Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Angelica sinensis Seedling Raising and Transplanting

Seedling raising by seed is generally carried out around the Start of Autumn, sowing as soon as the seeds are harvested; in low-altitude areas with slightly higher temperatures, sowing is best done from mid-August to early September. Timely sowing can prevent early bolting of Angelica sinensis. If sown too early, the seedling growth period is long, and vigorous seedlings tend to bolt prematurely; if sown too late, the growth period is short and the temperature has already dropped, resulting in poor seedling growth. Use drilling: on the prepared bed surface, open transverse furrows at a row spacing of 25 cm, with a furrow depth of 3-5 cm, and level the furrow bottom. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water at 25-30°C for 24 hours, take them out and air-dry them, then sow them evenly into the furrows and cover with fine soil, just enough so that the seeds are no longer visible. Finally, cover the bed surface with grass about 3 cm thick. The seeding rate is 60-75 kg per hectare. Seedlings emerge about 15 days after sowing. One month later, when the seedlings are 1-2 cm tall, choose a cloudy day to first gently shake the covering grass loose, then carefully remove it, so as to avoid the seedlings getting caught in the grass gaps and being damaged. After removing the covering grass, remove weeds as soon as they appear, keep the field free of weeds, and thin the seedlings while weeding, removing the weak and keeping the strong, maintaining a plant spacing of about 1 cm. In mid-to-late October, when the seedling leaves turn yellow and wither, dig up the seedlings, tie the small seedlings into small bundles 5-6 cm thick, cut off the upper stems and leaves, leave a little soil on the roots, air-dry the moisture, and then store them in a cellar; alternatively, in a dry, sunny place indoors, dig a pit of appropriate size, about 60 cm deep, first spread a layer of fine sandy soil 5-7 cm thick at the bottom of the pit, then place a layer of seedlings on it, then cover with another layer of fine sand, and repeat this alternating layering until 15 cm from the top of the pit, then seal the opening with dry soil about 30 cm thick, and shape the top of the pit into a turtle-back form. Fine sandy soil can also be used to stratify and store the seedlings in a specially made square bamboo basket, placed in a cool, dry place indoors for storage. This method is simple and easy to manage.