How to Plant Orychophragmus violaceus? Latest Planting Techniques and Methods Tutorial
Orychophragmus violaceus mainly grows in the northern regions of China. In the second month of the lunar calendar, it blooms with purple flowers in spring, making it a relatively early-flowering plant. Orychophragmus violaceus has extremely strong vitality and strong adaptability to the northern environment, especially in winter, where it has very strong cold tolerance. Orychophragmus violaceus particularly prefers dark and damp growing environments and has low requirements for water and light. As for soil, it is suitable for growing in slightly alkaline soil. It is a type of plant that remains evergreen all year round, and it is the first to bloom in early spring, carrying the meaning of announcing the arrival of spring. It is a very plain and lovely plant.
Planting Techniques
Orychophragmus violaceus mainly reproduces by seeds and has strong regenerative ability. After the plants wither, newly dropped seeds quickly germinate and grow into new seedlings: on soil that has not been plowed, seeds sown by hand can also develop into seedlings, and they have relatively strong weed resistance. Therefore, cultivation management can be relatively extensive and fairly easy. Some freshly harvested seeds have a post-ripening physiological phenomenon, and early sowing results in a low germination rate, with germination continuing for 1-2 months or even longer. Sowing time can be in summer or autumn, but August to September is the most suitable. Each gram contains 300-400 seeds, and the sowing rate is about 1 kg per mu. If calculated per square meter, it should be 1-2 grams per sq m. If the hydroseeding method is used, the amount per unit area should preferably be increased by 10-20%.
For the potting soil, mix garden soil, perlite, and plant ash thoroughly in a ratio of 6:2:1. When potting, apply sufficient base fertilizer. After the seedlings stand upright, move the pots to a sunny place for routine fertilizer and water management.
Compared with other flowers, cultivation management is relatively extensive and does not require much additional care. It has strong cold tolerance and shade tolerance, and with a certain amount of scattered light it can grow, bloom, and set seed normally. It is not strict about soil requirements. It is best to choose loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil. As long as it is watered and fertilized in time and given a little management, it can grow robustly. Fertilize 4 times a year. The flower bud fertilizer in early spring, the vigorous-growth fertilizer after flowers fade, the fruit-strengthening fertilizer after fruit set, and the seedling-strengthening fertilizer before winter. If a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution is sprayed on the leaves once each during the bud stage and young fruit stage, the flower color will be more brilliant and the fruits will be fuller. The flowering period is from early spring to June. The siliques are elongated, maturing in June. The seeds are blackish brown and oval. In winter, Orychophragmus violaceus has lush green leaves, and in early spring its flowers bloom in sheets. If there is heavy frost in winter, frost protection measures need to be strengthened. If it is grown for eating, it should be divided frequently to promote the sprouting of tender stems and leaves.
Weed Management
Water before sowing to promote the germination of weed seeds in the topsoil. If the soil moisture is moderate, the seeds can germinate within two weeks. Do not plow the soil again, otherwise more weed seeds will be brought to the surface soil. Applying herbicide spray can basically eradicate weeds, but be sure to rest for a period after applying herbicide before sowing, because herbicides are harmful to any plant.
When using chemical herbicides, be sure to pay attention to safety and avoid chemical residues affecting the germination and growth of flower seeds. Therefore, before sowing wildflower mix seeds, generally reserve 3-4 weeks for the soil to recover, and then plant the wildflower mix, because widespread use of herbicides may cause delayed seed germination or weakened growth vigor of flower seedlings.
Remove weeds promptly when flower seeds germinate to prevent them from spreading. If conditions permit, pull out weeds immediately as soon as they are found. In addition, a relatively effective method is to use broad-spectrum herbicides or cut them with a mower (or brush cutter). Make sure to remove weeds before they drop seeds. Many annual or perennial weeds can be controlled with specialized herbicides. These herbicides will not affect the growth and development of broadleaf plants and can be used on wildflower mixes. Spraying them on newly grown seedlings works very well.
Pruning and Cleanup
To keep a wildflower mix always showing a good ornamental effect in landscape arrangements, it must be prevented from setting seed. Generally, during the seed-setting period, use a lawn mower to cut it to a height of 10-15 cm. In addition, when preparing the land for autumn sowing, remove ground debris that hinders good contact between seeds and soil, including dead branches and fallen leaves. At present, in the field of landscaping, creating natural and diverse garden landscapes, exploring plant application forms that return to simplicity and nature, and building a resource-efficient and sustainably developing ecological environment are the directions for future development. Wildflower mixes can create natural and beautiful landscape effects, and with their characteristics of extensive management, rich variety, abundant wild charm, low establishment cost, and long ornamental period, they will become the most uniquely distinctive element in the field of landscaping and be most widely used. Orychophragmus violaceus planting techniques.
Disease Control
The main disease and pest of Orychophragmus violaceus is downy mildew.
Symptoms. In the early stage of the disease, yellow-green, polygonal spots appear on the leaf surface. Subsequently, a white downy mildew layer forms on the underside of the lesions, causing swelling and bending on stems and flowers and greening of the petals.
Pathogen. The pathogen is a fungus in the genus Peronospora. This disease mostly occurs on the lower leaves of Orychophragmus violaceus. Especially in April, when the weather is cold, overcast, and damp, plants are more susceptible to the disease. Excessive planting density can also lead to the occurrence of this disease.
Diagnosis and countermeasures. Choose a location with good ventilation and light transmission for planting. Keep planting density reasonable. Spray a 500-fold dilution of 50% phosethyl-Al.