Latest Prices for Cockscomb Seeds and a Detailed Guide to Growing Them

Cockscomb, also known as cockscomb flower, laolaihong, and pen cockscomb, is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Celosia in the Amaranthaceae family. It is widely cultivated around the world, blooms in summer and autumn, and its flowers are mostly red and shaped like a cockscomb. Depending on the inflorescence form, varieties can be divided into broom cockscomb, face cockscomb, mandarin duck cockscomb, and tassel cockscomb. Now let us take a look at cockscomb seed prices and growing methods!

How much does a jin of cockscomb seeds cost?

The price of cockscomb seeds is about 100 to 120 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on seed quality, variety, market, and other factors. There are many cockscomb varieties, with plant types in tall, medium, and dwarf forms; shapes such as cockscomb-like, torch-like, pom-pom-like, feather-like, and fan-like; flower colors such as bright red, orange-yellow, dark red, purple, white, and mixed red and yellow; and leaf colors such as deep red, emerald green, yellow-green, and red-green. The seed prices of different varieties differ greatly.

What types of cockscomb are there?

1. Ball-shaped flower type: The corolla is especially dense and ball-shaped, and it is very common for both flowerbed and cut flower cultivation.

2. Feather-shaped flower type: The flower shape is feather-like and the corolla resembles a flame; it is very common for both flowerbed and cut flower cultivation.

3. Spear-shaped flower type: The corolla is cone-shaped like a fir tree, and the flower spikes are short and compact; some are especially suitable for cut flowers.

Sowing methods for cockscomb

1. Seed sowing: Cockscomb propagation commonly uses seed propagation. Around Qingming, choose a good plot, apply sufficient base fertilizer, plow finely and harrow evenly, level and make beds, scatter the seeds evenly over the bed surface, cover the seeds lightly, firm the soil, and water thoroughly. At a temperature of 15 to 20°C, seedlings can emerge in 10 to 15 days.

2. Seedling management: When cockscomb seedlings are 2 cun tall, thin them to a row spacing of 1 chi and a plant spacing of 8 cun. The thinned seedlings can be transplanted to other fields, and after transplanting they must be watered. During the seedling stage, be sure to weed and loosen the soil, and when it is not too dry, water as little as possible. When the seedlings are about 1 chi tall, apply a topdressing once.

Growing methods for cockscomb

1. Soil: Although cockscomb is not strict about soil, it is suitable for planting in well-drained, loose and fertile sandy loam. If drainage is poor, it is prone to root rot.

2. Watering: Cockscomb likes dry air and dislikes waterlogging. It consumes a large amount of water during the growing period, so in hot summer it must be fully irrigated, but excess water should also be prevented. During continuous rainy days, attention should be paid to drainage.

3. Sunlight: Cockscomb likes warmth and dislikes cold. During the growing period it needs sufficient light, with at least 4 hours of light guaranteed each day. The most suitable growing temperature is 18 to 28°C.

4. Pests and diseases: Cockscomb has relatively few pests and diseases. Damping-off is likely to occur at the seedling stage, and aphids may cause damage during the growing period, so attention should be paid to control. For root rot, remove the diseased plants and spray copper sulfate.

5. Pruning: For dwarf cockscomb varieties, pinch the growing tips after planting out to promote branching. When used as cut flowers, pinching can be done when the plant height is 20 to 30 cm.

6. Fertilizing: Apply sufficient base fertilizer when sowing cockscomb. Before flowering and during the flowering period, apply a dilute compound liquid fertilizer once every 10 days. The amount of nitrogen fertilizer should not be too much, to prevent excessive growth and lodging.

7. Harvesting: Cockscomb is generally harvested around White Dew, when the seeds gradually turn black and mature. The flower stalks can be cut promptly, placed in a ventilated place to dry and thresh, and the flowers and seeds managed separately and used separately as medicine.