Latest Prices for Codonopsis Seeds and a Detailed Guide to Growing Them
Codonopsis is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Codonopsis in the Campanulaceae family, widely cultivated throughout China. In ancient times, the Codonopsis produced in the Shangdang region of Shanxi was regarded as the finest. As a medicinal herb it has the effects of tonifying the middle and boosting qi, strengthening the spleen and benefiting the lungs. Its effects are similar to those of ginseng, though its medicinal power is weaker. For treating general deficiency patterns it can be used in place of ginseng. Now let us take a look together at the price of Codonopsis seeds and how to grow them!
How much is a jin of Codonopsis seeds?
The price of Codonopsis seeds is about 60 to 100 yuan per jin, but prices vary considerably depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin, market conditions and so on. Codonopsis prefers a mild, cool climate and is cold-tolerant. Seedlings like moisture, shade and fear strong light, while large seedlings through to mature plants like plenty of sunlight. It is suitable for cultivation in deep, well-drained, loose sandy loam rich in humus. In production, seeds are commonly sown directly or seedlings are raised and transplanted, but direct sowing of seeds is better.
Sowing methods for Codonopsis
1. Sowing time: Codonopsis can be sown in winter or spring.
① Winter sowing: Winter sowing is done between “Frost's Descent” and “Start of Winter”. The seeds need no treatment that year; after being soaked by winter rain and snow, they emerge early and grow vigorously the following year and have strong drought resistance. However, because the seeds are small, the soil covering must be shallow; if strong winds occur, the seeds are easily blown away and gaps in the seedlings appear.
② Spring sowing: Spring sowing is done around “Spring Equinox”. Select plump, mold-free seeds and rub them in warm water at 40°C for about half an hour, cover them well with a piece of wet burlap, then place them in a 25-30°C spot to germinate. Wash them once in the morning and evening with 40°C water to keep them moist. After 4-5 days, once they have sprouted, they can be sown.
2. Sowing methods: Codonopsis can be sown in drills or broadcast.
① Drilling: In a prepared seedbed, open furrows about 1 cm deep at a row spacing of 15-20 cm. Mix the treated seeds with fine sand, scatter them in the furrows, cover with soil and level it off, firm it down, then cover with 1 cm of fine sand.
② Broadcasting: On the prepared bed surface, mix the seeds with 10 times their volume of fine sandy soil, scatter evenly over the bed surface, rake over once with an iron rake so the seeds combine with the soil, then level and firm the bed surface, and finally cover with 1 cm of fine sand.
3. Seedling-stage management: Codonopsis seedlings are slender and weak, and die easily if poorly managed. The soil must be kept moist at all times. When the seedlings are 5 cm tall, gradually remove the covering, and also apply topdressing according to how the seedlings are growing.
Cultivation techniques for Codonopsis
1. Site selection and land preparation: For growing Codonopsis, choose a semi-shaded, semi-sunny slope with loose, fertile sandy loam, close to a water source. Apply about 1,500 kg of barnyard manure or compost per mu, then plow, harrow fine, level, and make flat beds or raised beds.
2. Lifting seedlings at the right time: Codonopsis seedlings can be transplanted after one year of raising. When lifting the seedlings, take care to avoid damaging the roots and remove diseased and damaged seedlings, but this should not be done on rainy days. Seedlings for autumn transplanting are planted out right after lifting, while those for spring planting the following year are left in the seedling bed to overwinter.
3. Planting method: Spring planting is better for Codonopsis. At planting time, open furrows 17-20 cm deep at a row spacing of 20-25 cm on the prepared bed, then place the seedlings diagonally in the furrows at a plant spacing of 7-10 cm with the buds pointing upward. After arranging them, cover with soil to a thickness that exceeds the rhizome neck by 5 cm.
4. Cultivation and weeding: Once Codonopsis seedlings emerge, begin loosening the soil and weeding, removing weeds whenever they appear, and take care to mound soil to prevent the rhizome neck from being exposed. Loosen the soil shallowly to avoid damaging the roots. After the rows close over, there is no need for further cultivation and weeding.
5. Timely topdressing: After transplanting Codonopsis and before building the trellis, apply one topdressing of dilute human urine, 1,000-1,500 kg per mu, or 10 kg of urea, 10 kg of ammonium sulfate and 10 kg of superphosphate. Mix the latter two, open a shallow furrow 6 cm deep between the rows, apply the mixture, then cover firmly with soil.
6. Drainage and irrigation: After transplanting Codonopsis, water promptly in dry weather. Once established, water little or not at all to avoid excessive vegetative growth that consumes nutrients. In the rainy season, pay attention to drainage to prevent root rot.
7. Building climbing trellises: Build trellises when the Codonopsis seedlings are about 30 cm tall. The trellis should be adapted flexibly to local conditions. The aim is to provide ventilation and light, let the branches and leaves spread out fully, increase the area for photosynthesis, make the plants grow robustly, and improve disease resistance and yield.
8. Harvesting and processing: Codonopsis is generally harvested in the autumn of the second year after transplanting. Dig deep and carefully lift out the roots without breaking them or damaging the root bark, so as to avoid white milky sap flowing out and reducing quality. After lifting the Codonopsis roots, shake off the soil, grade them into large, medium and small, and transport them back for processing.
Pest and disease control for Codonopsis
1. Codonopsis rust
[Damage] It damages stems, leaves and receptacles. It begins in early May and is severe from June to July. In the early stage of the disease, light yellow spots appear on the lower leaves, the undersides of the leaves bulge, and the spots have a distinct yellow halo around them. Later the spots rupture and release large amounts of spores.
[Control] After the plants wither, clean up the field promptly and burn the diseased and damaged above-ground plants. In the early stage of the disease, use 25% triadimefon 1000x solution or 97% nabam 400x solution, once every 7-10 days, spraying 2-3 times in succession.
2. Root rot
[Damage] It mostly affects plants more than two years old and is severe in the rainy season from June to July. When it occurs, the fibrous roots and lateral roots near the soil surface turn dark brown, and gradually the entire root rots in a water-soaked manner, while the above-ground part turns yellow from the bottom upward until it dies.
[Control] During land preparation, disinfect the soil with 50% carbendazim. When diseased plants are found, pull them out and burn them promptly, and drench the planting holes with 1% lime water. During the disease period, spray or drench the roots with Bordeaux mixture at 1:1:120, once every 7-10 days, several times in succession.
3. Underground pests
[Damage] The main underground pests of Codonopsis include cutworms, white grubs and mole crickets, which damage the underground parts at the roots and stems.
[Control] Drench with 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate 200x solution or 90% trichlorfon 1000-1500x solution. If damage occurs at the seedling stage, make poison bait from 100 g of 90% crystalline trichlorfon and 5 kg of roasted rapeseed cake to trap and kill them.
4. Aphids
[Damage] Damage is severe in dry weather.
[Control] Spray with 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate 2000x solution or 80% dichlorvos emulsion 1000-1500x solution, once every 7-10 days, several times in succession.
5. Red spider mites
[Damage] In dry, hot weather, red spider mites damage the leaves.
[Control] Spray with 50% fenitrothion 1000-2000x solution or tetradifon wettable powder 1500-2000x solution.