When to plant Salvia miltiorrhiza? A detailed guide to the latest planting times
Salvia miltiorrhiza , also known as red ginseng, purple salvia, red root, etc., is a perennial erect herbaceous plant of the genus Salvia in the family Lamiaceae (dicotyledonous plants). It likes to grow in an environment with a mild climate, sufficient light, and humid air. Areas with an annual average temperature of 17.1°C and an average relative humidity of 77% are the best planting areas. Let us take a look below at when Salvia miltiorrhiza is planted!
Root division propagation time for Salvia miltiorrhiza
At the autumn harvest, select current-year Salvia miltiorrhiza roots with a diameter of 0.7-1 cm, purple-red color, no pests or diseases, and full development as seed roots, and store them in moist sand until the following spring. In early spring from March to April, cut the seed roots into 4-6 cm small sections. With a row spacing, plant spacing, and depth specification of 35 cm × 25 cm × 6 cm, place the cut seed roots vertically into the holes, one section per hole, with the thicker end facing up. Never place them upside down. Cover with about 2 cm of soil, not too thick, otherwise it will affect emergence. Use about 50 kg of seed roots per mu. When planted from root sections, flowering is late, and it is difficult to harvest seeds in the same year, but the roots grow relatively quickly and the medicinal material yield is high.
Cuttage propagation time for Salvia miltiorrhiza
In the north from June to July, and in the south from April to May, select robust, disease-free Salvia miltiorrhiza branches and cut them off at ground level, then cut them into 13-16 cm long sections. The lower cut should be close to the stem node and shaped like a horseshoe. Remove the lower leaves. With a row spacing and plant spacing of 20 × 10 cm, insert the cuttings diagonally into the seedbed to a depth of 1/2-2/3 of the cutting, cover with soil and press firmly, leaving 1-2 leaves above ground. Cut and insert as you go; they must not be left for long, otherwise the survival rate of the cuttings will be affected. After insertion, keep the soil moist and provide appropriate shade. In 15-20 days, new roots will grow from the lowest stem node. When the roots are 3 cm long, set them out in the field.
Seed propagation time for Salvia miltiorrhiza
Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds are tiny, with a germination rate of about 70%. Direct sowing often results in uneven emergence, so the seedling-raising and transplanting method is mostly used. For seeds, it is best to choose seeds that mature after June, and sow them immediately after collection or sow in September. Generally, sow in the seedbed in March, either in drills or broadcast. For drill sowing, the row spacing and plant spacing are 30 × 20 cm, and the furrow depth is 1-1.3 cm. Mix the seeds with river sand and evenly sprinkle them into the furrow, then cover with 0.5-0.7 cm of soil. For broadcast sowing, the seeds can be evenly scattered on the ground, then pressed once with a foot so that the seeds adhere tightly to the soil; there is no need to cover with soil. The sowing rate is about 0.5 kg per mu. After sowing, cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist. When the soil temperature reaches about 20°C, they will emerge in 15-20 days. When the seedlings have 3-5 true leaves, if they are found to be too dense, thin them out. The thinned seedlings can be planted out and cultivated. After 2 months of growth after sowing, they can be transplanted.