What Is the Price of Dodder Seeds? A Detailed Guide to Growing Them
Dodder, also known as bean parasite, rootless grass, yellow silk and other names, is an annual parasitic plant of the genus Cuscuta in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae). It is a harmful weed in soybean-producing areas and also harms crops such as flax, ramie, peanut and potato. Its seeds are used medicinally to tonify the liver and kidneys, boost essence and strengthen yang, and stop diarrhea. Let us take a look below at dodder seed prices and growing methods!
How much is a jin of dodder seeds?
The price of dodder seeds is about 50-60 yuan per jin, but it varies with seed quality, variety, place of origin and market. Dodder prefers a hot and humid climate, has no strict requirements for soil and is fairly adaptable. Wild dodder is commonly found on plains, wasteland, grave mounds, field edges and in fields of plants of the Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Polygonaceae and Lamiaceae families, and it most likes to parasitize leguminous plants. It reproduces and spreads by seed.
Sowing methods for dodder
1. Seed collection: Collect dodder in mid-to-late October, when the capsules are about to mature but have not yet split open. Dry and thresh the seeds, then put them in cloth bags and hang them under the eaves, avoiding rain and direct sun. This is because dodder must go through a low-temperature period in winter before it can germinate and grow normally.
2. Land preparation and fertilization: Dodder has no special requirements for soil; any soil suitable for growing soybeans will do. When sowing soybeans, apply sufficient base fertilizer, generally 50 kg of superphosphate, 10 kg of urea and some organic fertilizer per mu.
3. Sowing method: The best host for dodder is soybean, followed by broadleaf weeds such as sesbania. Sow after the soybeans are planted but before they emerge. At sowing, mix 20 g of dodder seed with 2 kg of dry fine soil per mu and broadcast it, then brush the soil over the seed with a broom, or leave the seed uncovered.
How to grow dodder
1. Rational fertilization: Fertilization must be done well when growing dodder. Apply 15 kg of nitrogen fertilizer, 20-30 kg of phosphate fertilizer and 10-15 kg of manure per mu. On fertile plots, apply less base fertilizer, so as to take care of both the host and the dodder.
2. Growth control: Dodder spreads very quickly, and the host, having lost a large amount of water and nutrients, grows slowly or stops growing. Therefore, the excessive growth of dodder must be controlled to prevent the host from declining and dying too early.
3. Cultivation and weeding: After the soybeans emerge, carry out one cultivation and weeding. Cultivate shallowly to avoid damaging the roots. Weeds must be removed thoroughly during the growing period. Once dodder has twined onto the soybean plants, weeding can be reduced or stopped, and there is no need to use herbicides.
4. Timely harvest: The harvest period for dodder comes before that of soybeans. Harvest when more than 50% of the capsules have turned black, more than 30% have turned yellow, and 10-20% are turning from green to yellow. For small areas, pull the plants up by hand and thresh them together; for large areas, a rice and wheat harvester can be used.
5. Cultivation the following year: If dodder will not be planted again on the same plot the next season, then wherever there is fresh water for irrigation, rice and other aquatic crops should be planted as far as possible, while in dry areas, gramineous crops such as corn and sorghum should be planted.