Detailed explanation of milk thistle cultivation techniques and field management key points

Milk thistle is an annual herb, with medicinal seeds, and has the functions of slightly clearing heat and detoxifying, and protecting the liver and promoting bile flow. It is not choosy about soil conditions and has strong drought and cold resistance. Planted in spring of the same year and harvested in autumn, it is simple to manage and offers good returns.

1. Milk thistle grows about 1 m tall, blooms from June to July, and fruits from July to August. It is a sun-loving plant and can grow in generally any soil.

2. Direct sow between Qingming Festival and the Beginning of Summer. Make shallow furrows 2 cm deep at a row spacing of 30 cm, sow the seeds evenly, cover with soil and rake level, then press lightly. If the soil is moist, watering may be omitted. Before sowing, it is best to soak the seeds for one day, take them out, mix them with moist sand, and wait 2-3 days before sowing; this gives faster and more uniform emergence.

3. When the seedlings are 6-10 cm tall, thin them to a final stand, using a plant spacing of 20-30 cm or as appropriate for the site. After setting the plants, apply chemical fertilizer to promote growth, generally 10-15 kg of urea per mu, and at the same time spray with potassium dihydrogen phosphate once every 15 days for 3 consecutive times to increase fruit weight. Pay attention to watering in dry weather and to drainage in the rainy season.

4. From August to September, the fruits mature successively. Harvest them, dry them in the sun, and thresh out the seeds to obtain the finished product.