How to grow Salvia miltiorrhiza for high yield? A detailed guide to the latest planting methods

As the medicinal value of Salvia miltiorrhiza is further developed, its economic value has become increasingly considerable. Wild Salvia miltiorrhiza of somewhat older age has basically all been dug up, so more and more people are growing Salvia miltiorrhiza. With more growers, it means that if you do not improve the quality of Salvia miltiorrhiza and increase its yield yourself, then the market will be taken over by others. So today Qinnong Network brings you high-yield planting methods for Salvia miltiorrhiza. Let's take a look below.

1. Scientific site selection

The growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza requires sufficient light, and the temperature throughout the year is best kept at around 20 to 25 degrees. If we go back to the past when planting techniques were not yet complete, Salvia miltiorrhiza was only suitable for planting in places such as Guangzhou, but now it can be planted in many places. However, there are still requirements for choosing the planting site. If you want high yield, then the planting site is best on mountain land and gentle slopes that have not been polluted for one or two years, with relatively sufficient soil fertility, a fairly complete drainage system, and sufficient light. The most suitable plot is one where the soil is relatively loose, has strong permeability, and has moderate soil pH.

2. Planting methods

There are three sowing methods for Salvia miltiorrhiza: seed propagation, root division propagation, and cutting propagation. Each has its own advantages. If seed propagation is used, the seeds need to be treated, which can not only promote seed germination but also enhance the resistance of the plants. For root division propagation, we need to select high-quality roots for planting. For example, those with thick tubers, no wounds, and no diseases are considered high quality. For cutting propagation, select relatively good stems of Salvia miltiorrhiza and cut them into small sections, then carry out cuttings. Each small section must retain a few leaves, which will greatly increase the survival rate.

3. Reasonable density

Planting density also affects the yield of Salvia miltiorrhiza. If the plants are too dense, the humidity in the field will be relatively heavy, and air permeability, ventilation, and light transmission will all be poor. They simply cannot all receive reasonable light, so the growth rate of Salvia miltiorrhiza will be relatively slow, and it may even breed some bacteria and viruses, causing some unnecessary problems for the plants. Therefore, the best planting density for Salvia miltiorrhiza is about more than 600 plants per mu, with an average spacing of 20 cm between rows and about 10 cm between plants.

4. Fertilizer and water management

For Salvia miltiorrhiza, we need to topdress at least three times a year. The first is after transplanting, with the purpose of promoting the growth rate of the plants. The second is when Salvia miltiorrhiza grows to 20 cm, that is, around April and May each year. The last is generally during the flowering period of Salvia miltiorrhiza, that is, around July in summer each year. For fertilizing Salvia miltiorrhiza, it is best to use organic fertilizer or farmyard manure. While promoting the growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza, this can also improve its medicinal properties. Generally, we do not use chemical fertilizers. Although the effect of chemical fertilizers is relatively good, it has a great impact on the quality of Salvia miltiorrhiza, which means that a problem that a small piece of Salvia miltiorrhiza could solve may require about ten pieces to solve. Finally, water management is also a relatively important part. Although Salvia miltiorrhiza needs water, there should not be too much water. We need to dig good drainage ditches in the field so that it is convenient to water and drain when necessary.

5. Weeding and flower management

The growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza is relatively slow, so we can also weed and loosen the soil for Salvia miltiorrhiza from time to time. This can enhance the permeability of the soil, speed up the growth rate of Salvia miltiorrhiza, and at the same time enhance the disease resistance of the plants. The last and relatively key point is that during the flowering period of Salvia miltiorrhiza, we need to remove part of the flowers, which can reduce unnecessary nutrient consumption and thus increase the yield of Salvia miltiorrhiza.