How to Grow Safflower? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods
Safflower, also known as false saffron, is a plant of the genus Carthamus in the Asteraceae family. Its flowers can be used as medicine, with effects of invigorating blood circulation and removing blood stasis, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and are mainly used to treat dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, uterine blood stasis, traumatic injuries and other conditions. In addition to its powerful medicinal value, it is also a natural pigment and dye, an important industrial raw material with remarkable economic benefits. Safflower is cultivated in various parts of China. Let's take a look at its planting methods below.
1. Land Selection and Preparation
Safflower is a plant that relatively prefers arid conditions and fertile soil, and can also adapt to poor soil, but it should not be grown in humid, waterlogged, low-lying areas. Therefore, when planting, it is best to choose dry land or wasteland. The previous crop is best to be soybean, winter melon, taro, etc. After the previous crop is harvested, plow the plot, plow finely and harrow thoroughly to make the soil loose and well-drained. When plowing, apply 1000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 15 kg of superphosphate per mu.
2. Sowing
The sowing time of safflower is not fixed; it can be sown in spring, autumn or winter according to local climate conditions. Generally, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places sow in winter, Shandong sows in autumn, and Xinjiang and the cold regions of Northeast China sow in spring. Make high or low beds according to the terrain, with two rows per bed. It can be sown in drills or in hills. Whether sown in drills or in hills, sow 6-7 seeds at a certain plant spacing, then cover with soil and water. Seedlings will emerge within about two weeks. Generally, 1.5-2.5 kg of seed is used per mu.
3. Field Management
When the seedlings grow to 6-7 cm, thinning should be carried out, removing weak seedlings and keeping strong ones. Generally, keep 2-3 strong seedlings per hole. If there are missing seedlings, replant them in time. When the seedlings grow to have 4-5 leaves, apply a thin human excrement and urine fertilizer once. When topdressing, apply it beside the roots to prevent the seedlings from lodging. Around the time of Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects), apply the second fertilizer, with 500-600 kg of human excrement and urine fertilizer per mu. After application, provide supporting measures to prevent the flower buds from lodging.
4. Pests and Diseases
During its growth, safflower suffers from the invasion of various pests and diseases. Common diseases include root rot, rust, black spot, anthracnose, etc. The main pests are cutworms, crickets, wireworms, white grubs and mole crickets. They all affect the growth of the plants and, in severe cases, cause plant death, posing great harm. Good pest and disease prevention and control work should be carried out.
The above is an introduction to the planting methods of safflower. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more about medicinal herb cultivation, please stay tuned to us.