The Latest Purple Gromwell Planting Techniques and Methods Tutorial

Purple gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon) is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal herb with a relatively long history of application. It has the effects of cooling the blood, invigorating blood circulation, and removing toxins and promoting eruption of rashes. It can treat hepatitis, painful swellings, frostbite, eczema, burns and scalds, and other conditions, and is well received by both doctors and patients. Purple gromwell has a wide distribution range and is cultivated in both northern and southern parts of our country. Let us take a look at its planting techniques below.

1. Growing Conditions

Purple gromwell prefers a cool and moist climate. It is resistant to severe cold, afraid of high temperatures and waterlogging, and mostly grows wild in mountain grasslands and on dry hillsides, in valleys, and in shrub forests. It has low requirements for soil, but when planting, loose and fertile loam or sandy soil is preferable. It has the characteristics of being cold-resistant, cold-resistant, and barren-tolerant, likes to grow in environments below 0 degrees, and prefers to grow on sunny slopes with ample light.

2. Site Selection and Land Preparation

Choose loam or sandy loam with very high terrain, deep soil layers, fertility and looseness, rich in humus, and good drainage. Clear the weeds and shrubs from the plot completely, then plow 30-40 cm deep. During plowing, apply 4000-5000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, turn it into the soil, rake it fine and level it, and then make flat beds or raised beds 120-130 cm wide according to the terrain.

3. Sowing and Propagation

In production, seed propagation is mostly used. Sowing can be done in spring or autumn. The autumn sowing time is from September to October, which is also when the seeds mature, so sow them as soon as they are harvested. The spring sowing time is from March to April, but the seeds must undergo low-temperature treatment before sowing. In October, soak the seeds in warm water for one day, remove them and dry them in the shade, then mix them evenly with wet sand, place them in a container, and dig a pit in a higher area for storage. After the ground thaws the following spring, take the seeds out and sow them. When sowing, open shallow furrows about 2 cm deep on the bed surface at a row spacing of 30 cm, then sprinkle the seeds evenly into them, using 1.5-2 kg of seed per mu. Cover with soil and press it down, water to keep the soil moist, and seedlings will emerge in about two weeks.

4. Field Management

After seedlings emerge, thin and finalize them according to the height of the young plants. When the seedlings grow to about 5 cm, thin them in time. When they grow to 10 cm, finalize them at a plant spacing of 10 cm. If there are missing plants, replant them in time. While thinning and finalizing, loosen the soil and weed appropriately so that there are no weeds in the field. After finalizing, strengthen fertilizer and water management and apply topdressing 3 times. The first time is after finalizing, applying 10 [units] of ammonium sulfate per mu; the second time is before flowering, applying 10 kg of urea per mu; the third time is after flowering, applying 12-15 kg of superphosphate per mu. Water during drought, and pay attention to drainage during the rainy season to prevent water accumulation in the field, which can cause root rot.

The above is an introduction to the planting techniques for purple gromwell. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more about medicinal herb cultivation, please stay tuned to us.