The Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial for Solanum lyratum

Solanum lyratum, also known as mountain sweet beet, white grass, wind-expelling grass, sky lantern, and monk's head grass, is a herbaceous vine of the Solanaceae family and Solanum genus. It is native to China, and is also distributed in Japan, Korea, and the Indochinese Peninsula. It has a long history of medicinal use, first recorded in the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica, where it was listed as a superior-grade herb. It is a traditional Chinese medicine. Now let us take a look at the cultivation techniques for Solanum lyratum!

Growth Habits of Solanum lyratum

Solanum lyratum grows in mountain valley grasslands or by roadsides and field edges at an altitude of 600-2800 m. It prefers a warm and humid environment, is drought-tolerant, cold-tolerant, and afraid of waterlogging. It is not demanding regarding soil, but a sandy loam with deep soil layers, loose and fertile texture, and rich organic matter is best. Heavy clay, saline-alkali land, and low-lying land are not suitable for planting.

Propagation Methods of Solanum lyratum

1. Seed propagation: Collect ripe fruits from October to December. First soak them in warm water at 30-50°C for 24 hours, then rub and rinse them in clean water to remove the fruit flesh and impurities. Dry them and sow immediately, or mix the seeds evenly with 3 times their volume of fine sand and store them in a cool indoor place, then sow in the following spring. Sowing is most suitable from late March to mid-April. Drill or broadcast sow in shallow furrows on a prepared seedbed, and transplant after 1 year of cultivation.

2. Cutting propagation: In spring, from mid-April to mid-May, select 1-2 year old semi-lignified branches that are well-developed, robust, and free of pests and diseases. Cut the middle sections into 20-25 cm long cuttings, keep 1-2 upper leaves, soak them in a 500×10-6 naphthalene acetic acid solution for 3-5 minutes, open furrows 40-50 cm apart and 15-20 cm deep, insert them obliquely into the soil every 7-10 cm, leaving 1/2-1/3 exposed above the ground, cover with soil and press firmly, water thoroughly, and keep moist. Roots can form in about half a month, and they can be transplanted in autumn.

3. Division propagation: Solanum lyratum has extremely strong sprouting ability. In autumn and winter, dig out the underground roots so they are exposed above the soil surface, wound the root bark, cover with a small amount of fertile soil, and in the following spring new sprouts will emerge. Then dig them up with roots and transplant. The survival rate can reach over 95%.

Cultivation Techniques of Solanum lyratum

1. Cultivation method: Solanum lyratum is usually cultivated in spring from March to April or in autumn from September to October on prepared land. Open furrows 50-70 cm apart and about 15 cm deep, plant 1 seedling per spot at a spacing of 7-10 cm, plant upright and straight, cover with soil slightly higher than the original soil mark, and water thoroughly to settle the roots.

2. Fertilizer and water management: Solanum lyratum seedlings grow slowly. In the early growth stage, frequent cultivation and weeding are required, 4-5 times per year. The first time is when the seedlings are about 5 cm tall, with shallow loosening of the soil and weeding, combined with a topdressing of 1000-1500 kg of decomposed human manure per mu to promote robust seedling growth. After that, weed once a month. In dry seasons, irrigate to protect the seedlings, and in rainy seasons, drain the furrows in time.

3. Setting up supports: When the Solanum lyratum seedlings are over 30 cm tall, set up supports between the rows with bamboo poles or tree branches to guide the stems and vines to climb upward, improve ventilation and light conditions between rows, enhance photosynthesis, promote stem and leaf growth, and help increase yield. The support height is about 1.7 m, and the two rows are connected with horizontal poles to make them stable.

4. Pest and disease control: In summer, the leaves of Solanum lyratum are susceptible to damage by red spiders and aphids. They can be killed with 10% fenvalerate EC at 3000 times dilution, or 50% menazon EC at 1000 times dilution, or 40% omethoate at 1000 times dilution. At the same time, strengthen integrated pest and disease control, and spray New High-Lipid Film to enhance the control effect.

5. Harvesting and processing: In late autumn, Solanum lyratum should be protected against cold and kept warm to ensure safe overwintering and guarantee growth in the coming year. Harvest the whole plant during the period of vigorous stem and leaf growth in summer and autumn. It can be harvested 2 times per year. After harvesting, dry it directly in the sun, or wash it and use it fresh.