Mallow Seed Prices and Planting Methods Explained in Detail
Mallow, also known as Shuqi flower, chessboard flower, small coin flower, etc., is a biennial or perennial upright herbaceous plant of the genus Malva in the family Malvaceae. It is commonly cultivated in cities across northern and southern China, and occasionally escapes into the wild. Its flowers are used for garden ornamentation, and it is suitable for both ground planting and pot culture. Besides its ornamental value, it also has certain medicinal value. Let's take a look at mallow seed prices and planting methods together!
How much is mallow seed per jin?
The price of mallow seeds is about 80 to 120 yuan per jin, but prices vary depending on seed quality, variety, market, and other factors. In production, mallow is mainly propagated by sowing. For spring sowing, it is generally planted out in May and can bloom in June; for autumn sowing, it is generally planted out in early November and blooms after December. However, mallow plants are relatively large and bloom inconsistently, with inconsistent plant forms, so they are not suitable for flowerbed landscaping. They are mostly used for flower border landscaping and planted in courtyard corners and other such places.
How to sow mallow seeds?
1. Seed treatment: Mallow seeds need special treatment before sowing. Usually the seeds are lightly roasted over fire to make the seed coat crack, which allows water to enter the seed and promotes germination.
2. Sowing time: Mallow seeds are generally sown in autumn (early September) or early spring (late March to late April). When sowing, try not to choose soil that is too strongly acidic.
3. Sowing method: When sowing mallow, water the soil thoroughly, then evenly scatter the seeds over the soil, and cover with about 1 cm of soil. Take care to keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. After sowing, pay attention to water and fertilizer management.
Mallow Planting and Management Techniques
1. Timely transplanting: Mallow is best transplanted before Qingming. Use nutrient soil or leaf mold with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. After potting, place it in a spot that receives half a day of sunlight so that the leaves are green and the flowers abundant; otherwise it will be difficult for it to bloom.
2. Reasonable fertilization: Mallow enters its growth period from May. Apply a fertilizer combining nitrogen and phosphorus 1 to 2 times. From June it begins to bloom successively until October. Each month, apply a phosphorus-based fertilizer as a top dressing 1 to 2 times so that it keeps blooming continuously.
3. Watering control: Mallow is very drought-tolerant. In the hot midsummer season, the potting soil should be on the dry side and avoid being wet to prevent root rot. Although leaf drop may sometimes occur, new leaves will grow again the following spring.
4. Pruning and trimming: When growing mallow, at any time cut off dead branches, diseased branches, weak branches, overly dense branches, and spent flowers and stems to improve ventilation and light penetration. For single-petaled varieties, also shorten leggy and long branches so that more side branches grow and more flowers are produced.
5. Frost protection and warmth: After winter begins, mallow should be moved indoors promptly and placed in a sunny, warm spot. Keeping the indoor temperature at 3 to 5°C allows it to overwinter. The potting soil should be on the dry side and avoid being wet to prevent root rot.
6. Pest and disease control: The main pests of mallow are aphids and scale insects, which can be controlled by spraying 25% cyhalothrin emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 times dilution or 10% omethoate at 2000 times dilution. The main disease is sooty mold, which can be controlled by spraying 50% thiram at 1000 times to 1500 times dilution.