How are Boston ivy seeds selected? What are the seedling-raising methods?
Boston ivy is a woody vine of the grape family, with alternate leaves and pale green flowers. It can cling to rocks or walls and can be used as an ornamental plant, planted on the exterior walls of buildings, where it is both attractive and cooling. In addition, the rhizome of Boston ivy can be used as medicine, and the fruit can be used to make wine. It is often used for greening slopes and preventing landslides.
How are Boston ivy seeds selected?
There are many kinds of Boston ivy, such as Virginia creeper, variegated Boston ivy, green-leaf Boston ivy, hairy-veined Boston ivy, and so on, but the most common should be Virginia creeper. Compared with Boston ivy, Virginia creeper grows vigorously, with lush leaves and thick branches, but its climbing ability is not as good as that of Boston ivy. Therefore, seeds can be selected according to actual needs.
In addition, Boston ivy is also mostly propagated by seeds in production. In autumn, in September-October, when the fruit is ripe, harvest it, dry it in the sun, and store it for later use. For spring sowing in March-April, mix the seeds with plant ash and sow in drills.
What are the seedling-raising methods?
1. Making a seedbed
In early April of the following year, after the soil thaws, choose a gentle slope or flat ground of sandy loam light clay, and build a raised bed 5-10 m long, 0.8-1.2 m wide, and 5-8 cm deep in a north-south direction or following the slope. Spread dried agricultural chicken manure evenly on the surface of the seedbed, and turn the bed surface to a depth of 15 cm. Break up the clods and rake it level.
2. Sowing and management
In mid-to-late April, along the direction of the bed, open a ditch 3 cm deep on the bed surface every 20 cm, pour enough water into the ditch, and after the water seeps down, immediately scatter the germinated seeds into the ditch. After sowing, cover with soil 2 cm thick, then cover the bed surface with a 1 cm thick straw curtain. From May to September, promptly hoe and pull weeds on the bed surface, and in early November water the seedlings left in the bed once with overwintering water.
3. Cutting propagation
Insert cuttings at a spacing of 5-7 cm, with an insertion depth of 3 cm, and press the substrate firmly so that the cuttings do not wobble. Along the cutting bed, set up 60 cm high arched rods, cover them with a shade net with 50%-70% light transmittance, and press the ground surface firmly with bricks. Immediately after insertion, spray water onto the net; roots can grow in 10-15 d, and after about 20 d remove the net in the evening. Pull weeds promptly during the growing season, and water if there is excessive drought.
4. Transplanting
Transplant in late autumn or early spring, with a plant spacing of 15-20 cm. Before planting seedlings, trim the roots and leave them 15 cm long; after planting, leave 1-2 buds near the ground surface and cut the previous year's stems and branches flat. Water immediately after transplanting to ensure the seedlings survive.
Boston ivy likes light and moisture, tolerates shade and barren soil, is extremely cold-resistant, and has strong adaptability. It rarely suffers from pests and diseases. When selecting seeds and raising seedlings, carry out scientific management in combination with these habit characteristics. Once grown, Boston ivy has excellent shading and ornamental effects.
For wonderful pictures and texts and popular comments about Boston ivy seed selection and seedling raising, you may be interested in the following recommended content from Nongxun Network. Welcome to read.
You may be interested in these agricultural products: nationwide supply of high-quality Boston ivy seeds