Latest prices for Prunella vulgaris seeds and an introduction to growing methods

Prunella vulgaris, also known as Mai Xiaku, iron-colored grass, big-head flower, etc., is a perennial herb of the genus Prunella in the Lamiaceae family. It is widely distributed throughout our country, with the most found in Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan and other places. It is harvested in summer when the fruit spikes turn brownish red, and when used as medicine it has the effects of clearing fire and improving eyesight, and dissipating nodules and reducing swelling. Now let us take a look at the price of Prunella vulgaris seeds and its growing methods!

How much is one jin of Prunella vulgaris seeds?

The price of Prunella vulgaris seeds is about 40 to 50 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin, market, and so on. Prunella vulgaris grows in wet places in mountain gullies or in damp grass thickets, wasteland, and roadsides along riverbanks. It can be planted on dry slopes, at the foot of mountains, in grassy areas at the edge of forests, by roadsides, and in fields. When the flower spikes turn yellow-brown, pick the fruit spikes and dry them in the sun, shake out the seeds, remove impurities, and store them for later use.

Sowing methods for Prunella vulgaris

Prunella vulgaris can be sown in spring or autumn. Spring sowing is from late March to mid-April, and autumn sowing is in late August. For drilling, open furrows on the seedbed at a row spacing of 20 to 25 cm and a furrow depth of 0.5 to 1 cm, then sow the seeds evenly into the furrows, cover with fine soil, press lightly, water, and keep the soil moist regularly. Seedlings emerge in about 15 days, with a seeding rate of about 0.5 to 1 kg per mu. For hill dropping, the seeds can be sown directly, with 8 to 10 seeds per hole, and 17,000 holes per mu.

Growing methods for Prunella vulgaris

1. Land selection and preparation: Prunella vulgaris prefers a warm and humid environment and can tolerate cold. It has strong adaptability, but sandy loam with sufficient sunlight and good drainage is best. It can also be planted on dry slopes, at the foot of mountains, in grassy areas at the edge of forests, by roadsides, and in fields, but low-lying, easily waterlogged land is not suitable for cultivation.

2. Weeding and thinning: When Prunella vulgaris has about 4 leaves, combine weeding with removing small seedlings and keeping large ones, removing weak seedlings and keeping strong ones. When it has about 10 leaves (beginning of tillering), finalize the seedlings, setting the basic number of seedlings at a spacing of 5 to 6 cun between plants and rows, basically ensuring 2 to 3 strong seedlings per clump.

3. Reasonable topdressing: Prunella vulgaris is generally topdressed 2 times. The first time is around mid-March at the beginning of the tillering stage, applying 5 to 10 jin of urea per mu by broadcasting. The second time is around mid-May at the end of flowering, applying 10 to 15 kg of imported compound fertilizer per mu by broadcasting.

4. Harvesting and processing: Spring-sown Prunella vulgaris is harvested in the same year, and autumn-sown Prunella vulgaris is harvested the following year. When 80% of the plant fruit spikes in June show yellow and gradually turn brown, on a sunny day the whole clump can be cut, or the fruit spikes can be cut back and dried in the sun to collect seeds. The dried grass and dried fruit spikes are stored separately and sold when the price is good.

Pest and disease control for Prunella vulgaris

1. Mosaic virus disease

[Symptoms] Mosaic, leaf deformity, and plant stunting. Diseased leaves are uneven in thickness, and leaf color is uneven in shade, with deformed and shrunken leaves.

[Control] In the early stage of the disease, spray with 20% Junduqing wettable powder at 500 times dilution, 1.5% Zhibingling emulsion, or 20% moroxydine hydrochloride wettable powder at 400 times dilution, once every 10 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive sprays.

2. Leaf scorch disease

[Symptoms] In the early stage, red lesions appear on the leaves and gradually expand, ultimately causing the leaves to become completely scorched and fall off.

[Control] In early April at the early stage of the disease, spray with 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 800 times dilution or 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 600 to 800 times dilution for control, and note to alternate the chemicals.

3. Large gray weevil

[Damage] Larvae and adults feed on the tender tips and leaves of Prunella vulgaris. In mild cases, they eat the leaves into notches or holes; in severe cases, they eat Prunella vulgaris down to bare stems, causing missing seedlings and broken rows.

[Control] 1.8% abamectin emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 times dilution, 20% chlorantraniliprole suspension concentrate at 3000 times dilution.