What should be noted when planting star anise
The main use of star anise is for seasoning, and it often appears in all kinds of food, where it can help increase appetite. For those of us in the family of food lovers, star anise is certainly very familiar, and now its range of uses is broader than before, so more star anise is being planted. So what issues need attention during the process of planting star anise? Let us take a look together below with Qinnong.net.
1. Sowing time
Star anise has certain requirements for the growing environment, and we cannot just plant it casually because it is only a condiment. Star anise is especially not tolerant of frost, so the time for planting star anise is somewhat related to the planting location. In frost-free areas, planting is usually chosen between December of each year and January of the following year, while in frost-prone areas it should be chosen around February to March, when the frosty weather has already passed and the temperature is slowly rising again, so it can be planted.
2. Sowing method
The sowing method for star anise is usually drilling, but later transplanting is required. When drilling, note that relatively even shallow furrows should first be made in the prepared ground, generally furrows about 4 cm wide and 2 cm deep, then sow according to a spacing of about 4 to 5 cm between each plant and 20 cm between each row, then cover the seeds with a layer of fine soil, and finally cover the top with a layer of dry grass, water once, and to be safe, add a layer of plastic film on top.
3. Reasonable close planting
Planting density generally only receives special attention at the time of transplanting, because if the density is unreasonable, it can easily cause some diseases and reduce yield. We generally transplant in August each year. If it is for fruit use, it is best to transplant at a spacing of 4 to 5 m between each row and 3 to 4 m between each plant. But if other uses also need to be considered, then the density can be adjusted appropriately, but the distance between plants must not be less than about 1.5 m.
4. Scientific fertilization
In order to improve the survival rate of the plants, fertilization at the time of transplanting is very critical. We need to first dig a hole, then pile in an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer and mix in a layer of yellow mud, which can improve the survival rate of star anise. Next, fertilization for star anise should be carried out according to age and purpose, because the nutrients required differ somewhat at different growth stages and for different purposes. Young star anise trees need fertilization several times a year, but the amount each time is not large, and the total fertilizer amount for a year does not exceed 2,000 jin. Next, adult fruit trees need fertilizing only twice a year, with a total annual fertilization amount of about 5,000 jin. Finally, if it is star anise for fruit use, fertilization is needed during the fruiting period, but for other uses, urea can be applied specifically.
5. Forest management
The main issues in forest management are pruning of branches and leaves and clearing the forest, and pruning of branches and leaves also needs to be divided into two stages. For young star anise trees, we prune branches and leaves mainly to promote the growth of side branches so as to increase yield, while for adult star anise trees, we mainly prune some old, weak, diseased, and damaged branches and leaves to achieve the effect of not reducing yield. Finally, in order to prevent infection by pests and diseases, we must promptly clean up branches, weeds, fallen leaves, and so on in the forest, and carry out disinfection treatment, so as to ensure the normal development and growth of star anise trees.