Detailed Guide to High-Yield Cultivation Techniques for the Chinese Medicinal Herb Shegan (Blackberry Lily)

Shegan is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Iridaceae family. Its rhizome is used as medicine and has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing phlegm and soothing the throat, making it a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine; in some cities it is also grown as an ornamental flower to beautify the environment. As wild resources are becoming increasingly depleted while demand continues to rise, artificial cultivation has been undertaken in some parts of the country.

I. Cultivation Methods

1. Land preparation: Shegan has a certain tolerance to alkali and is drought-tolerant. Generally, hillsides, flat land and well-drained sandy land can all be used for planting, but fertile sandy soil is best, and it is not suitable for cultivation in low-lying areas with poor drainage or heavy clay land. In autumn, plow deeply 24-33 cm and harrow 2-3 times; in the second spring, apply sufficient base fertilizer and make flat beds for later use.

2. Propagation: Shegan propagation is divided into two types, one is seed propagation, and the other is rhizome propagation. ① Seed propagation: Harvest mature seeds at Bailu (White Dew), dry them in a ventilated and dry place, and wait until Qingming to Guyu of the second year to sow. Along the bed, open shallow furrows 1.5 cm deep at a row spacing of 15-20 cm, evenly scatter the seeds in, cover with soil and water. About 2 kg of seeds are needed per mu. After emergence, thin the seedlings at a plant spacing of 6-8 cm, and transplant in late autumn of the first year of growth or in spring of the second year. In late autumn of the first year after sowing, when the aboveground parts wither or before budding in spring is the best time for transplanting. When planting, dig holes at a row spacing of 25 cm and a plant spacing of 15 cm, put a handful of barnyard manure into each hole, then plant the Shegan seedlings into the holes, cover with soil, compact, and water. ② Rhizome propagation: In mid-to-late April, dig out the rhizomes that overwintered underground, and select robust rhizomes as seed stock. The overwintering buds on the rhizomes are flat and long, very obvious, and can be cut into sections according to the number of buds; each section should retain at least 1-2 buds, and after cutting, let the cut surface air-dry slightly, then plant. Dig holes at a row spacing of 35 cm, a hole spacing of 15 cm, and a hole depth of 6 cm, placing the buds upward. If the buds are green, expose the top growth point above the ground; for buds that are not green, they can be completely buried in the soil, covered with 4 cm of soil, and gently compacted.

II. Field Management

1. Weeding: After the seedlings emerge evenly, hoe shallowly to preserve soil moisture, and weeds should be hoed out promptly. For those transplanted to the field by rhizome, after emergence each spring, weed and loosen the soil, and when weeding in summer and autumn, combine with earthing up. If flower buds are found, remove them promptly. Those grown as flowers do not need to be removed.

2. Drainage and irrigation: Shegan is drought-tolerant and afraid of waterlogging, especially in the rainy July-August period, drainage should be timely. Generally, irrigation is not needed, but if it is too dry, watering is also possible.

3. Topdressing: Topdress 2 times during the seedling stage to make the seedlings sturdy. When the seedlings are about 10 cm tall, after weeding and loosening the soil, topdress with 12 kg of ammonium sulfate per mu; after weeding in June-July, topdress once with human manure and phosphorus fertilizer.

III. Pest and Disease Control

1. Diseases: Root rot occurs mostly in rainy summer and autumn seasons or in waterlogged places. Control methods: pay attention to drainage, pull out diseased plants, and spread lime in the holes for disinfection.

2. Insect pests: There are white grubs, cutworms, stem borers, and aphids. White grubs and cutworms can be controlled by broadcasting poisonous soil with Dichongjing; stem borers can be controlled by spraying with Haobangshou.

IV. Harvesting and Processing: After 2-3 years of planting, dig in late autumn. Of the dug rhizomes, except for the parts with buds which are retained as seed stock, the rest are processed as medicine. During processing, wash the soil off the rhizomes and sun-dry them; or dry them after sun-drying until half-dry, or dry them directly.