Detailed Explanation of the Cultivation Techniques and Methods of the Chinese Medicinal Herb Schizonepeta

Plant morphology:

Schizonepeta is an annual herb, with round leaves and purple-black seeds that are round in shape; the whole plant is used as medicine.

Growth habits:

Schizonepetahas strong adaptability and is not demanding about soil quality; loess, black soil and white sandy soil can all be used for planting, but black clay is better.

Cultivation techniques:

It is propagated by seed, divided into spring sowing and summer sowing. Spring sowing is around the Spring Equinox to Grain Rain, and summer sowing is at the Grain in Ear solar term. Spring-sown plants mature early, while summer-sown plants mature late (harvested at the Autumn Equinox solar term).

Planting method:

Level the land and make raised beds. With a row spacing of 6-7 cun and a sowing width of 2-3 cun, draw shallow furrows 0.3 cm deep, scatter the seeds into the furrows, then cover with soil, just enough to cover the seeds, and then water. For some non-irrigated and dry land, spring sowing is preferable. Seedlings emerge in 5-7 days, using 2-3 kg per mu.

Field management:

Water appropriately during the seedling stage, weed on time, and do not let the young seedlings become too dry; do not thin the seedlings.

Harvesting and processing:

The stems are considered mature when there are no flowers. Cut the whole plant, leave it in the field to dry until 50% dry, then tie it into bundles.