A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods and Key Techniques for Ground Cherry
Ground cherry, also known as sour berry, lantern grass, lantern fruit, bubble grass, etc., is called "guniang'er" in the north. Its fruit is edible. It originated in our country and has wild resources in both the north and south, with a long history of cultivation. It is currently widely planted in Northeast China, so how should ground cherry be planted? Let's take a look.
1. Sowing
Generally, a seedling bed is built in a cold frame or solar greenhouse. Apply 2000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu to the seedbed, shallowly turn and rake it level, and make a flat bed. Water before sowing, and sow after the water has infiltrated. Seeds can be soaked in water at 45 degrees, or soaked in low-concentration potassium permanganate for 10 minutes to prevent the seeds from carrying bacteria and viruses. After soaking for 12 hours, remove them and place them at 20-30 degrees for germination. Sow after 80% of the seeds have sprouted. After sowing, cover with 0.5-1 cm of soil, then fasten the plastic film tightly, and add straw mats at night to raise the ground temperature and promote germination.
2. Seedling stage management
Generally, seedlings emerge 10-15 days after planting. After emergence, thin the seedlings, promptly removing overly dense, diseased, insect-damaged, and weak seedlings. At the 2-3 leaf stage, transplant the seedlings, with a plant and row spacing of 10 cm × 10 cm. During the seedling stage, keep the soil alternately dry and moist. In the early seedling stage, the outside temperature is relatively low and evaporation is low, so watering may not be needed. During the seedling transplanting stage, the outside temperature rises, so water once every 7-10 days. During the rainy season, drain promptly to avoid root suffocation and root rot. If the seedlings are deficient, apply compound fertilizer once, generally 7.5-10 kg per mu. At the same time, pay attention to intertillage and weeding to prevent weeds from affecting the growth and development of the seedlings.
3. Field planting
Ground cherry has strong vitality and is not strict about soil. It has the characteristics of wide adaptability and strong stress resistance. For field planting, it is best to choose loam or sandy loam with fertile soil and good drainage. Apply 3000-4000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer. Field planting should be carried out after the late frost. The suitable period for field planting is when the seedlings grow 6-7 leaves to the initial opening of the first flower. When lifting seedlings for field planting, be careful to damage the root system as little as possible to help the seedlings recover. The field planting density is about 5000 plants per mu, with plant and row spacing controlled at 25-28 cm × 65-70 cm.
4. Field management
After field planting and seedling recovery, apply a seedling-promoting fertilizer together with watering, applying 500 kg of decomposed human excrement and urine or 10 kg of urea per mu. After the first fruit expands, apply a second fertilizer, applying 15-20 kg of compound fertilizer per mu to promote fruit development and plant growth. When field planting, water thoroughly. After the seedlings recover and the seedling-promoting fertilizer is applied, water once, then carry out intertillage to control seedling growth. After seedling control, water appropriately and keep the soil moist. Generally, water once a week. In summer, when temperatures are high and hot and water evaporation is high, water once every 3-5 days. After field planting, carry out intertillage once after each watering to loosen the soil, raise the ground temperature, and promote root development. At the early flowering and fruiting stage, combine topdressing with intertillage and hilling to prevent the plants from lodging and to facilitate irrigation and drainage.
The above is an introduction to ground cherry planting methods. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.