Latest Watercress Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Watercress, also called douban cai, originated in Europe and likes to grow in water or in places near water. It is now cultivated in a very wide range of areas; even the high-altitude region of Tibet can cultivate it, showing strong adaptability. It is a common hydroponic vegetable and can also be used as medicine, with the effects of clearing heat and promoting diuresis. It has been introduced into China for many years and has rich planting experience. To achieve high yield, the cultivation techniques should do the following points well. Now let us take a look together.
1. Sowing
After sowing and raising seedlings, transplant them. The seeds are small, so they can be raised in a nutrient tray. Wash the nutrient tray clean, disinfect the culture soil, and prevent it from carrying pathogens. Sow 2 to 3 seeds per hole, which can ensure the emergence rate. Then the main thing is to water every day, but prevent damping-off and downy mildew. The small arched shed should be ventilated more on cloudy and rainy days to reduce humidity, and the temperature needed for germination should be maintained, but at noon on sunny days it should be ventilated to prevent high temperature from burning the seedlings.
2. Planting
In the Yangtze River Basin, sowing can be done in October. Then, when planting seedlings, remove weak seedlings and diseased seedlings. The planting seedlings are required to be short and sturdy, not thin, long, slender, and weak seedlings. Then, do not plant too deep, which would affect root growth and nutrient absorption. If the planting roots are numerous, cut off most of them to promote new roots.
3. Management
Use loose, breathable sandy loam as the planting field. Then the soil is required to be fine and crumbly, which is beneficial to root growth and reduces resistance. Apply 2000 jin of barnyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, thus ensuring the soil is fertile. Irrigate the field with a shallow water layer, within 2 cm, which is suitable for growth. Pull out weeds to prevent them from competing for nutrients. After one harvest, 30 jin of urea can be spread per mu to supplement nutrients.
4. Harvesting and Seed Saving
When it grows to more than 20 cm high, it can be harvested. Harvesting generally means picking the tender shoots, or directly harvesting all of it and replanting. Then varieties that do not set seed can keep seed plants, and can only be kept over summer for seed. Cover with shade to lower the temperature for seed saving. For those with seeds, pick the seeds when the pods crack fully. Dry them in the shade to extract the seeds.
That is all the specific content of watercress cultivation techniques. If there is anything not considered, you can operate according to your own experience. You can also learn from each other and ask others for advice. It is best to consult some farmers with many years of watercress cultivation experience. You can get more complete experience content.