Kochia Seed Latest Prices and Detailed Planting Methods
Kochia, also known as broom cypress, broom vegetable, peacock pine, etc., is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Kochia in the Amaranthaceae family. It has strong adaptability and can be planted in front of and behind houses, at field edges, and in field corners throughout the north and south. Its fruit is flat and spherical, called Kochia fruit, and can be used as medicine. The tender stems and leaves can be eaten, and the old plant can be used to make brooms. Now let us take a look at kochia seed prices and planting methods together!
How much is a jin of kochia seeds?
The price of kochia seeds is about 25-35 yuan per jin, but it varies depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin, and purchase quantity. Kochia can be planted throughout the north and south of our country. Its tender stems and leaves are a semi-wild vegetable rich in high carotene and high potassium and copper. They are generally blanched in boiling water and then stir-fried, served as a cold dish, or used as filling. The old leaves in spring can be used as feed. The seeds contain 15% oil and are used for food, industrial use, or medicine. The sowing rate is generally about 2 jin per mu.
Planting preparation for kochia
1. Land selection: Kochia is drought-tolerant and not strict about climatic conditions, but it likes sunlight and does not grow well in shady places. Therefore, it is best to choose flat, fertile, sunny, well-drained sandy soil with irrigation conditions.
2. Apply sufficient base fertilizer: After the plot is determined, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied in late March. Generally, 3000-5000 kg of high-quality farmyard manure is applied per mu. On the basis of applying farmyard manure, inorganic fertilizer should also be applied, with 50 kg of compound fertilizer.
3. Deep plowing and sun-drying the soil: After the fertilizer is applied, plow the land deeply 25-30 cm and sun-dry the soil, mainly to eliminate root-type and tuber-type weeds and underground overwintering pests, which can reduce the harm of diseases and pests.
4. Leveling and making beds: 6-8 days before sowing kochia, level the sun-dried land and make beds according to the terrain and climatic conditions. Make long beds on flat terrain and short beds on undulating terrain. Note that the bed ridges should be firm and the bed surface should be level.
Sowing methods for kochia
1. Seed collection: Kochia has a certain ability to self-sow, but it can also be sown manually. In August and September, after the kochia fruit matures, seeds can be collected. Remove the kochia fruit, remove impurities, and dry the fruit for later use.
2. Sowing time: Kochia can be direct-sown or grown as seedlings and then transplanted. If direct-sown in the open field, it can be done in early April. If grown as seedlings and transplanted later, sow in early to mid-March, and transplant after small seedlings grow.
3. Sowing method: Kochia can be sown in holes, in rows, or broadcast. Although it is relatively drought-resistant and not strict about soil requirements, before sowing it is still necessary to water thoroughly and apply a certain amount of decomposed organic fertilizer. After sowing, keep the soil moist, and seedlings emerge in about 10 days.
Planting methods for kochia
1. Thinning and transplanting: For direct sowing in bare land, when the seedlings grow to 15-20 cm high, thin them to a spacing of 70-100 cm between plants and rows while combining with harvesting young seedlings. For seedling raising in protected areas, when the seedlings grow to 6-10 cm, they can be transplanted and planted.
2. Water and fertilizer management: In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, kochia should be irrigated with a quick-dissolving biological organic fertilizer at 150 kg/hectare once during thinning and seedling recovery. During the growth period, water once every 7-10 days.
3. Disease and pest control: Kochia is susceptible to aphid damage and can be controlled with a 1000-1200 times dilution of 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate. It is also easily parasitized by dodder, which should be removed promptly once found.
4. Timely harvesting: When planting kochia, the young seedlings can generally be harvested when the plants grow to 15-20 cm high. From April to July, tender stems and leaves can be harvested successively. After the Beginning of Autumn, the whole plant or seeds can be harvested.