Detailed Explanation of Black Gastrodia Planting Techniques and Cultivation Management Methods

1. Selection of seed tubers

Black GastrodiaArrow tubers have a lower water content; for Gastrodia of the same quantity and identical shape and size, 1 jin of red Gastrodia usually contains 40-50 tubers, while black Gastrodia contains only 30-40. Therefore, when introducing black Gastrodia seed tubers, it is necessary both to weigh them and to calculate the number of seed tubers. Planting one square meter of red Gastrodia requires 1 jin of seed tubers, while planting one square meter of black Gastrodia requires 1.2 jin of seed tubers.

2. Cultivating Armillaria fungus wood

Cork oak, sawtooth oak, oriental white oak, cherry tree, rowan tree, Elaeagnus umbellata, and wheel wingnut, among others, have solid, rot-resistant wood with thick bark that does not easily fall off. These trees are best for cultivating black Gastrodia. The tree diameter should be 5-12 cm, and when cutting into logs, 50 cm in length is suitable. Branches with a diameter below 5 cm can be chopped into short pieces 5-10 cm long and placed evenly around the thick fungus wood. The amount of fungus wood used is calculated at 8-10 pieces per square meter (or per pit), weighing 25-30 kg, with 8-10 kg of short branches prepared. For fungus wood cultivation in spring, March-April, use two bottles of fungus spawn per pit; in autumn, August-September, use 1.5 jin of fungus branches per pit.

3. Cultivation method

When sowing, place the seed tubers close to the fungus wood, placing 6 seed tubers on each piece of fungus wood: 4 in the middle and one at each end. Either pit planting or row planting may be used. The cultivation depth is about 15 cm. When covering the cultivation pit with soil, use fine soil and firm it in place. Ensure there are no gaps between the seed tubers and the soil, or between the fungus wood, fungus branches, and the soil. Cover the top of the cultivation pit with broadleaf tree fallen leaves, thatch, rice straw, corn stalks, and similar materials, with a covering thickness of 2-3 cm. Then open drainage ditches properly.

4. Field management

(1) In winter and early spring, use mulch to keep warm, maintaining the soil temperature below 10 cm in the pit at 0-5°C. In the seventh, eighth, and ninth months, mulch or a shade shed must be used to regulate the temperature, keeping it within 26°C.

(2) Water management: From December to March, control moisture and prevent freezing, with soil moisture content at 30%, just showing moisture. From April to June, increase water to promote growth, with soil moisture content at 60-70%, forming a ball when squeezed in the hand and breaking apart when dropped. From July to August, reduce moisture and lower temperature, with soil moisture content at about 60%. From September to October, control water to inhibit bacteria, with soil moisture content at about 50%, forming a slightly firm ball when squeezed in the hand and breaking apart with a light pinch. In November, soil moisture content at about 30%, dry and loose. At the same time, during the growing season, pay attention to clearing weeds and preventing and controlling pests and diseases.

5. Harvest

Dig after Frost's Descent. When digging, do so on a sunny day when the soil is dry; avoid digging in rainy weather or within 1-2 days after rain. When digging, prepare two types of baskets and boxes: one specifically for seed tubers and one specifically for commercial tubers. The seed tubers should be sown promptly or transported and stored as required. Commercial tubers should also be processed and dried promptly.