How to Propagate Vitex Fruit? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Propagation Methods

Vitex fruit is the fruit of the Vitex plant and has high medicinal value. It mainly grows near water and is planted on a fairly large scale in China's coastal provinces. Vitex fruit can be used by anyone except those with a weak stomach and poor health. It has effects such as dispersing wind with its pungent nature and clearing heat with its slightly cold property. So how should we propagate Vitex fruit when growing it? Below, the editor brings you the propagation methods for Vitex fruit. Let's take a look!

1. Cuttage propagation

The time for cuttage propagation of Vitex fruit is generally in spring and autumn, but spring is usually preferable. First, select robust branches 1-2 years old and cut them into cuttings about 25 cm long, keeping about 3 nodes on each cutting. When cutting the cuttings, be sure to make a clean cut in one stroke to keep the cut surface smooth and promote healing of the cut. A suitable amount of rooting agent can also be applied to the cut to increase the rooting rate. Then control the plant and row spacing and insert the cuttings into the seedbed, water and fertilize reasonably, and keep the soil moist. Cuttings taken in spring can be transplanted in autumn of the same year under normal management.

2. Seed propagation

For seed propagation, seeds need to be harvested every autumn, mixed into moist sand, and stored in a cool, ventilated place. Sowing is generally done around Qingming Festival each year. First, take the seeds out of the fruit and soak them in warm water at about 38 degrees for about 24 hours. Then mix them with plant ash to improve the germination rate. Then sow at the right time; the sowing method should mainly be drilling, and the sowing rate should be controlled to prevent planting too densely. During the seedling stage, water and fertilizer management should be done well to improve the survival rate of the seedlings. Generally, when the seedlings grow to about 35 cm, they are planted out.

3. Layering propagation

Layering propagation is also a commonly used propagation method for Vitex fruit. The layering time is usually around May each year. As with cuttage propagation, first select robust branches 1-2 years old. If the branch is longer, one branch can be layered multiple times, burying it in the soil 16 cm deep at intervals of about 45 cm. However, before layering, girdling should be done at the layering site, girdling down to the xylem of the branch, and rooting agent should be applied to promote rooting. After burying in the soil, water thoroughly and press the soil firmly to prevent air leakage. After adventitious roots grow, the branch can be cut off to form an independent plant and transplanted for planting out.

4. Division propagation

Although division propagation is not commonly used for growing Vitex fruit, it still counts as one propagation method. If division propagation is used, it is generally carried out around April to July each year. First, we should choose a robustly growing plant free of pests and diseases with a well-developed root mass as the mother plant. Then dig the whole plant out and divide it evenly into 3-4 clumps according to the distribution of the roots. Note that it should be planted as soon as it is dug out, otherwise nutrients are easily lost and the whole plant may die. Planting out is generally done in spring and autumn, with good control of plant and row spacing, sufficient base fertilizer, then watering and firming the soil.

The above is a brief introduction to the propagation methods for Vitex fruit. In production, Vitex fruit is generally propagated mainly by cuttage, because cuttage has a high survival rate, is simple to operate, and is suitable for large-scale planting. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. We hope it can help you!