How to grow dodder? The latest planting techniques and methods tutorial
Dodder, also known as Chanzhen and bean parasite, is a fairly common plant. Wild dodder is commonly found on plains, wasteland, roadsides, and in fields of crops such as legumes and Allium species. It has extremely strong vitality; once its young shoots twine around the host plant, it grows vigorously. Now let's take a look at its planting techniques together with the editor.
1. Site selection and land preparation
Dodder does not have high requirements for soil, but it is best to choose loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam for planting, as this helps the seeds germinate and emerge and grow quickly. Before planting or after the previous crop is harvested, plow the plot in time and apply base fertilizer. Before sowing, shallow plow once more, rake finely and level, make high beds, and irrigate before sowing to moisten the bed surface. After the water seeps in, when the soil moisture is suitable, sow crops such as soybean as host plants, and then sow dodder.
2. Seed treatment
In mid-to-late October, when the capsules are about to mature but have not yet split open, harvest the fruits in time. After drying and threshing, put the seeds into cloth bags and hang them outdoors, but avoid wind and rain. They can also be placed in a refrigerator for cold storage. This is because dodder is a low-temperature plant, so the seeds need to go through the low-temperature environment of winter before they can germinate normally the following year.
3. Sowing
The sowing time is generally in June. First sow the host plants such as soybean, then sow dodder. First open furrows on the bed surface at a row spacing of 30cm and sow soybean. After the soybean emerges, carry out cultivation management well to ensure full emergence. When the soybean grows to 20-25cm, dodder can be sown. Do not sow too early, otherwise the dodder may wither and die. When sowing, sow beside the soybean root system, as close as possible. Open a furrow beside the soybean plants, mix dodder seeds with fine sand, scatter them into the furrow, and then cover with a layer of fertilized soil. After sowing, water several times to keep the soil moist, and seedlings will emerge in about a week.
4. Field management
After the soybean emerges, carry out intertillage and weeding in time. Shallow cultivation is advisable to avoid damaging the root system. During the growing period, hoe whenever weeds are seen. After dodder emerges and its thin stems begin to twine around the soybean plants, the number and frequency of weeding can be reduced, or weeding can be stopped. This is also because dodder itself is a kind of weed and has strong vitality, so where it exists, there are rarely other weeds, and no herbicide is needed.
The above is an introduction to dodder planting techniques. We hope it can help you. To learn more about planting techniques, please follow us.