How to grow broom grass? A detailed guide to the latest planting methods
Broom grass, also known as kochia, summer cypress, etc., mostly grows wild in fields, roadsides and wasteland. It is a wild vegetable with high nutritional value; its young stems are edible and its seeds can be used as medicine. In rural areas, after autumn it is cut down to make brooms, which is very practical. Nowadays it is also grown as a vegetable, so how should it be planted? Let's take a look.
1. Site selection and soil preparation
Broom grass is not strict about climate and temperature and has extremely strong adaptability; it grows wild throughout the country. When planting, it is best to choose sandy soil with sufficient sunlight, fertility, looseness and rich humus. After choosing the planting site, in spring apply 3000-5000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, together with 50 kg of compound fertilizer. After fertilizing, plow the soil, turn the fertilizer into the soil, and then use the sun to bake it, eliminating root tubers, tuberous weeds and overwintering pests, and reducing the harm of diseases and insect pests. One week before sowing, harrow the soil finely and level it, then make beds according to the terrain: make long beds where the terrain is flat, and short beds where the terrain is undulating.
2. Propagation methods
Broom grass mainly reproduces by sowing. Sowing is generally carried out in April. When sowing, choose seeds produced by healthy 2-year-old plants free of diseases and insect pests, so as to ensure the germination rate. Before sowing, mix the seeds with plant ash, which can both protect the seeds and promote the growth and development of broom grass. Before sowing, water to keep the soil moist to facilitate germination. After the soil dries slightly, sow the seeds. Sowing generally uses the drill method: open shallow furrows on the bed surface and evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows, taking care not to make them too deep, generally 4-5 cm is enough. After covering with soil, rake it level with a tool and water to keep it moist. Plastic film can also be used to cover it to keep it warm and moist. If the temperature is suitable, seedlings emerge in as little as 5 days, or as slowly as 15 days.
3. Seedling stage management
As the seedlings emerge, the temperature begins to gradually rise. At this time, if the soil is too dry, water promptly to keep the soil moist, but also be careful not to water too frequently, which would cause excessive soil moisture and affect seedling growth. When the seedlings grow to 6-7 cm, loosen the soil and weed once. When loosening the soil, just use a small hoe to scratch the surface; it should not be too deep, so as not to damage the root system. Loosening the soil promotes seedling root growth, and removing weeds prevents them from robbing the seedlings of nutrients. Loosening the soil and weeding should be carried out 2-3 times during the seedling stage; do not let weeds appear in the field. When the seedlings grow to more than 15 cm, promptly remove the weak seedlings and cultivate strong seedlings. When they grow to more than 20 cm, thin the seedlings to a final spacing of 10×15 cm between plants and rows.
4. Field management
After thinning, the seedlings enter the growth period, which is their peak growing season. At this time, cultivation and weeding are also needed to ensure there are no weeds in the field. Then they enter the flowering stage, when they need a large amount of nutrients, so fertilizer should be applied in time. If nutrients are needed, generally apply 40-50 kg per mu of compound fertilizer based mainly on nitrogen fertilizer. Also pay attention to water management: water promptly during high temperatures and long droughts, and also pay attention to watering each time fertilizer is applied to dilute the fertilizer so that the root system can absorb it quickly.
The above is an introduction to the planting methods of broom grass. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more about planting knowledge, please follow us.