When to plant potherb mustard? Detailed guide to planting time and methods
Potherb mustard, also known as snow mustard and nine-head mustard, is not only a vegetable but also a common folk medicinal herb, with diuretic, anti-diarrheal, swelling-reducing and pain-relieving effects. It is an important vegetable commonly cultivated in China's Yangtze River basin, with high nutritional value, rich in various vitamins and protein, and is deeply loved by many people. Below, Qinnong Net brings you its planting time and methods.
Planting time
Potherb mustard can be planted multiple times a year. In the warm regions of southern China, it can be cultivated in all four seasons, and locally it is called four-season potherb mustard. In spring, plant from February to April; in summer, plant from July to August; in autumn, plant from September to October; in winter, plant from December to February of the following year. In spring and autumn, it can be planted in open fields. In summer, when temperatures are high and hot, shade is needed, which helps achieve uniform seedling emergence.
Planting methods
1. Seed selection and land preparation
Choose varieties that are heat- and cold-tolerant, fast-growing and strongly disease-resistant, such as large-leaf potherb mustard and phoenix-tail potherb mustard. Choose plots with loose, fertile soil, high organic matter content and good drainage for planting. Apply sufficient base fertilizer to the soil, disinfect and sterilize it, then dig trenches and make beds.
2. Sowing
Treat the seeds before sowing to improve the germination rate and prevent diseases. Soak the seeds in diluted trisodium phosphate for half an hour, then remove and wash them before sowing. However, the seeds are relatively small, so mix and stir them with fine soil or sandy soil before sowing. Sow evenly, using 1 jin of seed per mu of seedbed. After sowing, cover with 0.5-1 cm of soil, tread flat and firm, and after watering, cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist.
3. Transplanting management
When the seeds germinate and the seedlings break through the soil, promptly open the plastic film to maintain ventilation and light. They can be transplanted when one or two small leaves have grown. For transplanting, generally plant 4 rows per bed, with a row spacing and plant spacing of 35×30 cm. The roots should be spread out when transplanting, not twisted or suspended in the air. The planting depth should not exceed the leaf node, then water.
After transplanting, pay attention to water and fertilizer management. Water promptly during drought to keep the soil moist, and drain promptly during rainy seasons to prevent root rot. Fertilization can be carried out together with watering. Each fertilization should mainly use nitrogen fertilizer, supplemented by phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Apply fertilizer from light to concentrated. When watering and fertilizing, promptly carry out intertillage and weeding according to the growth condition.
The above is the planting time and methods for potherb mustard brought to you by Qinnong Net. The main disease of potherb mustard is viral disease, which is not easy to cure after onset, so prevention should start with seeds and soil, and protective measures should be taken well. The main pests are aphids and cabbage caterpillars, which can be killed by spraying with specialized pesticides or insecticides.