What are the latest points to note when planting Indian aster?
Indian aster is a relatively popular wild vegetable on the market at present, and in many places it is called Indian aster head or red-stemmed vegetable. Indian aster has a wide distribution range, basically all over the country, mainly in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai. Indian aster has the characteristics of being easy to plant, easy to manage, and high-yielding, but there are also several points we need to note during the planting process. Let us take a look below at what they are.
1. Time
If you want to eat fresh, authentic Indian aster, then the planting time is very necessary to know. In general, the sowing time for Indian aster is between August and October each year, and Indian aster planted during this period can usually be harvested and eaten around March to April of the following year. Of course, in some places it is also planted between February and May each year, because the light and temperature during this period are also very suitable for planting Indian aster, so everyone can take note of this.
2. Seed selection
Indian aster planting is generally divided into two types: direct seed sowing and rhizome propagation. For Indian aster seeds, we should choose plump grains without pests or diseases, and before sowing, the seeds need to be soaked in warm water for one day and one night before sowing. If rhizome propagation is used, we need to dig out the rhizomes of Indian aster, trying not to damage the root system of Indian aster, otherwise it will affect the survival rate of Indian aster.
3. Soil
This wild vegetable, Indian aster, has relatively strong resistance, but if the soil at the planting site has sufficient fertility, is relatively soft in texture, and has good air permeability and water retention, the yield and quality of Indian aster will be better. The next point we also need to note is that when preparing the land, it is best to make some soil improvements, adding an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer or other fertilizers to the soil to improve the soil texture. Finally, according to the terrain and topography of the planting site, make flat beds or raised beds.
4. Water
If sowing with seeds, after sowing and covering with soil, we should water, and cover with a layer of plastic film to keep warm and retain moisture. After the seeds germinate, remove the plastic film in time, and then water reasonably according to the soil moisture. During the growth process of Indian aster, we also need to water frequently, which can increase the growth rate of Indian aster. If rhizome propagation is used, we need to water after planting, which can improve the survival rate of Indian aster.
5. Fertilization
After Indian aster survives planting, in order to promote its growth, we need to take topdressing measures, so when topdressing we should note that fertilizer types and fertilizer amounts cannot be used arbitrarily. In general, we carry out topdressing two or three times, each time basically mainly with urea, and in combination with the use of potassium fertilizer. The amount of urea per mu is about 20 jin, and the amount of potassium fertilizer is about 5 jin. The fertilization amount should not be too much, so as to avoid burning the seedlings.
When planting Indian aster, we actually also need to note the prevention and control of pests and diseases, for example, for leaf spot disease, we can use plant ash for prevention and control. The next thing we also need to note is the harvest time. Normally, we harvest each year in April to May and from October to November, when Indian aster is at its freshest.