Detailed Explanation of Cultivation Techniques for Chrysanthemum as a Chinese Medicinal Herb

Plant characteristics:

Plant height 50-150 cm. Stem erect, much branched.ChrysanthemumIt prefers warmth, is cold-tolerant and highly adaptable; it can be cultivated in the open field in most provinces south of the Yellow River basin. It begins to sprout and emerge when the temperature stabilizes above 10°C; the buds can tolerate low temperatures of -5°C, and the perennial roots can tolerate low temperatures of -17°C to -16°C, with frost damage occurring below -25°C. Under short-day conditions it can flower earlier. Under conditions of ample sunlight and good nutrition, the plants develop robustly and produce more flowers.

Site selection and land preparation:

It has no strict requirements for soil, but fertile, loose, well-drained sandy loam is best. Continuous cropping leads to relatively severe disease, so in production it is mostly rotated with other crops; the previous crop is preferably wheat, broad bean and similar crops, and it can also be intercropped or relay-intercropped with mulberry trees and tobacco.

After the previous crop is harvested, the soil should be deep-ploughed once to a depth of 20-25 cm, and base fertilizer should be applied together with the ploughing, at 30 kg of compound fertilizer per are. In areas where conditions permit, hoe once more before planting to break up soil clods and level and harrow the soil finely. Cultivation in the south requires raised beds, while in the north flat beds are used. Bed width 1.2-1.5 m, bed spacing about 30 cm, ditch depth 20 cm.

Planting methods:

In general production, division propagation is used. In April to mid-May, transplant directly to the field; cuttings are transplanted at the appropriate time from mid-May to mid-June. Transplanting should be done on cloudy days or after rain when the soil is moist, with a plant-to-row spacing of 40 cm by 50 cm, planting 1-2 plants per hole, at a transplanting depth of 5-6 cm, with all roots planted into the soil, but not too deep; when taking seedlings, try not to damage the leaves or roots and keep the seedling body intact, pay attention to grading large and small seedlings and transplanting them in separate blocks, and water promptly after planting. Plant 3500-4000 plants per mu.

Field management:

(1) Intertillage and weeding. Chrysanthemum is a shallow-rooted plant, so intertillage should not be too deep. Generally intertill 2-3 times: the first about 10 days after transplanting; the second in late July; the third in early September. In addition, after each heavy rain, to prevent soil compaction, a shallow intertillage may be carried out as appropriate.

(2) Timely topping. Topping chrysanthemum is an important measure for increasing yield. It can inhibit excessive vegetative growth, make the main stem thick, reduce lodging, increase branching and raise flower yield. During the growing period, top 3 times in total, and this should be done on sunny days. The first time is one week before transplanting the chrysanthemum seedlings, when the seedlings are about 25 cm tall, removing 7-10 cm; the second time is in early to mid-June, when the plants have put out 3-4 new branches about 30 cm long, removing the tips of the branches; the third time is in early July.

(3) Topdressing. Chrysanthemum has a well-developed root system and a high fertilizer requirement, and producing areas generally topdress three times. For transplanted plants, apply 20 kg of urea per mu; at the second topping, apply 20 kg of urea combined with earthing up; the third topdressing is when the flower buds form, applying 30 kg of urea per mu to promote bud enlargement and improve yield and quality.

Pest and disease control:

Flower leaf virus. The plant's leaves become mosaic, the branches are thin and small, and there are few flowers and small flowers; the damage lasts a relatively long time, and aphids are the vector of the virus. Control methods: select disease-free plots for seed retention; avoid continuous cropping, and do not rotate or plant adjacent to plants prone to Fusarium wilt, Septoria leaf spot and similar diseases; strengthen field management to make the field well ventilated and well lit and reduce field humidity; when plants are diseased, use 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 1000-1200 times dilution, or 65% zineb wettable powder at 500 times dilution, spraying once every 7-10 days for 3-4 consecutive sprays; promptly pull out diseased plants and bury them deeply.

Harvesting and processing:

Generally harvested from Frost's Descent to the Beginning of Winter. The appropriate harvest time is when 2/3 of the flower center has opened. Chrysanthemum should be harvested on sunny days, and after harvesting it should be processed promptly to prevent rotting and discoloration; the method is to cut down the plants, cut off the flowers, fumigate them white with sulfur, and sun-dry them.