What are the precautions for planting mugwort?

Nowadays, we generally use mugwort for moxibustion, which can remove dampness and cold from our bodies and is greatly beneficial to our health. At the same time, mugwort can also be used to repel mosquitoes, so it is also a raw material for mosquito repellent. Due to the decrease in wild resources, quite a few people have started to cultivate mugwort. Today, Qinnong Net wants to tell everyone a few points about the issues to pay attention to when planting mugwort. Let's take a look together.

1. Choosing a site

The growth of mugwort has a certain relationship with terrain. Generally speaking, mugwort has strong adaptability, but it cannot tolerate frequent waterlogging, so when choosing terrain, try to choose flat land or land that is good for drainage and water diversion. Generally, uneven terrain is not considered, but there must be sufficient water sources nearby. In order for mugwort to reproduce better and faster, the soil should be as water-retentive as possible.

2. Propagation

There are two ways to propagate mugwort: sexual propagation and asexual propagation. For sexual propagation, note that the seeds must first be treated before sowing, and the seeds should as much as possible be pre-germinated in an artificially created environment before sowing. Otherwise, with direct sowing, generally very little mugwort will grow, and the growth rate is extremely slow. Therefore, in ordinary cultivation, the most commonly used method is asexual propagation, by digging up new tubers from beside old mugwort plants for transplanting. This way the growth rate is fast, but care must also be taken not to damage the main parts when digging up the tubers, otherwise the losses will be severe.

3. Fertilization

Before planting mugwort, base fertilizer should be applied well. Rotted manure or animal dung can be used. Mix these fertilizers into the soil, then make furrows and ridges, and wait for planting. After transplanting, the surviving mugwort needs a large-scale fertilization ten days later. In order to increase the growth rate of mugwort, we generally use urea. When mugwort grows to 50 or 60 cm, another fertilization is needed. This time urea is also used, but the fertilization method changes from the original scattering to dissolving it in water and spraying. After mugwort is harvested and enters the dormant period, some farmyard manure and organic fertilizer need to be applied as base fertilizer, then wait for growth next year.

4. Water

It is best to plant mugwort in a shape that is low on all sides and high in the middle. This makes water management more convenient. Of course, if this is not possible, then use sloping land, which allows good drainage when rainwater is relatively abundant. Watering is also needed during relatively dry periods. When mugwort is relatively short, sprinkler irrigation is generally used. When mugwort grows to 1 m, the irrigation method needs to be changed to flood irrigation, otherwise the mugwort will be broken.

5. Density

When planting, transplanting must be carried out according to a scientific density, because when mugwort grows to a certain stage it will automatically reproduce and grow new seedlings, and this happens continuously. Therefore, when planting, the spacing is generally 30 to 40 cm, so that it has enough space to reproduce, can carry out photosynthesis well, grow faster, and also reduce the occurrence of some diseases.

6. Harvesting

Mugwort harvesting can be carried out in several rounds. First harvest the ones that are growing relatively fast, then apply an appropriate amount of fertilizer to promote growth. When they grow to a certain height, they can be harvested again. Finally, by November, mugwort grows very slowly and generally enters the dormant period, so be sure to remember to spread some fertilizer to supplement fertility, and at the same time ensure the soil contains a certain amount of moisture.