What medicinal herbs are best to plant in autumn

In general, traditional Chinese medicinal herbs take a relatively long time to grow, so choosing the right planting time has a certain effect on the growth of the herbs. If you want to plant in autumn, then they must first survive the winter, so you must plant medicinal herbs that can adapt to the local climate. In order not to go through an extra winter, you need to plant medicinal herbs with a relatively short growing time. So let's start the introduction below.

1. Suitable for planting

To grow Isatis indigotica (woad), the seeds can be sown directly, generally sown in September, and can be harvested in about 6 months. They germinate quickly and also grow very fast. They can then be followed by continuous cropping. Schizonepeta tenuifolia (Japanese catnip) is suitable for planting; planted in September, it can also be sown directly, and can be harvested in about three months. Plantago asiatica (Asian plantain) can be sown in August and harvested in 5 months; it can be sown directly or raised as seedlings.

2. Planting methods

For Isatis indigotica (woad), drill sowing: apply 4000 jin of farmyard manure per mu, the row spacing is best at 20 cm, the furrow depth is 5 cm, the covering soil is 2 cm, and spray water to keep it moist. For Schizonepeta tenuifolia (Japanese catnip), soak the seeds for one day, dry them in a ventilated place, mix with fine sand and sow, open the same furrows for sowing, and cover with less than 1 cm of soil. For Plantago asiatica (Asian plantain), seedling raising is carried out under a shed frame, or it can be sown without raising seedlings. Likewise mix the seeds with fine sand, evenly broadcast them on the seedbed, cover with 1 cm of soil, cover with grass, and remove it when 70% of seedlings have emerged.

3. Planting management

For Isatis indigotica (woad), thin the seedlings when they are 5 cm tall, weed at any time, loosen the soil once in the middle of the seedling stage, and after thinning apply 10 jin of urea per mu, used mixed with water. Keep moist during the seedling stage; after planting, or after the true leaves of directly sown plants grow larger, do not water. For Schizonepeta tenuifolia (Japanese catnip), thin the seedlings when they are 8 cm tall, remove weak seedlings, transplant on cloudy days, loosen the soil during the seedling stage, only loosening the surface layer, and apply nitrogen fertilizer during the seedling stage. For Plantago asiatica (Asian plantain), topdressing is done one week after frost, applying 10 jin of urea per mu, mixed with water for use; one month after planting, spray 100 g of borax.

4. Growing conditions

Isatis indigotica (woad) needs flat, well-drained, deep, fertile sandy loam soil, and grows wild in warm, humid environments. Schizonepeta tenuifolia (Japanese catnip) grows in moist, high and dry environments; the seedlings are afraid of drought and waterlogging, while mature plants prefer somewhat drier conditions. It likes sunny, warm, humid environments. Plantago asiatica (Asian plantain) likes warm, sunny, humid environments and is suitable for fertile sandy loam soil.

There are many medicinal herbs suitable for planting in autumn. Here only a few common ones are introduced, along with their planting methods, management and basic growing environment conditions. I hope this can help you.