Latest Prices of Motherwort Seeds and a Detailed Guide to Cultivation
Motherwort, also known as Yimuhai, Yimu'ai, Honghua'ai and other names, is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant of the genus Leonurus in the Lamiaceae family. It is produced in most parts of China, and its dried aboveground parts are a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. When used medicinally it has the effects of activating blood and regulating menstruation, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, and clearing heat and detoxifying. Now let us take a look together at the price of motherwort seeds and the cultivation methods!
How much does a jin of motherwort seeds cost?
The price of motherwort seeds is about 40 to 60 yuan per jin, but it varies depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin and market conditions. In production, motherwort is propagated by seed, using the direct sowing method. Before sowing, mix the seeds with wood ash or fine soil mixed with miscellaneous fertilizer, then treat the seeds with human and animal manure and urine plus Xingaozhimo film, to repel underground pests and diseases, isolate viral infection, strengthen respiration intensity, and increase the seed germination rate. Choose fresh seeds of the current year with a germination rate generally above 80%. For hole sowing, generally prepare 400 to 450 grams of seed per mu; for drill sowing, prepare 500 to 600 grams of seed per mu.
Sowing Methods for Motherwort
1. Land selection and preparation: Before sowing motherwort, prepare the land, applying 1500 to 2000 kilograms of compost or decomposed barnyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, then plow and turn the soil, harrow it fine and level it. For drill sowing, make raised beds 130 cm wide; for hole sowing, beds are not necessary, but good large and small drainage ditches should be opened according to the terrain.
2. Seed treatment: Before sowing motherwort, mix the seeds with wood ash or fine soil mixed with miscellaneous fertilizer, then treat the seeds with human and animal manure and urine plus Xingaozhimo film, to repel underground pests and diseases, isolate viral infection, strengthen respiration intensity, and increase the seed germination rate.
3. Sowing time: Early-maturing varieties of motherwort can be sown in autumn, spring or summer; winter-type motherwort must be sown in autumn. Spring sowing is best during the period from Yushui to Jingzhe. In the north, summer sowing is used to make use of idle summer land, while in low-temperature areas autumn sowing is mostly adopted.
4. Sowing method: Motherwort is sown by drill, hole sowing or broadcast sowing. Plains areas mostly use drill sowing, sloping land mostly uses hole sowing, and broadcast sowing is mostly not used. Before sowing, mix the seeds with wood ash or fine soil mixed with miscellaneous fertilizer, which both ensures growth nutrition and prevents insect damage.
Cultivation Methods for Motherwort
1. Thinning and replanting: When motherwort seedlings are about 5 cm tall, begin thinning, then continue 2 to 3 more times. When seedlings are 15 to 20 cm tall, finalize the stand. For drill sowing, keep seedlings in a staggered arrangement with a plant spacing of about 10 cm; for hole sowing, keep 2 to 3 seedlings per hole. If missing plants are found, transplant and fill in promptly.
2. Cultivation and weeding: For spring-sown motherwort, cultivate and weed 3 times, when seedlings are 5 cm, 15 cm and 30 cm tall. For summer sowing, carry out according to plant growth conditions. For autumn sowing, the first cultivation and weeding is done when the seedlings of that year have grown 3 to 4 true leaves, and in the following year cultivate and weed three more times.
3. Earthing up to protect roots: When cultivating and weeding motherwort, do not turn the soil too deep so as to avoid damaging the roots. During the seedling stage, cultivate carefully to protect the seedlings, prevent them from being pressed by clods of soil, and do not injure the stems. After the final cultivation, earth up to protect the roots.
4. Water and fertilizer management: After each cultivation and weeding, apply a topdressing to motherwort, preferably nitrogen fertilizer. Urea, ammonium sulfate, cake fertilizer or human and animal manure and urine can all be used. When topdressing, pay attention to watering, and never let the fertilizer be too concentrated, so as not to injure the seedlings. During the rainy season when rain is concentrated, prevent waterlogging.
5. Pest and disease control: For motherwort powdery mildew, use a 1000-fold dilution of 25% Xiufenging before and after onset. For sclerotinia, spray 1:500 Ruikumai or 1:1:300 Bordeaux mixture. For aphids, use chemical agents for control. For cutworms, catch and kill them in the morning or use grass piles to trap and kill them.