What are the latest precautions for planting Solomon's seal (Polygonatum odoratum)?

Solomon's seal is a member of the Liliaceae family, mainly because its branches and leaves are very similar to those of lilies, but the underground tubers are completely different. Although both have tonic effects, Solomon's seal is not as well known as lilies, but we cannot deny its value. It also occupies a large proportion in traditional Chinese medicinal materials and has a relatively broad range of uses. Moreover, in recent years, the planting of Solomon's seal has begun to receive attention. So what should be noted when planting Solomon's seal? Let's take a look together with Qinnong.com below.

1. Soil

For the soil for planting Solomon's seal, the first thing to note is to choose a plot that is often rotated, because it cannot be continuously cropped. Continuous cropping results in low yield and makes it very prone to disease. Secondly, the soil of the planting site should be relatively loose, the drainage system should be relatively complete, and the plot should have relatively sufficient light and nutrients. Sandy soil that is preferably slightly acidic is best. Finally, one more thing to note is that when preparing the land, the ground should be leveled and drainage ditches should be made to facilitate later management.

2. Time

There are two planting times for Solomon's seal, divided into spring and autumn. Generally, planting is carried out around April and October each year. At this time, the weather temperature is basically around 15 to 20 degrees, and the seed survival rate during this period will be higher. At the same time, when sowing, it is best to choose a sunny day, so that the seeds will sprout faster.

3. Density

Planting density is also a point to note, because if planting is too dense, the air permeability in the field will become poor, and then Solomon's seal will be very prone to disease. Moreover, if it encounters exposure to strong sun after heavy rain in this situation, it is very difficult for water to drain away, so root rot is very likely to occur. Therefore, the best planting density is 30 to 40 cm between rows and 15 to 20 cm between plants. This can not only avoid the occurrence of some diseases, but also reduce a lot of labor, and at the same time can achieve high yield.

4. Fertilizer and water

For planting Solomon's seal, generally as long as sufficient base fertilizer is applied, then basically no additional topdressing is needed in the first year. However, the situation of insufficient base fertilizer cannot be ruled out, so we need to carry out reasonable topdressing according to the growth of Solomon's seal seedlings and various conditions. If the plants grow very slowly and the leaves are yellow, that indicates malnutrition, and then topdressing is needed. For topdressing, we can use potassium fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer, and we can also use farmyard manure as well as organic decomposed fertilizer. If sufficient base fertilizer is applied in the first year, then it should wait until the second spring before fertilizing again. Solomon's seal likes moisture, so we should water it from time to time, especially when encountering drought. Secondly, attention should be paid to drainage during the rainy season.

5. Pest and disease control

The common diseases of Solomon's seal are root rot, leaf spot, and gray leaf spot. The main cause of these three diseases is improper water management, excessive humidity in the field, and then high temperatures, which breed a large number of bacteria and lead to the occurrence of diseases. Therefore, we can use chlorothalonil or carbendazim as well as Bordeaux mixture for control. The main pest is the white grub, which is an underground pest similar to cutworms and the like, so it mainly damages the tubers of Solomon's seal and has a great impact on the yield and quality of Solomon's seal. The general control method is to use trichlorfon for root irrigation.