weak tendons and bones; it invigorates blood and unblocks collaterals; extinguishes wind and calms the liver; reduces swelling and promotes healing of sores. It is mainly used for chest impediment and heart pain; stroke with hemiplegia; internal stirring of deficiency wind; hyperactivity in children; rheumatic numbness and pain; abdominal pain and diarrhea; dysmenorrhea; oral and genital ulcers; sores and ulcers; eczema.

3. How is evening primrose cultivated?

1. Land preparation and site selection: For land preparation, evening primrose is a vigorous grower, cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, tolerant of poor soil, fond of light and averse to waterlogging. Fields with fertile soil and good drainage that previously grew beans or melons and gourds should be chosen, and continuous cropping is possible. However, evening primrose cannot be planted on plots with residues of herbicides such as chlorsulfuron, chlorimuron-ethyl, Pursuit or clomazone. For land preparation, bean stubble and mixed stubble can be directly harrowed and ridged in autumn.

2. Sowing time: Sowing can be done in both spring and autumn; the autumn sowing period is from mid-October until before the ground freezes. If there is heavy winter snow, autumn sowing is better than spring sowing; if there is little winter snow, it easily causes missing plants and broken rows. Spring sowing can be done before wheat sowing, when the soil has thawed 2-3 cm. Because the sowing rate is low, 60 kg of diammonium phosphate per hectare is mixed with the seed as a filler; if this is not enough, a certain amount of dry sawdust or parched wheat or rapeseed can be added for sowing. Sowing depth is 1-2 cm, and the soil should be pressed promptly after sowing. The seed rate is 6 kg per hectare, with 400,000-500,000 plants retained per hectare. The sowing density must not be too low, otherwise the plants will branch and mature unevenly.

3. Field management: Before the second pair of true leaves has spread out, the seedlings are very similar to weed seedlings and easily mixed up with them; at this time cultivation and weeding cannot be carried out, and it can only be done after the second pair of true leaves has unfolded. When the seedlings have grown to 5-6 leaves and there are many grass-family weeds, quizalofop-p-ethyl or fluazifop-p-butyl can be sprayed to kill the weeds. During the growth period, 2 rounds of hoeing and 2 cultivations should be carried out; hoeing and ridging must stop before flowering, and the first round of hoeing and cultivation is carried out when the seedlings cover the ridges. In late July and early August, manual pulling of large weeds is carried out twice, so that there are no weeds in the field taller than the evening primrose plants.

4. Evening primrose pests and diseases: For the control of root rot, after the disease occurs, the plant roots gradually darken and rot, the leaves wilt and dry up, and then the whole plant dies. Control methods: 1% lime water, or 50% thiophanate-methyl 1500-fold solution, or 75% chlorothalonil 1000-fold solution can be used for drenching.

5. Harvesting: Evening primrose has an indeterminate inflorescence, and the fruits mature successively. Usually, when 3-4 of the bottom pods have turned yellow and are about to split open, this is the best harvest time; the specific time is mid-to-late September, and if it is later, the early-ripening fruits will have dried and split open. The seeds scatter on their own. Manual harvesting or a swather can be used for cutting and windrowing; after drying for 5-7 days, a combine harvester is used to pick up the swath or manual threshing (beating) is done. The harvested seeds are suitable for graded cleaning with a grain cleaner to remove impurities; after drying until the moisture content drops below 11%, they are bagged for storage or sale.