Latest Prices of Cassia Seeds and a Detailed Guide to Growing Them
Cassia seeds are the dried, ripe seeds of Cassia obtusifolia or Cassia tora, annual subshrub-like herbaceous plants of the genus Cassia in the Fabaceae family. Also known as cao jueming, huan tongzi, false mung bean and so on, they are used medicinally to clear the liver and improve eyesight and to moisten the intestines and move the bowels, and they have fairly high cultivation value. They are widely cultivated in all provinces and regions south of the Yangtze River in China. Let us take a look together below at the price of cassia seeds and how to grow them!
How much is a jin of cassia seeds?
The price of cassia seeds is about 15 to 30 yuan per jin, but prices vary considerably depending on variety, quality, place of origin and other factors. Cassia seeds originated in the tropical regions of the Americas and are widely distributed in all provinces and regions south of the Yangtze River in China, often growing on hillsides, open fields and sandy riverbanks. In plant communities, cassia seeds have extremely strong vitality and often compete with other plants for nutrients, so in regions such as North America they are regarded as a weed that is difficult to eradicate.
The growing environment of cassia seeds
Cassia seeds prefer a warm, humid climate, are not cold-tolerant and fear frost; after frost, the leaves of mature plants drop or the plants even die. During the growing period they like plenty of sunlight, and during flowering and fruiting they require ventilation and light, which favors pod setting and plump seeds. They are not strict about soil and can be grown on ordinary land as long as drainage is good. Continuous cropping is not suitable. They can also be grown on scattered plots in front of and behind houses, along roadsides outside courtyards or beside ditches. They like a warm, humid climate, and ample sunlight is beneficial to their growth.
Sowing methods for cassia seeds
1. Seed selection: Choose disease-free, large, plump cassia seeds and soak them in 50°C water for 24 hours, removing the floating shriveled seeds and insect-damaged seeds. Scoop out the plump seeds, drain off the surface moisture and they are ready for sowing.
2. Sowing time: The sowing period for cassia seeds is during “Qingming” and “Guyu”. For drilling, open furrows about 3 cm deep in the prepared bed at a row spacing of 45 cm, scatter the seeds in the furrows, cover with soil and press lightly.
3. Sowing method: Before sowing cassia seeds, if the land is dry, water the bed first and sow after the water has seeped down. The seeding rate is 1 to 1.5 kg per mu. For planting in front of and behind houses or on scattered land, hole sowing is generally used, with 2 to 3 seeds per hole.
Growing methods for cassia seeds
1. Site selection and land preparation: For cassia seeds, choose flat land or a sunny slope with good irrigation and drainage conditions. Avoid continuous cropping. Apply 2000 kg of farmyard manure per mu plus 60 kg of superphosphate as a base fertilizer. Plow deeply, break up the soil finely and rake it level, then make flat beds 1.3 m wide.
2. Thinning and final spacing: Begin thinning when the cassia seedlings are about 5 cm tall. When the seedlings are 15 cm tall, combine intertillage and weeding to set the final spacing at 30 to 40 cm between plants.
3. Intertillage and weeding: After the cassia seedlings emerge and before the rows close, weeds should be removed regularly. If the soil becomes compacted after watering or rain, cultivate in time, and note that shallow hoeing should be done between plants and deep hoeing between rows. When the seedlings are about 40 cm tall, carry out the last intertillage and hill up soil to prevent lodging.
4. Timely topdressing: Before the rows close, topdress cassia 1 to 2 times along with hilling, applying 1000 kg of farmyard manure per mu plus 15 kg of urea, and water immediately after application.
5. Drainage and irrigation: Throughout the entire growing period of cassia seeds, the soil should always be kept moist. Especially during the flowering period, water promptly in dry weather, and pay attention to drainage during the rainy season.
6. Harvesting and processing: Harvest cassia seeds around “Hanlu” when the pods turn yellowish-brown. Cut down the whole plant, dry it in the sun and then thresh out the seeds. Remove the pod skins and impurities and they are ready for medicinal use. Seeds that are plump, dry, yellowish-brown and free of sand and impurities are considered best.