What Is the Price of Polygonatum Seeds? A Full Guide to Planting Methods
Polygonatum, also known as yellow chicken vegetable, pen tube vegetable, tiger ginger and so on, is a perennial plant of the genus Polygonatum in the lily family. It often grows under forests, in shrubland or in shady hillside spots, and has extremely wide uses, combining medicinal, edible, ornamental and cosmetic value in one. Its rhizome is used as medicine and has the effects of tonifying qi and nourishing yin, moistening the lungs and promoting body fluid, and strengthening the spleen and kidney. Now let us take a look at Polygonatum seed prices and planting methods!
How much does a jin of Polygonatum seeds cost?
The price of Polygonatum seeds varies greatly depending on the variety. The varieties include chicken-head Polygonatum, multiflower Polygonatum and Yunnan Polygonatum. Chicken-head Polygonatum is mainly produced in Henan, Hebei, Shandong, Northeast China and other places. Its quality is good but the rhizomes are relatively small, and its seeds cost about 50 to 80 yuan per jin. Multiflower Polygonatum is mainly produced in Hunan, Anhui, Jiangxi, Zhejiang and other places, and its seeds cost about 100 to 120 yuan per jin. Yunnan Polygonatum is mainly produced in Yunnan, and its seeds cost about 120 to 150 yuan per jin. It is worth noting that when buying Polygonatum seeds, you should first consider whether the seeds are genuine, and then consider the price.
Sowing Methods for Polygonatum
1. Seed treatment: after the seeds mature in August, select mature and plump Polygonatum seeds and immediately carry out sand storage treatment. Mix 1 part seeds with 3 parts sandy soil evenly, store in a 30 cm deep pit in a shady place, and keep moist.
2. Timely sowing: Polygonatum seeds are usually sifted out in late March and evenly broadcast into shallow furrows on the seedbed surface at a row spacing of 12 to 15 cm, covered with about 1.5 cm of soil, lightly pressed, watered, and covered with a layer of grass to retain moisture.
3. Seedling management: remove the covering grass before Polygonatum seedlings emerge. When the seedlings are 6 to 9 cm tall, thin them appropriately where they are too dense. They can be transplanted after 1 year. During cultivation, to meet the shade conditions required for Polygonatum growth, corn can be planted on the seedbed ridges.
Planting Methods for Polygonatum
1. Land preparation and fertilization: for Polygonatum planting, choose moist plots with sufficient shade. The soil should preferably be loam or sandy loam that is loose and has good water retention. Before sowing, deep plow once, and while preparing the land apply 2000 kg of farmyard manure per mu, then harrow finely and level to make beds 1.2 m wide.
2. Cultivation and weeding: in the early stage of Polygonatum growth, cultivate and weed frequently, once each in April, June, September and November every year. Shallow hoeing is advisable, with appropriate earthing up; in the later stage, simply pull the weeds. If drought occurs or it is planted in a relatively sunny and dry place, water promptly.
3. Timely fertilization: each year, apply topdressing to Polygonatum in combination with cultivation and weeding. After the first 3 cultivations, apply 1500 kg of farmyard manure per mu together with 50 kg of superphosphate and 50 kg of cake fertilizer. Mix well, open furrows between the rows and apply, then cover with soil to cover the fertilizer.
4. Pest and disease control: for Polygonatum leaf spot, use 65% zineb wettable powder at 500 times dilution; for black spot, spray 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture; for white grubs, use 75% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate to dress seeds at 0.1% of seed weight, or drench with 90% trichlorfon at 1000 times dilution during the field occurrence period.
5. Seed retention techniques: Polygonatum can be propagated by rhizome and by seed, but in production rhizome propagation is better. In late autumn or around late March in early spring, select robust, disease-free plants, dig out the underground rhizomes and use them directly as propagation material for planting.
6. Harvesting and processing: Polygonatum is generally harvested in spring and autumn, with better quality from autumn harvesting. After 3 to 4 years of cultivation, harvest in autumn after the aboveground parts wither. Dig out the rhizomes, remove the aboveground parts and fibrous roots, wash off the soil, steam until they appear oily and glossy, then take out and sun-dry or oven-dry.