How to Select Chinese Artichoke Seeds? What Are the Seedling Raising Methods?

Friends living in rural areas probably all know Chinese artichoke, right? It is a kind of weed that grows in the fields, and the fruits it produces can be eaten as a vegetable, and it also has relatively high nutritional value. Now many people have started to cultivate it. So how should Chinese artichoke seeds be selected? What seedling raising methods are there? Next, let the editor tell everyone!

1. How to select Chinese artichoke seeds?

When selecting Chinese artichoke seeds, choose round, plump ones with no pest damage. It is best to choose new seeds from the current year, so that the germination rate is relatively high. Buying them from a local specialized seed store offers better assurance.

2. What are the seedling raising methods for Chinese artichoke?

1. Land preparation and fertilization

The root system of Chinese artichoke is relatively shallow. It is not tolerant of high temperatures and drought, likes shade and fears frost, likes fertilizer and fears waterlogging. Therefore, when planting in scattered spots, choose wall corners, behind houses, between buildings, or shaded areas under trees. For large-area planting, try to choose ditch and dam land, shady gentle slopes, or intercropping plots, with relatively thick soil layers, loose and fertile sandy loam or loam soil that is drought tolerant, and with good drainage. Planting Chinese artichoke in this kind of plot gives high yield and good quality. Before planting, apply an appropriate amount of decomposed farmyard manure and phosphate fertilizer in combination with plowing the land. Generally, apply 1 500-2 000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu and about 30 kg of phosphate fertilizer. For plots with heavy clay soil or poor fertility, the amount of fertilizer applied can be appropriately increased. Then use a rotary tiller to deep plow and make ridges to facilitate drainage. Generally, low ridges are made.

2. Seedling raising and sowing

Around the time of the last frost in spring, when the temperature rises to 8-10 °C, seedling raising and sowing can begin. Before sowing, strengthen seed selection, continuously rejuvenate and renew, and maintain its excellent seed characteristics. In northern Shaanxi, this is generally done from mid-to-late March to early April. For the seedbed land, choose sandy loam with relatively high fertility, and make seedbeds 1.2 m wide. The number and length of seedbeds depend on needs and the plot. Leave a 60 cm ridge between seedbeds for easy management. Fine-till and level the seedbed, sow at a row spacing of 15 cm and a plant spacing of 10 cm, sow 1 tuber per hole, and cover with 6-8 cm of soil. Calculate seedling raising based on a seedling requirement of 7 000 plants per mu, with about 20 kg of seed used per mu. For direct seeding production, sow at a row spacing of 40 cm, plant spacing of 25 cm, and depth of 8-10 cm, sow 1-2 tubers per hole, and at the same time raise an additional 5% of the number of plants per mu as seedlings for later use, to prevent the need for replanting. During the seedling stage, pay attention to appropriate watering and keep the ground alternating between dry and wet; drain promptly in the rainy season to prevent waterlogging from drowning the seedlings. Strengthen management, pull weeds at any time, and ensure full and strong seedlings. When the supply of seedlings is tight and propagation must be expanded, cuttings can be used for propagation. In spring, using plastic arched sheds, Chinese artichoke cuttings can take root about 20 days after cutting and can be planted after 30-40 days.

3. Timely transplanting

For transplanting after seedling raising, begin transplanting when the seedlings grow to about 20 cm. Plant about 6 000 plants per mu, with a plant spacing of 25 cm and a row spacing of 40 cm. One plant per hole, transplant with a soil ball, water thoroughly after planting, and set the planting depth level with the soil ball. When intercropping with tall-stalk crops, plant 3 000-4 000 plants per mu.

4. Management after planting

In the early growth stage, pay attention to intertillage and weeding. From when the seedlings are 7-10 cm tall until before flowering, topdress 1-2 times along with watering, applying 10-20 kg of urea per mu each time, or 400-500 kg of human excrement and urine. When entering the vigorous flowering growth stage, the stolons spread in all directions. At this time, intertillage should no longer be carried out to reduce damage to the stolons. Pull weeds at any time depending on the weed situation to prevent large weeds from suppressing the seedlings. When flower buds appear on Chinese artichoke, the buds and terminal buds can be removed to prevent lodging, inhibit stem and leaf growth, save nutrients, and promote the growth and development of underground tubers. When aboveground stems and leaves grow too vigorously, appropriately spray chlormequat for regulation to benefit underground tuber development. In continuous high-temperature and drought weather, water to cool down and fight drought to protect the seedlings. Appropriately spraying potassium dihydrogen phosphate at the seedling stage has an inhibitory effect on the plant height of Chinese artichoke seedlings, while promoting an increase in underground tuber thickness, fresh tuber weight, and the number of underground tubers per hole. The spraying concentration of potassium dihydrogen phosphate is generally about 400 times, and it can be sprayed 2-3 times throughout the growth period. Drain promptly when rainwater accumulates after heavy rain, to prevent stagnant water from causing rot disease.

Alright, the above is all the content the editor wants to share with everyone. If you also plan to grow Chinese artichoke, remember to choose high-quality seeds for sowing. In addition, you can refer to some of the seedling raising methods above. I hope this article can help everyone.

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