A detailed guide to four-leaf clover planting methods, from sowing to care
The appearance of a four-leaf clover may be because the leaves of a three-leaf clover were injured (while still having three leaves), and during recovery a new leaf unexpectedly grew, turning it into a four-leaf clover. However, the possibility of gene mutation cannot be ruled out either. Because of its extreme rarity, it is given many special meanings. Now let us take a look at four-leaf clover planting methods together!
Four-leaf clover growth habits
The four-leaf clover is not strict about soil and can adapt to various soil types, growing well in slightly acidic soil. It prefers warm, sunny conditions with good drainage. Under drought conditions it grows slowly, and in high-temperature seasons some plants wither and die. It tolerates pruning and trampling and has strong regeneration ability. After pruning, new small leaves can grow within 10 days. After high-intensity trampling or rolling, it can recover in 3 to 5 days. It is highly cold-resistant. When the temperature drops to 0°C, some old leaves turn yellow and wither, and the small leaves on the main root cling close to the ground and stop growing, but they still remain green. Under strong shading it tends to grow leggy, causing poor growth. It has strong resistance to harmful gas pollution and to pests and diseases.
Four-leaf clover planting value
1. Economic value: The four-leaf clover is widely distributed and highly adaptable. It is not only excellent forage for livestock, but also a good preceding crop for agricultural crops, and an excellent low-growing crop for orchard ground cover. It is also a good soil and water conservation, nectar source, medicinal, green manure, and lawn ground cover plant, and an excellent soil-improving crop. Since it was introduced to the Kunming area for trial planting in the 1970s and succeeded, it has been promoted and applied over large areas, producing good economic, social, and ecological benefits. It is suitable for large-scale artificial planting.
2. Medicinal value: The four-leaf clover tastes sour and sweet, and is cool in nature. It has the effects of clearing heat and draining dampness, and detoxifying and reducing swelling. It is mainly used for colds and fever, enteritis, urinary tract infections, urinary tract stones, neurasthenia, and other conditions. For external use, it treats bruises, venomous snake bites, carbuncles, swellings, boils, athlete's foot, eczema, burns and scalds, and other conditions.
Four-leaf clover planting methods
1. Propagation method: The four-leaf clover is mainly propagated by division. Division is carried out when repotting in spring. The mother plant is divided into several clumps, planted in pots, and placed in a damp, shady environment, where it is easy to keep alive.
2. Field management: Four-leaf clover seedlings grow slowly. To prevent weed damage, cultivate and loosen the soil and remove weeds 1 to 2 times. If pest damage is found, control it promptly. For grassland that has been growing for more than two years, the soil layer is compacted and has poor aeration. In spring and autumn, before green-up and before regrowth after grazing or mowing, harrow and loosen the soil, and combine soil loosening with topdressing. Apply 20 to 25 kg of superphosphate per mu, or 5 to 8 kg of diammonium phosphate, to facilitate the growth and development of new buds and new roots.
3. Fertilizer and water management: The four-leaf clover has relatively high requirements for soil moisture. Where irrigation conditions are available, irrigate when the soil is dry, or combine irrigation with topdressing. In mixed-sowing grassland, because the growth rates of forage grasses differ between early and late stages, unbalanced growth may occur as they compete for light, water, and nutrients, or growth may be inhibited by partial application of nitrogen fertilizer. In such cases, adjust growth by applying more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and by using grazing, and control the growth of grass-family forage so that it is not inhibited or lost from the mixed-sowing grassland.
4. Disease control: The main diseases of four-leaf clover are anthracnose and leaf spot. They can be sprayed with a 1000-fold solution of 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder. In rooms with poor ventilation, stems and leaves are susceptible to scale insect damage; spray with a 1000-fold solution of 40% omethoate emulsion to kill them.