A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques for Sagittaria
Sagittaria is also known as arrowhead, a perennial herbaceous plant, and it is grown on a large scale across both northern and southern parts of our country. Many friends think sagittaria is water chestnut. But that is not the case, because water chestnut has a black, flat appearance, while sagittaria has a white, oval appearance, and they look completely different. It is only because in many local dialects that water chestnut is called “sagittaria.” Sagittaria has effects such as detoxifying and promoting urination, strengthening the body, and nourishing the body. Today, the editor brings you the planting methods for sagittaria, so let's take a look below!
1. Select superior varieties
Around the Beginning of Spring in March each year, you should select mature corms with strong growth, good appearance, suitable size, no deformities or pests and diseases, and relatively thick terminal buds as seeds. Then insert the selected seeds directly into a previously prepared seedling bed for cultivation and raising. Generally, they are inserted at a spacing of 10*10 cm. After insertion, cover the seedlings with plastic film and keep the water level of the seedling bed at 2-4 cm. After about half a month, they will begin to sprout, and after one month, seedlings will grow.
2. Temporary planting of seedlings
The temporary planting of sagittaria generally takes place after the seedlings have emerged, that is, after mid-April, when the surrounding temperature has stabilized at around 15 degrees, temporary planting can begin. The temporary planting site should be chosen in a paddy field that is sheltered from the wind and faces the sun, with sufficient fertilizer and water, and no previous disease or pest problems. The distance between each plant should be kept at about 0.5 m, and the row spacing at about 0.7 m. Build field ridges around the paddy field, and ensure there is sufficient water in the field so that the seedlings continuously send out creeping stems. When these creeping stems are underground, their terminal buds will develop into many tillers. Only when these tillers have grown into standard seedlings can they be transplanted into the main field. During temporary planting, pay attention to frequent weeding, remove useless leaves, and apply farmyard manure at least twice.
3. Carefully prepare the field
The main field planting site should be chosen as a paddy field with sufficient clean water, convenient drainage and irrigation, and fertile, deep soil, and crop rotation should be practiced. Before planting, apply about 1000 kg of farmyard manure per mu in the main field as base fertilizer. The growing seedlings of sagittaria should be sturdy, at least about 25 cm tall. Keep about three central leaves of the seedlings and cut off old roots and old leaves that cannot grow or develop. Planting generally begins from early August to early September, with a distance between each plant of about 25 cm and a row spacing of 60 cm. Set up drainage and irrigation facilities in the main field, level the field surface, plant shallowly in shallow water, and plant an additional 50 plants in the field as backup seedlings.
4. Field management
Within three days after planting, pay attention to inspecting at all times. If any lodged seedlings are found, set them upright. Diseased seedlings with poor growth and severe pests or diseases should also be pulled out in time, and then replacement seedlings should be taken from the backup seedlings. One month after fixed planting, the seedlings may be appropriately subjected to short-term field drying, with the standard being that after field drying, your feet will not sink in. About half a month after planting, when the plants have grown several true leaves, carry out intertillage and weeding in the main field, pull out excess weeds and unwanted seedlings in the field, pay attention to applying more nitrogen fertilizer, and appropriately combine it with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
The above is a brief introduction to the planting methods for sagittaria. Planting sagittaria is not very difficult, but it still requires careful attention. Without correct planting techniques and management methods, it is impossible to achieve the goal of high and abundant yields. During the planting process, everyone also needs to pay attention to preventing and controlling pests and diseases. The harm of pests and diseases to sagittaria can be devastating. If not dealt with in time, it will greatly reduce the yield or even cause total crop failure.