Latest Prices for Orychophragmus violaceus Seeds and a Detailed Guide to Planting Methods

Orychophragmus violaceus, also known as Zhuge cai, February blue, and caizi hua, is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant of the genus Orychophragmus in the Brassicaceae family. It gets its name because it blooms with blue-purple flowers around the second lunar month. It often grows on plains, mountains, roadsides, and field edges, and can be cultivated as an ornamental flower as well as a common wild vegetable in early spring. Let us take a look together at the price of Orychophragmus violaceus seeds and its planting methods!

How much does a jin of Orychophragmus violaceus seeds cost?

The price of Orychophragmus violaceus seeds is about 30 to 50 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on seed quality, variety, market, and other factors. Orychophragmus violaceus has a strong ability to self-propagate; once sown, it can form its own colony year after year. Each year from May to June, the seeds mature and fall into the soil on their own. In September, green seedlings emerge, and the young seedlings overwinter. They bloom in late spring, set seed in summer, and continue year after year. Because the seed source is abundant, the price is cheap, and sowing costs only a few jiao per square meter, so it is used by many greening projects, parks, and tourist attractions.

Sowing methods for Orychophragmus violaceus

1. Sowing time: Orychophragmus violaceus can be sown in summer or autumn, but August to September is most suitable. Each gram contains 300 to 400 seeds. The sowing rate is about 1 kg per mu, or about 1 to 2 grams per square meter. If the spray-sowing method is used, the amount per unit area should preferably be increased by 10 to 20%.

2. Sowing method: Orychophragmus violaceus can be sown by broadcasting or drilling. When drilling, the row spacing needs to be 15 to 20 cm. When broadcasting, after sowing, the soil must be turned and covered with a tool. If conditions permit, specialized tools or mechanical sowing can be used.

3. Post-sowing management: Orychophragmus violaceus can still produce seedlings when manually broadcast on soil that has not been plowed, and it has a relatively strong ability to resist weeds. Cultivation and management can be relatively extensive. In addition, some freshly harvested seeds have a physiological after-ripening phenomenon, and early sowing results in a low germination rate.

Planting methods for Orychophragmus violaceus

1. Soil: Orychophragmus violaceus is not strict about soil, but it is best to choose loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil. For pot cultivation, the requirements for potting soil are relatively high. A uniform mix of 6 parts garden soil, 2 parts perlite, and 1 part plant ash can be used, and sufficient base fertilizer should be placed in the pot.

2. Light: Orychophragmus violaceus is a short-day plant and has strong shade tolerance. It does not need too long a daily sunlight period. With a certain amount of scattered light indoors, it can grow, bloom, and set seed normally.

3. Temperature: Orychophragmus violaceus has strong cold tolerance, and temperature regulation can be relatively extensive. In winter, if there are heavy frosts and snow, some leaves may freeze, but in early spring it can still sprout new leaves, bloom, and set seed.

4. Fertilization: Orychophragmus violaceus is fertilized 4 times a year: flower bud fertilizer in early spring, strengthening fertilizer after flowering, fruit-strengthening fertilizer after fruit set, and seedling-strengthening fertilizer before winter. Spraying the leaves once with a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution during the bud stage and young fruit stage makes the flower color more brilliant and the fruit fuller.

5. Pests and diseases: Common pests in Orychophragmus violaceus cultivation include aphids, cabbage caterpillars, snails, and leaf miners. If pests are found, chemical control should be carried out promptly. For downy mildew, spray a 50% Yimeijing 500-fold solution.

6. Pruning: To maintain a good ornamental effect, Orychophragmus violaceus must be controlled so that it does not set seed. Generally, during the seed-setting period, use a lawn mower to trim it to a height of 10 to 15 cm.