When to Plant Chinese Artichoke? Latest Planting Time and Method Explained in Detail
Chinese artichoke, also known as fugui cai, pagoda cauliflower, or earth silkworm, is a variety of cauliflower. It has a crisp, tender texture and is rich in nutrients, containing multiple vitamins, and is one of the world-famous eight-treasure vegetables. Many people want to grow it, but do not know when is the best time to plant it, or the planting method. Below, the editor brings you the planting time and method for Chinese artichoke.
1. Planting Time
Chinese artichoke has strong cold resistance, and pests and diseases are watered. Generally, it is sown in spring and harvested in autumn. You can choose to plant it in late April, when the temperature is suitable for its growth, and it generally sprouts after one month. In summer, when the temperature is higher, the stems and leaves of Chinese artichoke grow quickly, while in autumn the stems and leaves grow slowly, and the underground tubers begin to expand. By winter, the above-ground stems and leaves begin to become bitter, and the tubers have finished developing, which is the period for marketing. If it is not sown in spring, Chinese artichoke will miss the best time for stem and leaf growth in summer, the tubers cannot expand in time in autumn, and the benefit of harvesting and marketing in winter is extremely low.
2. Sowing
Chinese artichoke is planted in spring and harvested in autumn, and one planting can be harvested for many years. When planting, first prepare the soil finely, and apply fully decomposed farmyard manure or organic matter per mu as base fertilizer. In addition, appropriately combine some nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer, generally about 40-50 kg of each. Then plow deeply, mix the fertilizer and soil evenly, and then build ridges and open beds. Generally, before Grain Rain, avoid vibration. When sowing, control the row spacing at about 25-30 cm, gradually about 10-15 cm, and use about 30 kg of seed per mu.
3. Field Management
After sowing, it should not be watered, so as to avoid soil compaction and affect normal emergence. It generally emerges within one week after sowing. When watering at the seedling stage, apply a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer to promote seedling growth. At the same time, do a good job of cultivating and weeding. Cultivation should be shallow to avoid damaging the roots; weeding should be frequent to prevent weeds from competing with seedlings for water and fertilizer, which is unfavorable to seedling growth. When the seedlings grow to about 10 cm, they will bloom with purplish-red flowers, and the flowering period is relatively long, lasting until autumn, and at the same time they begin to branch and form roots. When they grow to about 30 cm, underground tubers will form, and enlarged spiral-shaped tubers will form at the tips of the fibrous roots.
4. Digging and Seed Saving
In winter, when the temperature is low and cold, the above-ground stems and leaves gradually wither. At this time, the tubers can be dug out. After digging, dig a 30 cm deep soil pit, place the tubers inside for storage, and cover the pit with sandy soil. Some tubers can also be left in the ground and dug out before germination the following year, to be used as seed or for eating, and the taste is likewise fresh, tender, crisp, and delicious.
The above is an introduction to the planting time and method of Chinese artichoke. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.