What should be noted when planting Polygonatum odoratum

Polygonatum odoratum is a member of the Liliaceae family, mainly because its branches and leaves are very similar to those of lilies, but the underground tubers are completely different. Although both have tonic effects, Polygonatum odoratum is not as well known as lilies, but we cannot deny its value either. It also occupies a large proportion in Chinese medicinal herbs, and its range of uses is relatively broad. Moreover, in recent years, the cultivation of Polygonatum odoratum has begun to receive attention. So what should be noted when planting Polygonatum odoratum? Let us take a look together with Qinnong.com below.

1. Soil

For the soil used to plant Polygonatum odoratum, the first thing to note is to choose a plot that is frequently rotated, because it cannot be continuously cropped. Continuous cropping gives low yield and makes it very prone to disease. Second, the soil of the planting site should be relatively loose, the drainage system should be relatively complete, and the plot should have relatively sufficient light and nutrients. Slightly acidic sandy soil is best. Finally, one more thing to note is that when preparing the land, the ground should be leveled flat and drainage ditches should be made to facilitate later management.

2. Time

There are two planting times for Polygonatum odoratum, divided into spring and autumn. It is generally planted around April and October each year. At this time, the weather temperature is basically around 15 to 20 degrees, and the seed survival rate during this period will be higher. At the same time, when sowing, it is best to choose a sunny day, so that the seeds will sprout faster.

3. Density

Planting density is also a point to note, because if planting is too dense, the air permeability in the field will become poor, making Polygonatum odoratum very prone to disease. Moreover, if it is exposed to strong sun after heavy rain in this situation, it is very difficult for water to drain away, so root rot is very likely to occur. Therefore, the best planting density is a row spacing of 30 to 40 cm and a plant spacing of 15 to 20 cm. This can not only avoid the occurrence of some diseases, but also reduce a lot of labor, while also achieving a high-yield effect.

4. Fertilizer and water

For planting Polygonatum odoratum, generally as long as sufficient base fertilizer is applied, then basically no additional topdressing is needed in the first year. However, the situation of insufficient base fertilizer cannot be ruled out, so we need to carry out reasonable topdressing according to the growth of Polygonatum odoratum seedlings and conditions in all aspects. If the plants grow very slowly and the leaves are yellow, that indicates malnutrition, and topdressing is needed. For topdressing, we can use potassium fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer, and we can also use farmyard manure as well as organic decomposed fertilizer. If sufficient base fertilizer is applied in the first year, then fertilization should wait until spring of the second year. Polygonatum odoratum likes moisture, so we should water it from time to time, especially when drought occurs. Second, attention should be paid to drainage during the rainy season.

5. Pest and disease control

The common diseases of Polygonatum odoratum are root rot, leaf spot disease, and gray leaf spot disease. The main reason causing these three diseases is improper water management, excessive humidity in the field, and then high temperatures, which breed a large number of bacteria and lead to the occurrence of diseases. Therefore, we can use chlorothalonil or carbendazim as well as Bordeaux mixture for control. The main pest is the white grub, which is an underground pest similar to cutworms and the like. Therefore, it mainly damages the tubers of Polygonatum odoratum and has a great impact on the yield and quality of Polygonatum odoratum. The general control method is to use trichlorfon for root irrigation.