Echinacea Seed Prices and Planting Methods Explained in Detail

Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea, and purple echinacea, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Echinacea in the Asteraceae family. It gets its name because its flower head closely resembles a pine cone. Its shape is somewhat similar to that of ordinary chrysanthemums, but its flowers are larger, brightly colored, and beautiful in appearance, giving it high ornamental value. It is planted throughout the country. Let's take a look at echinacea seed prices and planting methods below!

How much does a jin of echinacea seeds cost?

The price of echinacea seeds is about 180 to 240 yuan per jin, but prices vary greatly depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin, market conditions, and other factors. Echinacea likes warmth, is vigorous and cold-resistant, likes light, tolerates drought, and is not particular about soil. It grows well in deep, fertile soil rich in humus. In production, it is propagated by seed, and the common methods are spring sowing, summer sowing, and autumn sowing.

Sowing Methods for Echinacea

1. Land preparation and fertilization: For echinacea seedling raising, first apply sufficient base fertilizer to the selected plot. Apply 1500 to 2000 kg per mu of decomposed chicken manure, cow manure, and barnyard manure. After spreading the fertilizer evenly, plow the plot about 30 cm deep. After leveling and harrowing finely, make beds 150 to 200 cm wide.

2. Seed treatment: Place echinacea seeds in 35 to 40 °C warm water and stir gently. After 2 to 3 hours, place them in an 800 to 1000 times potassium permanganate solution and soak for about 15 minutes. After removing the seeds, spread them on newspaper to dry for 1 to 2 hours, and then they can be sown.

3. Sowing method: Echinacea sowing and seedling raising generally uses the method of mixing with soil and broadcasting. After sowing, cover once more with a rake, and finally water thoroughly once. Note that small water should be used for flood irrigation. About 7 to 10 days after sowing, the seedlings break through the soil, and after 15 days the seedlings emerge completely.

Seedling Stage Management of Echinacea

1. Watering and drainage: Echinacea seedlings need less water in the early stage, and generally do not need watering; keeping the soil moist is enough. When the seedlings have 2 to 3 true leaves, begin watering, once every 15 to 20 days. If continuous rainy days occur during the seedling stage, pay attention to flood prevention and drainage.

2. Weeding and thinning: When weeding echinacea, to avoid damaging the roots of the seedlings, it is best to pull them out by hand. Be careful to pull them out with the roots to prevent weeds from growing back. At the same time, according to the principle of “remove the weak and keep the strong”, thin out the relatively dense seedlings.

3. Cold protection and overwintering: Before winter begins, water echinacea once with antifreeze water. Within 2 to 3 days after watering, cover with plastic sheeting for insulation. If a cold wave occurs, appropriately add some firewood, grass, or straw mats for insulation. Finally, press down the edges of the covering with soil to prevent it from being blown up by the wind.

Planting Methods for Echinacea

1. Land preparation and fertilization: Before transplanting echinacea, carry out land preparation and fertilization on the plot. Apply 2500 to 3000 kg per mu of decomposed chicken manure, cow manure, and barnyard manure. After spreading the fertilizer evenly, plow the plot about 30 cm deep. After leveling and harrowing finely, make beds 150 to 200 cm wide.

2. Sterilization and seedling lifting: Before lifting echinacea seedlings, first carry out one sterilization treatment on the seedlings, usually spraying once with a 600 times solution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder the day before. When lifting seedlings, dig out the seedlings together with the roots and soil, minimizing damage to the seedling roots.

3. Ditching and transplanting: Place echinacea seedlings in the ditch at a spacing of 20 to 25 cm per plant. When transplanting, first dig a small hole with a small shovel, place the seedling in it, then straighten it, and then firm the seedling with the surrounding soil. Finally, water thoroughly once to ensure the seedlings survive.

4. Cultivation and weeding: After echinacea survives transplanting, carry out cultivation and weeding irregularly. However, because the root system is relatively shallow after the seedlings survive transplanting, cultivate shallowly to prevent damaging the roots.

5. Watering management: After transplanting, echinacea should be watered in a timely manner according to soil moisture conditions. Watering should follow the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet. Under normal circumstances, water once every 10 to 15 days.

6. Reasonable fertilization: Twenty days after transplanting echinacea, carry out the first topdressing. Apply 500 to 800 kg per mu of human and animal urine with water. In mid-May, when echinacea enters the flowering stage, apply about 5 kg per mu of potassium dihydrogen phosphate.

Pest and Disease Control of Echinacea

1. Root rot

[Damage] After echinacea is infected with the disease, the upper leaves of the plant wilt, and even the entire plant's leaves dry up. When the condition is severe, the roots turn brown until the whole plant dies.

[Control] Spray or drench diseased plants with a 1000 times solution of 40% fenaminosulf wettable powder, once every 3 to 5 days. Spraying 2 to 3 times can be effective.

2. Yellow leaf disease

[Damage] The plant's leaves turn yellow, some curl, growth is slow, the plant is dwarfed, flowers become deformed, and the color becomes lighter.

[Control] Spray a 500 times solution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder or a 600 times solution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder, once every 7 to 10 days, continuously spraying 2 to 3 times.

3. Cabbage caterpillar

[Damage] Cabbage caterpillars chew on echinacea leaves, causing holes in the leaves and affecting the plant's growth and development.

[Control] Spray a 1000 times solution of 2.5% beta-cyfluthrin emulsifiable concentrate for control, once every 7 days, generally spraying 2 to 3 times.