What are the seed selection and seedling raising methods for watercress?

I believe most friends have eaten watercress, it is also called douban vegetable (watercress), it is suitable for planting in many regions of our country, its edible part has the effect of clearing lung heat and moistening lung dryness, its nutritional content is relatively high, so many people like to eat it. So how do you select seeds for watercress? What are the seedling raising methods? Friends who want to know should read on!

1. How to select seeds for watercress?

1. Varieties of watercress that do not have a flowering type can only be propagated by selecting and retaining old seed plants to overwinter. Generally, a field with robust growth should be selected as the seed retention field, and in the field, plants with relatively thick stems, relatively wide and long leaves, and conforming to the characteristics of the planted variety should be selected as seed plants. In South China in mid-April, and in the Yangtze River basin in mid-May, that is, when the local temperature reaches about 20°C, the selected seed plants are transplanted from paddy fields to dry land. The dry land selected should be well ventilated and cool, with convenient irrigation and drainage, and it is best to have trees around for moderate shade. Before transplanting, first plow and harrow to make beds; when planting, the row spacing is 15-20 cm and the plant spacing is 13-15 cm, and after every 10-15 rows, leave 35 cm open as a walkway for field operations. After planting, water every day until they survive. In later management, if the plants grow crowded together, promptly thin out some plants or branches to ensure ventilation and light transmission. The soil should always remain moist, but without standing water. In summer weather with high temperature and strong light, when the maximum temperature reaches above 35°C, cover with a shade net at noon, and pour cool water once each in the morning, at noon, and in the evening every day to lower the temperature.

2. For varieties of watercress of the flowering and seed-setting type, seeds can be used for propagation. In South China, mostly in mid-February, that is, when the local temperature reaches about 10°C, the selected seed plants conforming to the characteristics of the planted variety are transplanted to dry land. The conditions of the selected dry land and the preparatory work are the same as for the above vegetative propagation seed retention, but there should not be trees around for shade. Generally, buds form and flowers bloom in late March, pods form from April to May, and pods mature from late May to early June. The seed retention field should be top-dressed once each at the budding stage and the pod-setting stage. In addition to applying dilute nitrogen fertilizer, appropriately increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote full seeds, and do a good job in pest and disease control. After the pods mature, they easily split open naturally, so seeds need to be collected in stages, generally divided into 3-4 times, with an interval of 4-5 days each time. That is, when the seed pods are seen to turn yellow and the seeds are inspected and have turned yellow-brown, cut and collect them, carrying this out in the morning when the dew has not yet dried, to prevent the pods from splitting and losing seeds. After collection, they must not be exposed to the scorching sun, and can only be placed in the not-too-strong sunlight of early morning and late afternoon to dry for 1-2 days, to prevent excessively high temperature from affecting the seed germination rate. After drying and threshing, the seeds are stored in a cool and dry place. Each mu of seed retention field can yield about 4.75-5.5 kg of seeds.

2. What are the seedling raising methods for watercress?

Watercress is mostly sown and raised as seedlings starting in September, when the temperature is about 20°C. There are generally two methods: dry land seedling raising and semi-paddy field seedling raising. First, it is best to choose a plot with fertile soil and a shading effect as the seedling field, then plow and harrow, prepare the land, and make beds. The soil on the bed surface is best when fine, broken, and level. First water thoroughly so that the soil is saturated with moisture, then sow.

Alright, the above is all the content that the editor wants to share with everyone. Watercress has always been a relatively hot-selling type of vegetable on the market, and many people buy it to eat, so the planting prospects are still quite good. Above, the editor introduced the seed selection and seedling raising methods of watercress, hoping to help everyone!

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