Several key points to note when growing Chinese medicinal herbs

Chinese medicinal herbs are a special type of cash crop. Therefore, both the growing techniques and the management practices have their own particularities. If measures are inappropriate and go against their growing habits, losses are inevitable. Therefore, the following issues should be noted when growing Chinese medicinal herbs.

1. The varieties of Chinese medicinal herbs to be grownshould suit the local climate and soil conditions　　　　　　　　

Different herb varieties have different requirements for climate and soil. For example, Asarum (wild ginger) needs a cool, moist environment with slightly weak light. A humus-rich, deep black calcium soil is best. Coix (Job's tears) needs to be planted in a sheltered spot, so that autumn winds do not blow the seeds off and cause a high yield that cannot be harvested. Another example is licorice, which grows well in neutral or slightly alkaline soil but poorly in acidic soil. In summary, growing medicinal herbs must be suited to local conditions, and blind planting must be avoided.

2. When buying medicinal herb seeds and planting stock,pay attention to timing and quality　　　　　　　　

The quality and authenticity of seeds and planting stock directly affect the economic returns of growing Chinese medicinal herbs. Chinese medicinal herbs are mostly perennial plants, so improper seeds and planting stock will inevitably cause serious consequences. Therefore, when buying seeds and planting stock, note the following issues:

①Understand the characteristics of the seeds and planting stock. For example, Asarum has short-lived seeds, so you must buy freshly harvested seeds and sow them immediately. If the seeds dry out before sowing, they will not sprout. Astragalus seeds have a hard-seeded phenomenon; the higher the degree of maturity, the higher the hard-seed rate. Therefore, fully mature seeds are very difficult to sprout, and even with special treatment the germination rate will not be very high. So pay special attention when buying Astragalus seeds. Those that are black and hard when bitten are over-mature and not suitable for seed use. Seed coats that are yellow-brown or green-brown indicate suitable maturity and can be used as seed. When buying Rehmannia planting stock, besides paying attention to the variety, you should also choose rhizomes of moderate thickness with short internode spacing.

②Seed germination rate. When buying seeds, be sure to ask clearly about the germination rate, because it directly affects seedling emergence. After buying the seeds, a germination test should be carried out, and the sowing rate per mu should be determined from this. Seeds with a germination rate above 85% are normal seeds. If the germination rate is below 70%, sowing should be done with caution; ③ pay attention to whether the seeds and planting stock carry bacteria or disease. Chinese medicinal herbs, like crops, can be infected by diseases, so when purchasing seeds and planting stock, you must understand the disease situation in the place of origin and pay attention to the occurrence of common diseases of some herbs (such as rust rot of Fritillaria ussuriensis, powdery mildew of Astragalus, smut of Coix, and sclerotinia disease of Asarum, etc.). Therefore, it is necessary to treat the seeds and planting stock with chemicals before sowing.