What Is the Price of Cockscomb Seeds? A Detailed Guide to Growing Methods
Cockscomb, also known as cockscomb flower, laolaihong, and pen cockscomb, is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Celosia in the Amaranthaceae family. It is widely cultivated around the world and blooms in summer and autumn. The flowers are mostly red and shaped like a cockscomb. Depending on the inflorescence form, varieties can be divided into broom cockscomb, face cockscomb, mandarin duck cockscomb, and tassel cockscomb, among others. Let's take a look at cockscomb seed prices and growing methods below!
How much does a jin of cockscomb seeds cost?
The price of cockscomb seeds is about 100 to 120 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on seed quality, variety, market, and other factors. There are many cockscomb varieties: plant types include tall, medium, and dwarf; shapes include cockscomb-like, torch-like, pom-pom-like, feather-like, and fan-like; flower colors include bright red, orange-yellow, dark red, purple, white, and mixed red-yellow; and leaf colors include dark red, emerald green, yellow-green, and red-green. The seed prices of different varieties differ greatly.
What types of cockscomb are there?
1. Ball-shaped flower type: varieties whose corolla is especially dense and ball-shaped; they are commonly grown in flower beds and for cut flowers.
2. Feather-shaped flower type: the flower shape is feather-like, and the corolla resembles a flame; they are commonly grown in flower beds and for cut flowers.
3. Spear-shaped flower type: the corolla is cone-shaped like a fir tree, and the flower spikes are short and compact; some are especially suitable for cut flowers.
Sowing methods for cockscomb
1. Seed sowing: cockscomb is commonly propagated by seed. Around Qingming, choose a good plot, apply sufficient base fertilizer, plow finely and harrow evenly, level the land and make beds, scatter the seeds evenly over the bed surface, cover the seeds lightly, firm the soil, and water thoroughly. At a temperature of 15 to 20 degrees C, seedlings can emerge in 10 to 15 days.
2. Seedling management: when cockscomb seedlings are 2 cun tall, thin them to a row spacing of 1 chi and a plant spacing of 8 cun. The thinned seedlings can be transplanted to other fields, and they must be watered after transplanting. During the seedling stage, be sure to weed and loosen the soil. When it is not too dry, water as little as possible. When the seedlings are about 1 chi tall, apply a topdressing once.
Growing methods for cockscomb
1. Soil: although cockscomb is not strict about soil requirements, it is suitable for planting in well-drained, loose, and fertile sandy loam. If drainage is poor, it is prone to root rot.
2. Watering: cockscomb likes dry air and dislikes waterlogging. It consumes a large amount of water during the growing period, so it must be watered fully in hot summer, but excessive water should also be prevented. During continuous rainy days, pay attention to drainage.
3. Sunlight: cockscomb likes warmth and dislikes cold. It needs sufficient light during the growing period, with at least 4 hours of light guaranteed every day. The most suitable growing temperature is 18 to 28 degrees C.
4. Pests and diseases: cockscomb has relatively few pests and diseases. Damping-off is likely to occur at the seedling stage, and aphids are harmful during the growing period, so attention should be paid to control. For root rot, remove the diseased plants and spray copper sulfate.
5. Pruning: dwarf cockscomb varieties should be pinched after planting out to promote branching. When used for cut flowers, they can be pinched when the plant height is 20 to 30 cm.
6. Fertilizing: apply sufficient base fertilizer when sowing cockscomb. Before flowering and during the flowering period, apply a thin compound liquid fertilizer once every 10 days. The amount of nitrogen fertilizer should not be too much, to prevent excessive growth and lodging.
7. Harvesting: cockscomb is generally harvested around Bailu, when the seeds gradually turn black and mature. The flower stalks can be cut in time, placed in a ventilated place to dry and thresh. The flowers and seeds are managed separately and used separately as medicine.