How to Grow Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus)? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods
Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is a perennial herbaceous plant with fairly high value: it not only has extremely high ornamental value, but its root is also a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. In northern China it is also used to make pickles, making it a plant with a very wide range of uses. Nowadays, quite a few people grow balloon flower, so how should it be planted? What exactly are the specific cultivation techniques? Today, the editor brings you the planting methods for balloon flower. Let's take a look!
1. Site Selection and Land Preparation
The root of balloon flower is not very vigorous, so when planting it needs to be grown in soil with strong permeability that is relatively loose. The planting site needs a clean water source nearby and a good drainage and irrigation system, and it is best to use a hillside with half shade and half sun. After selecting the site, prepare the land promptly. Because the root of balloon flower is relatively long and thick, ridges need to be made when preparing the land: plow the soil deeply and cultivate it, then open furrows and pile the soil from the furrows to both sides. Make field ridges 2 m wide to provide a good growing environment for balloon flower.
2. Sowing at the Right Time
Except in the high-temperature environment of summer, when balloon flower is not suitable for germination and emergence, it can be sown in the other three seasons. However, the best time is mid-September each year and around the Beginning of Spring, as sowing at this time helps promote seed rooting and germination, enhances seedling growth capacity, and improves yield and quality. When sowing, it is best to use the drill sowing method. After sowing, cover promptly with fine soil and plastic film to improve the soil's water and fertilizer retention, prevent the loss of water and nutrients, and avoid affecting the seed germination and emergence rate. Once the seedlings emerge, remove the plastic film promptly to ensure the seedlings can grow normally.
3. Field Management
When the seedlings break through the soil and grow to about 2 cm, observe their growth and density, and promptly carry out thinning and spacing. Then, once the seedlings have elongated again, you can begin fixing the final stand. When fixing the stand, control the spacing well to prevent overly dense growth. Also, when thinning, pull out the dead and weak seedlings, then replant to ensure yield. During the seedling stage of balloon flower, weed regularly to prevent excessive weeds from causing nutrient deficiency. After weeding, apply fertilizer promptly; well-rotted farmyard manure can be used, and later apply fertilizer at the appropriate times according to the growth of the balloon flower.
4. Disease and Pest Control
What balloon flower fears most is various diseases and pests, which in severe cases can lead to a total loss of the crop. For example, common diseases include leaf spot, and pests include aphids. No matter what kind of disease or pest it is, the harm to balloon flower is very serious, so we must strengthen field management and disinfect regularly. Control the nutrients in the fertilizer well, enhance the disease resistance of balloon flower, improve its immunity, and reduce the incidence rate. After disease occurs, promptly pull out the diseased plants, check the specific disease or pest, and then use the corresponding treatment for control to minimize losses.
The above is a brief introduction to the cultivation techniques for balloon flower. Note that when harvesting, you must be careful not to damage the root of the balloon flower, to prevent wounds from forming, which can lead to infection by pathogens and cause rot. This is because the most valuable part of balloon flower is the root, and once the root becomes diseased it basically loses its commercial value. That's all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. If you want to learn more related information, please keep following us!