Detailed Explanation of New Techniques for Growing Blackberry Lily: Master the Key Points of Scientific Cultivation

Blackberry lily, also known as Golden Shoulder Pole, Butterfly Flower, and Daylily Flower, is a herbaceous plant of the iris family, mostly found growing wild. It has the functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, lowering qi and dispelling phlegm, and dispersing blood and reducing swelling. It is mainly used to treat influenza. Blackberry lily is not only used as medicine but is also a valuable ornamental flower and an export product for foreign trade. In recent years, excessive harvesting has caused resources to become increasingly scarce. Therefore, developing blackberry lily production is a good way for farming families to escape poverty. Generally, the dry medicinal yield per mu can reach 200—250 kg.

1. Site Selection and Land Preparation

It can generally be planted on mountain land or flat land, but it is not suitable for soil that is too heavy in clay, waterlogged land, or soil that is too heavy in salinity and alkalinity. When preparing the land, plow deeply to 17 cm and level it into beds. Apply 2000?3000 kg of base fertilizer or compost per mu, and 25?30 kg of superphosphate. Human manure and urine, plant ash, and other farmyard manures can also be used as base fertilizer.

2. Propagation Methods

(1) Seed propagation Blackberry lily seeds begin to germinate at 8?14°C, and when the temperature reaches as high as 30°C, their germination rate decreases significantly. Seedlings emerge slowly and unevenly, lasting as long as 40?50 days. Seeds stored in damp sand after collection have a high germination rate, while sun-dried seeds have a low germination rate (only 45%-50%) and germinate slowly, with an even longer duration. After applying base fertilizer to the seedling bed, level it into beds. The sowing period is suitable in spring and autumn (when the temperature is suitable for seedling emergence). In spring, in late March, scatter the seeds in the bed, cover with 5 cm of soil, press down lightly, and water. Seedlings emerge after about 2 weeks. The sowing rate is 10 kg per mu of seedling bed, which can be transplanted to 7 mu of field. If planting 1 mu of land, use 2?2.5 kg of seed. For autumn sowing, before the ground freezes, the sowing method is the same as above. Seedlings emerge in early April of the following spring. Seedbed management is simple: water 2?3 times and weed frequently. Planting out: In May?June of the same year as seedling raising, when seedlings are about 6 cm tall, plant them out into the field with row spacing of 45?60 cm. Then irrigate. The survival rate is as high as 95%. The seed propagation coefficient is relatively high, and the plants grow robustly.

(2) Rhizome propagation Blackberry lily has dozens of rhizomes and strong vitality, so rhizome propagation can be used. Planting is generally carried out before regrowth begins. Dig out the seedlings and split them according to their natural growth shape. Each rhizome must have 2 buds. When planting, the buds face upward. If the buds are white, they can be buried in the soil; if the buds have turned green, they can be left exposed above the ground. Row and plant spacing are the same as above. Open furrows 15 cm deep. If fibrous roots are too long, they can be cut and left about 5 cm. Press the covering soil firmly, then water.

3. Field Management

(1) Cultivation and earthing up In spring, weed and loosen the soil frequently. After the rows close in June, no more weeding or soil loosening is needed. Earth up around the root zone to prevent lodging.

(2) Topdressing In the second year after planting, open furrows between the rows in early spring and apply 2000 kg of farmyard manure per mu, or 700 kg of human manure and urine, plus 15?20 kg of superphosphate as topdressing.

(3) Watering Although blackberry lily likes drought and tolerates severe cold, it needs watering during the seedling emergence stage and the seedling establishment stage. Keep the field moist. When seedlings reach 10 cm tall, watering can be stopped. During the rainy season, attention should be paid to drainage to prevent waterlogging in the field from causing root rot.

(4) Flower removal Blackberry lily propagated by seed blooms and sets seed the following year. Plants propagated by rhizome bloom and set seed in the same year. The flowering period is long, and there are many flowers and fruits. In plots not kept for seed production, remove flowers 2?3 times when bolting occurs, to promote rhizome growth.

4. Pest and Disease Control

Blackberry lily is prone to rust disease, caused by a type of basidiomycete fungus. It often causes damage in autumn, with brown raised rust spots appearing on the leaves. It occurs early in mature plants and later in seedlings. Control method: In the early stage of disease, spray with 95% sodium ferrous ethylenediaminetetraacetate? No. The source says 95% ferrous sodium 400-fold solution. Use "95% Tieli sodium 400-fold solution" only if that is the intended product name; otherwise keep as "95% ferrous sodium 400-fold solution." Spray once every 7-10 days, continuously 2?3 times. Pests include white grubs and mole crickets, which can be trapped and killed with poison bait.

5. Harvesting and Processing

Blackberry lily is dug up for harvest at Cold Dew after 2 years of growth (2 years for seed propagation, only 1 year for rhizome propagation). Remove the stems and fibrous roots from the dug rhizomes, wash them clean, and dry them in the sun before selling.