How to Grow the Chinese Medicinal Herb Shegan? A Detailed Guide to Cultivation Techniques

Growth Habits:

SheganIt prefers a warm and humid climate. It has strong adaptability and is not demanding about soil, able to grow on hillsides and wasteland. It is drought-tolerant and cold-tolerant, and the seedlings can endure low temperatures of -21°C. It dislikes waterlogging.

Propagation Methods:

It is propagated by seeds and by root division.

1. Site selection and land preparation: It can generally be planted on hillside or flat land, and sandy loam with sunny exposure and deep soil is preferable. Apply 2500 kg of base fertilizer and 15 kg of superphosphate per mu, plow deeply to about 20 cm, break up the soil finely and level it, and make beds 1.2 m wide.

2. Seed propagation: Seed propagation is mostly used. After collecting seeds in autumn, stratify them in wet sand; this gives a high germination rate and rapid seedling emergence. Before sowing, soak dry seeds in water for one week, changing the water 3-4 times during that period, then put the seeds in a bamboo basket, cover them tightly with burlap, and sprinkle water frequently to keep them moist; sow when more than 60% of the seeds have sprouted (shown white).

①Direct sowing can be done in spring or autumn. Spring sowing is in late March to early April, and autumn sowing is in mid-October to early November. For drilling, open furrows 2 cm deep at a row spacing of 20-25 cm, use 3 kg of seed per mu, sow the seeds evenly into the furrows, cover with soil and press down lightly. Autumn sowing is the same as spring sowing.

②Raising seedlings. For drilling, open furrows at a row spacing of about 15 cm, scatter the seeds, then cover with soil and keep the soil moist. When the seedlings are 5—6 cm tall, transplant them to the field at a row spacing of 20 cm X 15 cm, then water. Use 10 kg of seed per mu.

3. Root division propagation: Before sprouting in spring, or after the aboveground stems and leaves wither in autumn, dig out the underground rhizomes and divide them into small pieces, each with 2—3 buds and some fibrous roots; dig holes at a row spacing of 25 cm X 20 cm, place 1 large piece or 2 small pieces in each hole, cover with soil±and press firmly, then water and keep moist. Those planted in spring emerge in about 15 days. Use about 100 kg of rhizomes per mu.

Field Management:

1. Cultivation and weeding: After the seedlings have emerged completely, weed and loosen the soil 2—3 times in good time so that there are no weeds in the field, and hill up soil around the roots at the last cultivation to prevent the plants from lodging.

2. Topdressing: Shegan likes fertilizer. If the base fertilizer is sufficient in the first year, no topdressing is needed. In the second year, apply fertilizer twice: when the seedlings are 10-15 cm tall, apply 1500 kg of human manure and urine, then water once with clean water; the second time, in July—August, apply 1000 kg of barnyard manure or compost, open shallow furrows between the rows and work it in, then water once.

3. Bud removal: It flowers in the second year after sowing. Except on land kept for seed production, remove the flower buds in good time to reduce nutrient consumption, so that the underground parts receive sufficient nutrients and the yield and quality are ensured.

Pest and Disease Control:

Among diseases, there is rust, which harms the leaves in autumn, with brown rust spots appearing on diseased leaves. In the early stage of the disease, spray 25% triadimefon 2000 times dilution once a week for 2-3 consecutive sprays. Among insect pests, there is the shegan stem borer, whose larvae harm the young tender heart leaves, leaf sheaths and stem bases, causing the stems and leaves to be bitten off and the plants to wither. Spray 50% carbaryl powder at the peak of overwintering egg hatching.

Harvesting and Processing:

Shegan is used medicinally for its roots. Harvest after 2-3 years of cultivation. Spring and autumn harvesting are preferable. After the aboveground parts wither in autumn, or before sprouting in early spring, dig up the underground rhizomes, wash off the soil, and dry in the sun. The yield is about 300 kg of dried product per mu.