Detailed Explanation of Key Points of Balloon Flower Cultivation and Planting Techniques

I. Morphology

Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) is a perennial herb, with a plant height of 30-100 cm, the whole plant smooth and hairless, the root thick and fleshy, the outer bark yellowish-brown or grayish-brown, the stem erect, the leaves ovate to lanceolate, 2-7 cm long, 0.5-3 cm wide, the apex acuminate, the margin sharply serrate, the base cuneate. The flowering period is July to September, and the fruiting period is August to October.

II. Growing Environment

Balloon flower prefers cool and humid conditions, likes light, and is cold-tolerant. The suitable temperature range for growth is 10°C-20°C, the optimum temperature is 20°C, and it can endure a low temperature of minus 20°C. The plant grows well in deep, loose and fertile humus soil or sandy loam with good drainage. It is afraid of waterlogging; waterlogging in the soil easily causes root rot.

III. Planting Techniques

1. Land selection and preparation. Balloon flower is a deep-rooted plant, so it is best to choose deep, loose and fertile humus soil or sandy soil with good drainage. After selecting the land, apply 2500 kg of compost per mu, add 20 kg of superphosphate, spread it into the field, deep plow more than 30 cm, and level and harrow finely.

2. Timely sowing. Balloon flower is mainly propagated by seeds; spring sowing, autumn sowing or winter sowing are all acceptable, with 2 kg of seeds used per mu. Seedling transplanting can also be used, but because direct sowing gives higher yield than transplanting, and the roots are straight with few forks, making it convenient for peeling and processing, with good quality, it is mostly used in production. Note that when propagating by seed, fresh seeds of the current year must be used; new seeds germinate quickly, have a high germination rate, and the seedlings grow uniformly and robustly, which is conducive to management, while old seeds from the previous year have a low germination rate or even fail to germinate.

To improve the seed germination rate, the seeds can first be treated: before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water for 12 hours, mix well with an appropriate amount of moist sand, pile them for a few days and then sow, which can significantly increase the germination rate. Using the drill sowing method, open furrows on the prepared seedbed at a row spacing of 18-21 cm, about 2 cm deep, and cover with soil 1 cm after sowing. Or use the relatively advanced wide-band drill sowing method, that is, the width of the furrow is 10 cm, the row spacing is unchanged, and soil is covered after sowing. The wide-band drill sowing method has many advantages, such as simple management and good quality of the finished product. With suitable temperature, seedlings emerge in about 15 days.