What are the precautions for planting safflower?
Most of us have watched palace dramas, so we are probably no strangers to the medicinal herb safflower. But what we may know more about is that taking safflower during pregnancy or being in prolonged contact with safflower can cause miscarriage. In fact, safflower also has some other effects, such as promoting blood circulation and relieving pain, beautifying and nourishing the skin, detoxifying and reducing swelling, and lowering blood pressure and blood lipids. Many medicines now contain safflower ingredients, so demand is relatively high, and safflower cultivation has also increased. But what needs attention when planting safflower? Now let Qinnong Network tell everyone.
1. Soil
Safflower has strong adaptability to the environment, so it can be planted as long as there is land. But what you need to note is that if you want high yield, then you must have certain requirements for the soil. It is best to choose a plot with strong soil permeability and relatively sufficient nutrients. The land should be relatively flat, not full of pits and hollows, and as close as possible to a water source, which makes irrigation convenient. Finally, the soil should preferably be sandy soil. If there is none, you can settle for the next best option and choose a relatively loose plot of soil for planting. This can increase safflower yield to a certain extent.
2. Time
A suitable sowing time has a great impact on safflower yield, and the sowing time for safflower needs to be arranged according to different regions. There is a certain climate gap between southern and northern China, so if you are in southern China, it is best to sow from mid-October to the entire month of November in autumn. If you are in the north and south, it is best to sow in March in spring. The temperature in these two time periods is basically around 15 to 25 degrees, which is very suitable for safflower germination and growth.
3. Density
Because the sowing methods are different, the planting density will vary slightly. For example, if drilling is used, then the distance between each plant is 20 cm and the distance between each row is 40 cm. If hole sowing is used, then only the distance between each plant needs to be considered, generally 25 to 30 cm. If broadcasting is used, then spacing does not need to be considered too much; only after emergence should thinning be carried out according to a certain distance. At the same time, we can also divide the spacing according to the fertility of the soil, which is beneficial to field management and later harvesting of safflower.
4. Fertilization
Fertilization during the growth of safflower requires special attention. First, for the base fertilizer, we need to mix and broadcast farmyard manure, urea, phosphate fertilizer, zinc fertilizer, and potassium fertilizer, then turn the soil and bury it deeply. During the development period of safflower, we also need to carry out at least three topdressings, and the amount used each time must not exceed 500 kg. The first fertilization is one week after the safflower seedlings break through the soil, the second is when the safflower seedlings grow to about 30 cm, the third is when they are about to enter the flowering period, and the fourth is after picking the flowers. The types of fertilizer are similar each time, all being potassium fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer, zinc fertilizer, and boron fertilizer.
5. Management
If safflower is to achieve high yield, field management needs to be strengthened. We mainly need to pay attention to weeding, watering and drainage, pruning and pinching, and disease control. Generally, weeding needs to be carried out three times, and the time of each weeding is consistent with the time of safflower fertilization. When the water content is relatively low, we need to water them to maintain normal growth. But if the rainy season is encountered and rainfall is relatively heavy, then the water in the field needs to be drained in time. When safflower grows to about 30 cm, we can appropriately pinch off the tips on some branches, so that it can grow new side branches and increase the chance of flowering. Finally, there is disease control. We can use targeted agents for prevention and control. For specific details, you can follow us to learn more.