Detailed Guide to the Latest Prices and Planting Methods for Angelica Seeds

Angelica sinensis is one of the most commonly used traditional Chinese medicines, also known as West Angelica, Minxian Angelica, Golden Angelica, etc. It is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Angelica in the Apiaceae family. In China, it is mainly produced in southeastern Gansu, with Minxian County having the highest yield and best quality, followed by Yunnan, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei and other provinces, all cultivated. Let us take a look together at the price of Angelica sinensis seeds and the planting methods!

How much is a jin of Angelica sinensis seeds?

The price of Angelica sinensis seeds is about 70-120 yuan per jin, but prices vary considerably depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin and purchase quantity. Angelica sinensis is commonly propagated by seed, either by direct sowing or by raising seedlings and transplanting. The seeding rate is about 12-15 jin per mu. Seeds germinate well within the range of 10-25 degrees C, and seedlings emerge 10-15 days after sowing, but there is a tendency for early bolting, which should be addressed in production. The roots can be dug in the third year, with a dry yield of 200-300 jin per mu, and up to 500-600 jin under high-yield conditions.

Growth Habits of Angelica sinensis

Angelica sinensis is a low-temperature, long-day crop that prefers a cold, cool climate and can be cultivated at altitudes of about 1500-3000 m. When cultivated in low-altitude areas, the bolting rate is high and it does not overwinter easily. The seedling stage prefers shade, with a light transmittance of 10%, and avoids direct exposure to strong sunlight; mature plants can tolerate strong light. It is best cultivated in deep, loose, well-drained, fertile sandy loam rich in humus. It should not be planted in low-lying waterlogged land, easily compacted clay, or poor sandy soil, and continuous cropping should be avoided. The flowering period is June to July, and the fruiting period is July to September.

Sowing Methods for Angelica sinensis

1. Direct sowing: Direct sowing is divided into drilling and hole sowing, with hole sowing being preferable. When the seedlings are 10 cm tall, they can be thinned to a stand. For hole sowing, leave 1-2 plants per hole, with a plant spacing of about 5 cm; for drilling, thin to a stand at a plant spacing of 20 cm.

(1) Autumn direct sowing: Autumn direct sowing of Angelica sinensis has a longer growth period than direct sowing in other seasons while retaining the advantages of direct sowing. In low-temperature, high-altitude areas, it is suitable to sow from late July to early August; in slightly warmer, low-altitude areas, it is suitable to sow from mid-August to early September.

(2) Spring direct sowing: Spring direct sowing of Angelica sinensis is a cultivation method in which sowing is done in early spring of the same year and harvesting takes place before winter. It is sown and harvested in the same year, and early bolting does not occur. The disadvantage is lower yield, but under better cultivation conditions, a relatively high yield can also be obtained.

(3) Winter direct sowing: Winter direct sowing means sowing the seeds before winter so that the seeds overwinter in the soil, followed by harvesting in late autumn of the following year. During overwintering, the seeds cannot undergo the qualitative change of the vernalization stage through winter low temperatures, so early bolting can also be prevented, and the yield is higher than that of spring direct sowing.

2. Transplanting: In Angelica sinensis production, spring planting is generally used, preferably around Qingming. If planted too early, the seedlings are prone to damage from late frost after emergence; if too late, the seedlings have already sprouted and the buds are easily damaged, reducing the survival rate. Planting methods are divided into hole planting and furrow planting.

(1) Hole planting: On the leveled and finely raked planting site, dig holes in a triangular staggered arrangement at a row and plant spacing of 33×27×27 cm, with a hole depth of 15 cm. Then plant one large, one medium and one small seedling in each hole in a triangular arrangement.

(2) Furrow planting: Open furrows horizontally on the prepared bed surface, with a furrow spacing of 40 cm and a furrow depth of 15 cm. Place large, medium and small seedlings alternately in the furrow at a plant spacing of 3-5 cm, with the rhizome 2 cm below the bed surface, and cover with 2-3 cm of soil.

Planting Methods for Angelica sinensis

1. Site selection and land preparation: The transplanting site for Angelica sinensis should be selected as wasteland or fallow land with deep soil, loose and fertile texture, high humus content and good drainage. Deep plowing should be carried out before planting, and base fertilizer should be applied together with deep plowing, with 6000-8000 kg of decomposed barnyard manure and 100 kg of oil residue applied per mu.

2. Seedbed management: When the Angelica sinensis seedlings are 1-2 cm tall, remove the covering grass. After removing the grass, set up a shed or insert branches for shade. Thin the seedlings while weeding, removing the weak and keeping the strong. Topdressing can be carried out at the late stage of seedling growth, and quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer is preferable for topdressing.

3. Checking and replanting seedlings: About 20 days after transplanting, Angelica sinensis seedlings will emerge successively. If there are missing plants, replant them promptly. Carry out the first weeding when the seedlings are about 5 cm tall. From emergence to row closure, weeding should be done in 3-4 stages, and soil loosening should be carried out along with hoeing to prevent soil compaction.

4. Timely topdressing: The topdressing time for Angelica sinensis is in late June during the peak leaf growth period and in early August during the root growth period. Production-area soils are generally deficient in phosphorus and potassium, so phosphorus and potassium fertilizers need to be supplemented. Monopotassium phosphate, diammonium phosphate and nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer are commonly used for topdressing.

5. Irrigation and drainage: The growth of Angelica sinensis requires a relatively moist soil environment. Moderate irrigation during drought is beneficial for high yield. When there is excessive rain, attention should be paid to opening furrows for drainage. Especially in the later stage of growth, water must not accumulate in the field, otherwise it will cause root rot and lead to rotten roots.

6. Loosening and hilling soil: In the middle and late stages of Angelica sinensis growth (after August), the root system begins to develop and grows rapidly. Hilling soil at this time can promote the development of the root body and help improve yield and quality. Hilling soil can be carried out together with soil loosening.

7. Removing old leaves: After row closure of Angelica sinensis, the lower old leaves turn yellow due to insufficient light. These old leaves should be removed promptly. This not only avoids unnecessary nutrient consumption but also improves ventilation and light penetration within the population.

8. Timely removal of bolting plants: In Angelica sinensis plants that bolt early, the roots gradually become lignified and turn into woody roots, losing their medicinal value. Such plants have strong vitality and consume more water and fertilizer, so they should all be removed promptly to avoid depleting soil fertility and affecting the growth of non-bolting plants.