When to Plant Lotus Root? A Detailed Guide to Planting Time and Methods
Lotus root is a very edible food that often plays an important role in our lives, and while we only know it for its delicious taste, lotus root actually has some other benefits as well, such as providing good preventive effects and therapeutic benefits for certain conditions in women. So when is the best time to plant lotus root, and how can it be planted for better results? Let's take a look together below.
Planting Time
The planting time for lotus root is related to both region and temperature. Generally, the best time for planting lotus root is March and April each year. The most suitable temperature for lotus root growth is around 20 to 30 degrees, so the earliest planting temperature for lotus root must reach at least 15 degrees or above, otherwise the survival rate will not be high. The temperature difference between southern and northern China is somewhat large, so in the south lotus root is generally planted in February and March, while in the north it starts a little later, in April and May.
Planting Methods
1. Seed Selection
When selecting lotus root seeds, pay attention to whether new tender shoots have grown from the lower part of the lotus root, and whether some new roots have also regrown beside the tender shoots. Seedlings like these can be taken directly for planting. Secondly, when selecting seeds, we generally choose lotus roots with at least three nodes or more that are intact and undamaged, trying to choose some complete roots that look relatively large and free of disease, with newly grown shoots that appear to be growing vigorously. The larger the seed root, the better, because the newly developed young roots will also be better.
2. Sowing
Try not to leave lotus root seeds sitting for too long; generally, they should be planted immediately after selection. Before planting, the seed roots must first be treated. After mixing the seed roots with a targeted chemical agent, they can be taken for planting, which can prevent many diseases caused by the environment during growth in advance. When planting, plant as deep as possible, so that the roots that grow will be large and good. The sowing density is estimated according to the size of the pond you have chosen. Generally, lotus roots develop relatively quickly and spread over a relatively large area, so generally one plant is planted every 30 to 50 cm, and before long they will fill the entire pond densely.
3. Field Management
About one month after planting, the lotus leaves and lotus flowers in the pond will slowly grow out. At this time, we need to remove some leaves and flower buds to prevent them from absorbing a large amount of nutrients and hindering the growth of the lotus root. During the growth of the lotus root, when five or six lotus leaves have grown, we need to apply fertilizer once, mainly to confirm whether it has survived. Then, after the lotus leaves in the pond have basically grown all over, fertilizer should be applied once more; at this point it indicates that many small tender lotus roots have appeared and sufficient nutrients are needed. The last fertilization is when new leaves have gradually stopped growing in the pond, which indicates that the lotus roots in the pond are slowly growing larger, so a large amount of nutrients is needed to sustain their growth. Finally, the water level in the pond should not be too deep or too shallow, generally controlled at around 10 to 15 cm.
4. Harvesting
When the color on the back of the terminal leaf of the lotus root takes on a slight hint of red, it indicates that the lotus root has matured and can be harvested. Because the roots grow relatively deep and you do not know how they have grown, you need to follow its terminal leaf and slowly dig toward the direction of its original leaf; this is the way to dig out the most complete lotus root.
The above is a brief introduction from Qinnong.com about the planting time and planting methods of lotus root. If you want to learn more about lotus root planting, you can follow us.