Latest Prices and Growing Methods for Crown Daisy Seeds

Crown daisy is also known as tonghao, penghao, haocai and so on. It is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant of the genus Glebionis in the Asteraceae family. Its stems and leaves can be eaten as a vegetable when tender. It originated in the Mediterranean region and other places, and has been cultivated in China for more than 900 years and is widely distributed, though the cultivated area in both the north and south is very small. Wild plants are found in places such as Hebei and Shandong. Now let us take a look at crown daisy seed prices and growing methods!

How much does a jin of crown daisy seeds cost?

The price of crown daisy seeds is about 15 to 20 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on seed quality, variety, market conditions and purchase quantity. Cultivated varieties of crown daisy are divided by leaf type into two categories: large-leaf crown daisy and small-leaf crown daisy. Large-leaf crown daisy is tender in texture, low in fiber, good in quality and relatively heat-tolerant, but it has poor cold tolerance, grows slowly and matures slightly late, making it suitable for cultivation in southern regions. Small-leaf crown daisy has thinner leaf flesh, a strong aroma, thinner stems and branches, fast growth and relatively strong cold resistance, but it is not very heat-tolerant and matures earlier, making it suitable for cultivation in northern regions.

How are crown daisy seeds planted?

1. Site selection and land preparation: Crown daisy is not strict about soil, but it is best to choose neutral or slightly acidic soil with deep, loose and moist soil, rich organic matter, convenient drainage and irrigation, and good water and fertilizer retention.

2. Fertilizing and making beds: Before sowing crown daisy, apply sufficient decomposed base fertilizer at 1500 to 2000 kg per mu, plus 20 to 25 kg of diammonium phosphate, spread evenly in the field, plow and rake level to make flat beds.

3. Seed soaking and germination: Germinate the seeds 3 to 4 days before sowing crown daisy. Soak the seeds in warm water at 30°C for 24 hours, then rinse and dry them, and place them at 25°C to germinate, rinsing once a day. Once the seeds sprout, they can be sown.

4. Sowing method: In crown daisy production, direct sowing, broadcast sowing and drilling can all be used. For broadcast sowing, the seeding rate is generally 3 to 4 kg per mu, and for drilling, 1.5 to 2 kg per mu. After sowing, cover with 1 cm of soil, rake level and water.

Growing methods for crown daisy

1. Timely thinning: Crown daisy seedlings emerge about one week after sowing. Thin the seedlings when they grow to 2 to 3 true leaves. When thinning, do it directly by hand, pulling up the crowded seedlings, with a plant and row spacing of about 4 to 6 cm. Too sparse will affect yield.

2. Transplanting method: When transplanting crown daisy, use a sickle to lift the seedlings, place them in a prepared basin, then transplant them into the prepared field with a plant and row spacing of about 4 to 6 cm, then water thoroughly once. Apply nitrogen fertilizer once 20 days after transplanting.

3. Water management: When growing crown daisy, pay attention to water management. In winter and spring, because temperatures are lower, watering should be properly controlled after emergence to prevent damping-off and downy mildew. Watering should also be based on seedling condition, generally once every 7 to 8 days.

4. Reasonable topdressing: Apply topdressing once when crown daisy seedlings grow to 10 to 12 cm, and then apply fertilizer once after each harvest. During the growing period, apply 1 to 2 applications of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer with irrigation, using about 15 to 20 kg of urea per mu.

5. Harvesting: Begin harvesting when crown daisy plants reach about 20 cm in height and have 12 to 13 true leaves. Do not harvest too late, as this may affect quality. At harvest, use a sharp knife to cut at the stem base while leaving 2 to 3 leaves, remove yellow leaves and tie into small bundles for sale.

Pest and disease control for crown daisy

1. Rhizoctonia rot

[Symptoms] It harms the stem base or underground roots of seedlings. Initially, oval or irregular dark brown lesions appear. In the early stage, diseased seedlings wilt during the day and recover at night. The diseased part gradually becomes sunken and constricted, and some gradually turn blackish brown, finally drying up and dying, but without lodging.

[Control] In the early stage of the disease, spray 38% oxadixyl and cymoxanil and copper fungicide 800-fold solution, or 41% polyoxin and pyrimethanil 600-fold solution, or 20% tolclofos-methyl EC 1200-fold solution, or 72.2% propamocarb aqueous solution 800-fold solution, once every 7 to 10 days.

2. Black spot disease

[Symptoms] Small blackish brown round spots appear on the leaves, later expanding or joining together into irregular large patches. The edges are slightly raised, and small black dots are scattered on both sides of the leaves.

[Control] In the early stage of the disease, spray 20 ml of 4% pyrimidine nucleoside antibiotic plus 20 ml of 41% polyoxin pyrimethanil, mixed with 15 kg of water, once every 5 to 7 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive applications.

3. Sclerotinia rot

[Symptoms] When the stem base is infected, water-soaked spots first appear, then expand into light brown areas, causing soft rot or longitudinal splitting of the stem base. When leaves are infected, gray to grayish brown wet-rot large spots appear on the leaf surface. When humidity is high, flocculent white mold appears on the spots, eventually causing the leaves to rot.

[Control] In the early and middle stages of the disease, use 30 ml of 20% simeconazole and prochloraz plus 25 ml of oxadixyl and cymoxanil, mixed with 15 kg of water, once every 5 to 7 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive applications.

4. Cabbage webworm

[Symptoms] Early-instar larvae bore into and feed on seedlings and heart leaves. In mild cases, they affect the growth of vegetable seedlings; in severe cases, they can cause seedling death, resulting in missing plants and broken rows. Older larvae not only chew the heart leaves, but can also bore into the stem pith and roots and can transmit bacterial soft rot.

[Control] At the peak of larval hatching or when heart leaf damage and silk webbing are first seen, apply 5% chlorfluazuron EC 4000-fold solution by spraying 2 to 3 times, taking care to spray the pesticide onto the heart leaves.

5. Aphids

[Symptoms] They often gather on leaves, tender stems, flower buds, terminal buds and other parts, piercing and sucking sap, causing leaves to wrinkle, curl and become deformed. In severe cases, they cause branches and leaves to wither or even the whole plant to die.

[Control] Use 50 ml of 25% aphid and mite clear EC per mu, or 1500 to 2000-fold solution of imidacloprid series products, or 2500-fold solution of 20% imidacloprid, or 3000-fold solution of 25% pirimicarb for spray control.