Codonopsis Seed Prices and Planting Methods Explained in Detail
Codonopsis (Codonopsis pilosula) is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Codonopsis in the Campanulaceae family. It is widely cultivated throughout China. In ancient times, the codonopsis produced in the Shangdang region of Shanxi was regarded as the finest quality. As a medicine, it tonifies the middle and boosts qi, strengthens the spleen and benefits the lungs. Its effects are similar to those of ginseng, though its medicinal power is weaker; for treating general deficiency patterns it can be used in place of ginseng. Below, let us take a look at codonopsis seed prices and planting methods!
How much does a jin of codonopsis seeds cost?
The price of codonopsis seeds is about 60 to 100 yuan per jin, but prices vary considerably depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin, market and other factors. Codonopsis prefers a mild, cool climate and is cold-tolerant. Seedlings prefer moisture and shade and fear strong light, while larger seedlings through to mature plants prefer ample sunlight. It is suitable for cultivation in deep, well-drained, loose sandy loam rich in humus. In production, direct seeding or raising seedlings for transplanting are commonly used, but direct seeding is better.
Sowing Methods for Codonopsis
1. Sowing time: Codonopsis can be sown in winter or spring.
① Winter sowing: Winter sowing is done between "Frost's Descent" and "Start of Winter". The seeds need no treatment that year; after being soaked by winter rain and snow, they emerge early the following year, grow vigorously and have strong drought resistance. However, because the seeds are small, the soil cover must be shallow; if strong winds occur, the seeds are easily blown away, resulting in gaps in the seedlings.
② Spring sowing: Spring sowing is done around the "Spring Equinox". Select plump, mold-free seeds and rub them in 40°C warm water for about half an hour, then cover them well with a wet burlap sack, and place them in a 25-30°C place to germinate. Wash them once in the morning and evening with 40°C water to keep them moist. After 4-5 days, when they have sprouted, they can be sown.
2. Sowing method: Codonopsis can be sown in drills or broadcast.
① Drilling: In a well-prepared seedbed, open furrows about 1 cm deep at a row spacing of 15-20 cm. Mix the treated seeds evenly with fine sand, scatter them in the furrows, cover with soil level with the surface, tread firm, then cover with 1 cm of fine sand.
② Broadcasting: On a well-prepared seedbed surface, mix the seeds with 10 times their volume of fine sandy soil, scatter evenly over the seedbed surface, rake over once with an iron rake so the seeds combine with the soil, then level and press the seedbed surface, and finally cover with 1 cm of fine sand.
3. Seedling management: Codonopsis seedlings grow thin and weak and easily die with poor management. The soil must be kept moist at all times. When the seedlings are 5 cm tall, gradually remove the covering, and at the same time apply topdressing according to seedling condition.
Cultivation Techniques for Codonopsis
1. Site selection and land preparation: For planting codonopsis, choose a half-shady, half-sunny slope with loose, fertile sandy loam close to a water source. Apply about 1500 kg of barnyard manure or compost per mu, then plow, harrow fine and level, and make flat beds or raised beds.
2. Lifting seedlings at the right time: Codonopsis seedlings can be transplanted after one year of raising. When lifting seedlings, take care to avoid damaging the roots, and remove diseased and damaged seedlings. This should not be done on rainy days. Seedlings for autumn transplanting are planted out right after lifting, while those for spring planting the following year are left in the seedling plot to overwinter.
3. Planting method: Spring planting is preferable for codonopsis. When planting, open furrows 17-20 cm deep at a row spacing of 20-25 cm on the prepared bed, then place the seedlings diagonally in the furrows at a plant spacing of 7-10 cm with the buds pointing upward. After arranging them, cover with soil to a thickness that exceeds the rhizome neck by 5 cm.
4. Cultivation and weeding: Once codonopsis seedlings emerge, begin loosening the soil and weeding, removing weeds whenever they appear, and take care to earth up to prevent the rhizome neck from being exposed. Loosen the soil shallowly to avoid damaging the roots. After the rows close, cultivation and weeding are no longer necessary.
5. Timely topdressing: After transplanting codonopsis and before building the trellis, apply one topdressing of dilute human manure and urine at 1000-1500 kg per mu, or 10 kg of urea, or 10 kg each of ammonium sulfate and superphosphate. Mix the latter two and open a shallow furrow 6 cm deep between the rows, apply, then cover firmly with soil.
6. Drainage and irrigation: After transplanting codonopsis, water promptly in dry weather. After the plants are established, water less or not at all to avoid excessive vegetative growth that consumes nutrients. In the rainy season, pay attention to drainage to prevent root rot.
7. Building trellises: When codonopsis seedlings are about 30 cm tall, build trellises. Trellis construction should be adapted flexibly to local conditions. The purpose is to provide ventilation and light, allow the branches and leaves to spread out fully, increase the area for photosynthesis, make the plants grow robustly, and improve disease resistance and yield.
8. Harvesting and processing: Codonopsis is generally harvested in the autumn of the second year after transplanting. Dig deep and carefully lift the roots; do not break them or damage the root bark, so as to avoid white milky sap flowing out and lowering quality. After lifting the codonopsis roots, shake off the soil, grade them into large, medium and small, and transport them back for processing.
Pest and Disease Control for Codonopsis
1. Codonopsis rust
[Damage] It damages stems, leaves and receptacles. It begins in early May and is severe from June to July. In the early stage of the disease, light yellow spots appear on the lower leaves, the underside of the leaves bulges, and there is an obvious yellow halo around the spots; later the spots rupture and release large amounts of spores.
[Control] After the plants wither, clean the field promptly and burn the diseased and residual aboveground plants. In the early stage of the disease, spray with 25% triadimefon 1000-fold solution or 97% nabam 400-fold solution, once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays.
2. Root rot
[Damage] It mostly harms plants more than two years old. It is severe in the rainy season from June to July. When the disease occurs, the fibrous roots and lateral roots near the soil surface turn dark brown, gradually the entire root rots in a water-soaked manner, and the aboveground part turns yellow from bottom to top until it dies.
[Control] Disinfect the soil with 50% carbendazim during land preparation. When diseased plants are found, pull them out and burn them promptly, and drench the diseased holes with 1% lime water. During the disease period, spray or drench the roots with Bordeaux mixture 1:1:120, once every 7-10 days, for several consecutive times.
3. Underground pests
[Damage] The main underground pests of codonopsis include cutworms, white grubs and mole crickets, which damage the underground part at the root and stem.
[Control] Drench with 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate 200-fold solution or 90% trichlorfon 1000-1500-fold solution. When damage occurs at the seedling stage, use 100 g of 90% crystalline trichlorfon and 5 kg of roasted fragrant rapeseed cake to make poisoned bait for trapping and killing.
4. Aphids
[Damage] Damage is severe in dry weather.
[Control] Spray with 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate 2000-fold solution or 80% dichlorvos emulsion 1000-1500-fold solution, once every 7-10 days, for several consecutive sprays.
5. Red spider mites
[Damage] In dry, high-temperature weather, red spider mites damage the leaves.
[Control] Spray with 50% fenitrothion 1000-2000-fold solution, or tetradifon wettable powder 1500-2000-fold solution.