What Is the Price of Polygonum multiflorum Seeds? A Detailed Guide to Planting Methods

Polygonum multiflorum (He Shou Wu) is a perennial twining vine of the genus Polygonum in the buckwheat family (Polygonaceae). It grows in mountain valley thickets, on hillside forest floors and in stone crevices beside ditches, and is produced in southern Shaanxi, southern Gansu, East China, Central China, South China, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou. Its tuberous root is used as medicine and has the effects of nourishing blood and enriching yin, moistening the intestines and relieving constipation, and dispelling wind and removing toxins. Let us now take a look at the price of Polygonum multiflorum seeds and its planting methods!

How much does a jin of Polygonum multiflorum seeds cost?

The price of Polygonum multiflorum is about 15 to 20 yuan per jin, but prices vary considerably depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin and market conditions. Polygonum multiflorum is mainly grown by direct sowing, though it can also be raised as seedlings and then transplanted. The seeds mature around September to October. Select superior individual plants with pure varietal characteristics, free of pests and diseases and growing vigorously as the mother plants for seed collection. When the seed surface turns from white to brown and the interior turns black, harvest promptly, otherwise the seeds will drop off naturally. After harvesting, dry the seeds in the sun, then place them in hemp bags or cloth bags and store them in a ventilated, dry place. Never store them in plastic bags.

Sowing Methods for Polygonum multiflorum

1. Site selection: Polygonum multiflorum has strict soil requirements. Plots with deep soil layers, loose and fertile soil, convenient water sources and drainage and irrigation capacity are ideal. Once the seedbed site is chosen, weeds must be cleared thoroughly in advance so that they do not compete with the seedlings for nutrients and light.

2. Land preparation: After deep plowing, the seedbed site is exposed to the sun for 15 to 20 days, then the land is prepared. Along with the application of base fertilizer, apply 10 kg of high-quality farmyard manure per sq m. After application, turn the soil over once, remove weed roots, and break up the soil finely and level the bed surface.

3. Bed shaping: Because spring drought is usually severe after sowing, Polygonum multiflorum relies mainly on artificial irrigation, so flat beds are preferable. The bed width is 1.5 m, with soil ridges built around it, the ridges 30 cm wide, which helps retain water and fertilizer.

4. Sowing time: The best sowing period for Polygonum multiflorum is in March, at the "Awakening of Insects" solar term. Sowing too early fails to meet the temperature required for seed germination; sowing too late means seedlings emerge quickly after sowing, but the optimal growth period is short, which is unfavorable for seedling growth.

5. Sowing: The sowing rate for Polygonum multiflorum is 4 to 6 g per sq m. In the morning or evening when there is no wind, mix the seeds with fine soil or plant ash and broadcast them. After sowing, cover the bed surface with sieved fine soil and a small amount of farmyard manure, then scatter a layer of fresh pine needles on top.

Seedling-Stage Management of Polygonum multiflorum

1. Watering: Polygonum multiflorum seeds are very small, so when watering, be sure to use a watering can and spray repeatedly; never flush with a direct, forceful stream of water. After that, on clear days, water lightly once daily at 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. After seedlings emerge in about 20 to 25 days, water once every 2 to 3 days.

2. Weeding: After Polygonum multiflorum is sown, weeds emerge first, so weeds should be removed promptly and watering done as appropriate. After that, weed once about every 10 days. This is crucial to whether seedling raising succeeds.

3. Topdressing: 60 days after the Polygonum multiflorum seedlings emerge, spray once every 10 to 15 days with 100 kg of water plus 0.2 to 0.3 kg of compound fertilizer or urea. In the middle and late stages, spray with compound fertilizer or urea at a concentration of 0.5 to 1%, or apply 50 kg of clean water plus 5 to 8 kg of manure water.

4. Thinning: The first thinning of Polygonum multiflorum is carried out about 30 days after the seedlings emerge, the second about 50 days after emergence, and the third basically leaves one plant every 3 to 4 cm. It is better to do this early than late, and after each thinning the seedlings should be watered appropriately.

5. Disease prevention: The main pests and diseases of Polygonum multiflorum seedlings are cutworms and powdery mildew. Cutworms can be caught by hand or sprayed with Decis at a dilution of 1:2000. For powdery mildew, spray Bordeaux mixture at 1:1:200 before the disease occurs, and spray a 500 to 800 times solution of 25% carbendazim when the disease occurs.

Planting Methods for Polygonum multiflorum

1. Fertilization: For the transplanting plot of Polygonum multiflorum, apply 1000 to 1500 kg of farmyard manure per mu plus 30 to 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer or 20 to 30 kg of compound fertilizer. Generally, fertilizer is applied in the transplanting holes and mixed with soil before transplanting.

2. Topdressing: When the transplanted Polygonum multiflorum seedlings grow to about 60 cm, in combination with cultivating and weeding, apply 30 to 40 kg of compound fertilizer or 30 kg of urea per mu, preferably diluted in water and poured on. After that, weed at any time.

4. Trellising: Polygonum multiflorum is a climbing vine. After transplanting, when the plant grows to about one meter, a trellis more than 1 m high must be built with bamboo poles or branches, and ventilation and light conditions should be improved.

5. Topping: When the Polygonum multiflorum vine grows to 2 m high, remove the terminal buds to encourage branching. After 30 days, cut off overly dense branches and rampant shoots sprouting from the base to reduce nutrient consumption, and remove the leaves at the base of the stem and flower buds not kept for seed so as to improve ventilation and light penetration.

6. Earthing up: In southern production areas, Polygonum multiflorum is earthed up around the root zone at the end of December to increase propagation material and promote tuberous root growth; in the north, earthing up is done before winter to help the plants overwinter.

Pest and Disease Control of Polygonum multiflorum

1. Leaf spot disease

[Damage] The disease begins in hot, rainy seasons, and is severe where field ventilation is poor; it damages the leaves.

[Control] (1) Maintain ventilation and light penetration, and prune off diseased leaves. (2) In the early stage of the disease, spray 1:1:120 Bordeaux mixture once every 7 to 10 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive times.

2. Root rot

[Damage] It mostly occurs in summer and damages the roots.

[Control] (1) Pay attention to watering. (2) Pull out diseased plants, sprinkle lime into the diseased holes, cover and firm the soil. (3) Drench the root area with a 1000 times solution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder, which can provide protection.

3. Rust disease

[Damage] The disease begins in late February, and causes severe damage in March to May and in July and August; it damages the leaves.

[Control] (1) Remove diseased leaves, diseased plants and fallen leaves on the ground. (2) Spray with a 1000 times solution of 75% chlorothalonil or an 800 to 1000 times solution of 75% thiophanate-methyl, spraying once every 7 to 10 days, for 2 consecutive times.

4. Aphids

[Damage] They damage the stems and leaves.

[Control] Spray with a 1500 to 2000 times solution of 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate plus a small amount of washing powder, spraying once every half month.