What are the seed selection and seedling raising methods for Indian aster (Kalimeris indica)?

Indian aster, this vegetable, I believe the vast majority of people have eaten it. It is a very common vegetable in our lives, also called red-stemmed vegetable, field chrysanthemum, etc. Many farmer friends grow Indian aster themselves, and some have already started buying seeds. So how do you select Indian aster seeds? What are the seedling raising methods? Friends who want to know, read on below!

1. How to select Indian aster seeds?

1. For Indian aster seeds, it is best to choose those seeds that are plumper in grain and free of pests and diseases. The better the seed quality, the higher the germination rate. In some places, no selection is made before planting, so the germination rate cannot be guaranteed.

2. Indian aster has two varieties: one with red rhizomes and a darker green color, and the other with white rhizomes and a light green color. The red-rhizome Indian aster is wild and is dug up by hand one plant at a time, while the white-rhizome Indian aster is suitable for greenhouse planting, but its flavor is mild and its taste is somewhat poorer. Therefore, when choosing a variety, it is better to choose seeds of the red-rhizome type.

2. What are the seedling raising methods for Indian aster?

1. Division propagation for seedlings

(1) In July each year, choose a plot with moist, fertile soil, convenient irrigation and drainage, and few weeds. First carry out deep plowing, and after plowing also sun the soil for about one month. Around late August to early September, select robustly growing Indian aster plants from the wild or from artificially reserved seed plots, and dig them back together with the rhizomes.

(2) Division propagation for seedlings generally adopts the method of hole planting. On the leveled beds that have been sunned, dig planting holes according to a standard hole spacing and row spacing of 10 cm, with a hole depth of about 15 cm. First apply an appropriate amount of ammonium phosphate compound fertilizer to the bottom of each hole as base fertilizer, at a standard of 50-100 kg per mu, then cover with 3-5 cm of soil, and then plant 3-4 plants from the retrieved plants into each hole. Because Indian aster mainly reproduces by rhizomes, and the leaves on the plants at planting time can no longer be harvested, there is no need to consider the placement of stems and leaves at this time; just lay them flat in the holes. Then cover the plants in each hole with a layer of decomposed organic fertilizer, applied at a standard of 3000 kg per mu. After fertilizing, cover the plants and organic fertilizer with a layer of 3-5 cm of soil, and compact this layer of soil.

2. Rhizome propagation for seedlings

(1) As with division propagation for seedlings, one month before planting Indian aster rhizomes, first choose a suitable plot and plow and sun the soil. Rhizome propagation mostly adopts the method of row sowing. Before sowing, on the prepared beds, open planting furrows at a row spacing of 10 to 20 cm, with a depth also reaching 15 cm. Then apply ammonium phosphate compound fertilizer at the bottom of the furrow as base fertilizer, with an amount of 50 kg per mu, and then backfill an appropriate amount of soil to cover the base fertilizer.

(2) Gently shake the dug-back Indian aster rhizomes free of soil, taking care not to damage the fibrous roots, then cut the longer rhizomes into 10 cm long root segments with 3-4 buds; the thicker the root segments, the better. Lay the Indian aster rhizomes used for propagation flat on the bottom of the furrow, requiring that the root segments do not overlap, then cover with 3-5 cm of soil, and on top cover an appropriate amount of decomposed organic fertilizer, about 3000 kg per mu. Then cover the rhizomes and decomposed organic fertilizer with soil again, level the bed surface, and compact it. After planting, water thoroughly once, and afterward just keep the soil alternately dry and moist. In this way, the rows can close in about 60-70 days.

After reading the above, everyone probably knows how to choose high-quality Indian aster seeds, right? You can refer to the suggestions given by the editor when choosing! If you plan to grow Indian aster, you can also learn the seedling raising methods above. I hope this article can be of some help to everyone.

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