A Detailed Guide to Motherwort Seed Prices and Planting Methods
Motherwort, also known as Yimuhai, Yimuai, Honghuaai and so on, is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant of the genus Leonurus in the Lamiaceae family. It is produced in most areas of China, and its dried aerial parts are a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. When used medicinally it has the effects of activating blood and regulating menstruation, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, and clearing heat and detoxifying. Let us take a look together at motherwort seed prices and planting methods below!
How much does a jin of motherwort seeds cost?
The price of motherwort seeds is about 40 to 60 yuan per jin, but it varies depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin and market conditions. In production, motherwort is propagated by seed and planted by direct sowing. Before sowing, mix the seeds with wood ash or fine soil mixed with farmyard manure, then dress the seeds with human and animal manure and urine plus Xin Gaozhi Mo (a new high-fat film) to repel underground pests and diseases, isolate viral infection, strengthen respiration intensity and increase the seed germination rate. Choose fresh seeds of the current year with a germination rate generally above 80%. For hole sowing, generally prepare 400 to 450 grams of seed per mu; for drill sowing, prepare 500 to 600 grams of seed per mu.
Sowing Methods for Motherwort
1. Site selection and land preparation: Before sowing motherwort, prepare the land, applying 1500 to 2000 kg of compost or decomposed barnyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, then plow and turn the soil, harrow it fine and level it. For drill sowing, make raised beds 130 cm wide; for hole sowing, beds need not be made, but large and small drainage ditches should be dug according to the terrain.
2. Seed treatment: Before sowing motherwort, mix the seeds with wood ash or fine soil mixed with farmyard manure, then dress the seeds with human and animal manure and urine plus Xin Gaozhi Mo to repel underground pests and diseases, isolate viral infection, strengthen respiration intensity and increase the seed germination rate.
3. Sowing time: Early-maturing varieties of motherwort can be sown in autumn, spring or summer, while winter-type motherwort must be sown in autumn. Spring sowing is best during the period from Yushui (Rain Water) to Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects). In the north, summer sowing is used to make use of idle summer land, while in low-temperature areas autumn sowing is mostly adopted.
4. Sowing method: Motherwort is sown by drilling, hole sowing and broadcasting. Plain areas mostly use drilling, sloping land mostly uses hole sowing, and broadcasting is mostly not used. Before sowing, mix the seeds with wood ash or fine soil mixed with farmyard manure, which can both ensure growth nutrients and prevent insect damage.
Planting Methods for Motherwort
1. Thinning and filling in seedlings: Begin thinning when motherwort seedlings are about 5 cm tall, then carry out 2 to 3 more thinnings successively. When the seedlings are 15 to 20 cm tall, finalize the stand. For drill sowing, keep seedlings in a staggered pattern with a plant spacing of about 10 cm; for hole sowing, keep 2 to 3 seedlings per hole. If missing seedlings are found, transplant and fill them in promptly.
2. Cultivation and weeding: For spring-sown motherwort, cultivate and weed 3 times, when the seedlings are 5 cm, 15 cm and 30 cm tall. For summer sowing, carry out the work according to plant growth. For autumn sowing, carry out the first cultivation and weeding when the seedlings have grown 3 to 4 true leaves that year, and then cultivate and weed three more times the following year.
3. Earthing up to protect roots: When cultivating and weeding motherwort, do not turn the soil too deep so as to avoid damaging the roots. During the seedling stage, cultivate carefully to protect the seedlings, prevent them from being pressed by clods of soil, and above all do not bruise the stems. After the last cultivation, earth up the soil to protect the roots.
4. Water and fertilizer management: After each cultivation and weeding, apply a topdressing to motherwort, preferably nitrogen fertilizer; urea, ammonium sulfate, cake fertilizer or human and animal manure and urine are all acceptable. When topdressing, pay attention to watering, and by no means make the fertilizer too concentrated, so as to avoid damaging the seedlings. During the rainy season, when rain is concentrated, prevent waterlogging.
5. Pest and disease control: For powdery mildew on motherwort, use a 25% Xiufenning 1000-fold solution before and after the disease occurs. For sclerotinia, spray 1:500 Ruikumet or 1:1:300 Bordeaux mixture. For aphids, use chemical agents for control. For cutworms, trap and kill them in the morning or lure and kill them with heaps of grass.