Growing Methods and Key Technical Points for Curqucai
Curqucai, also called chicory sowthistle, is very similar to dandelion and bittercress. Although they are all wild vegetables, they differ greatly in nutritional value and effects. The biggest difference between curqucai and other wild vegetables is that it is mainly used as medicine, and can be used to treat sudden illnesses such as dysentery, acute pharyngitis, hemorrhoids and appendicitis. So how should curqucai be cultivated artificially? Let us take a look below.
1. Land preparation and fertilization
Curqucai is a light-loving plant, so we can choose a sunny slope or semi-sunny slope with relatively sufficient sunlight. Next, the soil nutrients in the planting site should be relatively sufficient, and the soil texture should be loose. Soil with too heavy clay is not suitable for growing curqucai, as it is prone to diseases such as phytophthora blight and downy mildew caused by improper water management. At the same time, the land should be deeply plowed, at least about 20 cm, and a layer of organic fertilizer should be evenly spread. Then the land should be turned over again, the soil should be broken into granules about the size of a little fingertip, the ground should be raked level, and finally water ditches should be made before sowing.
2. Scientific sowing
The sowing of curqucai must be scientific. Curqucai is generally sown around February or March each spring. At this time, the soil temperature has basically reached about 10 degrees, which just reaches the temperature for curqucai seeds to germinate. The sowing methods are generally divided into drilling and broadcasting. For broadcasting, the planting site needs to be watered once before sowing, and the land must be thoroughly watered. When water is felt seeping out, the seeds should be evenly scattered on the land, then gently pressed into the land with a rake, and covered with plastic film for seedling raising. For drilling, small furrows need to be made in the field, then the small furrows should be thoroughly watered, the seeds should be evenly scattered into the small furrows, lightly covered with soil, and finally covered with plastic film.
3. Seedling stage management
Usually seedlings emerge in about 3 to 5 days. At this time, we need to observe the growth of the curqucai seedlings in the field, then thin and fill in seedlings in time to complete final planting. After final planting, we should water reasonably and maintain the soil moisture in the field, so as to maintain the normal growth of curqucai.
4. Field management
Generally, the first weeding and fertilization must be carried out after about half a month. If there are few weeds in the field, we can directly pull them by hand. But if there are too many weeds, it needs to be combined with intertillage, and 100 jin of urea, 50 jin of phosphate fertilizer and 30 jin of potassium fertilizer should be applied per mu to maintain the normal growth of curqucai. During the entire growth process of curqucai, weeding needs to be carried out at least about 3 to 4 times. As for topdressing, fertilization should be carried out reasonably according to the specific growth condition of curqucai, and during this period it should be reasonably combined with watering. Finally, if there is heavy rainfall or a lot of rain, the drainage channels in the field need to be dredged in time, so as to avoid some unnecessary diseases.
5. Timely harvesting
Curqucai is a wild vegetable harvested multiple times a year, so when harvesting, we should note that it can be harvested when it grows to about 10 to 15 cm. We only need to cut and collect the tender branches above, then water the roots with manure and urine water. After half a month, it can be harvested again, and continuous harvesting can continue until winter. However, in winter, care should be taken to keep it warm, otherwise it cannot grow new tender branches.