How to grow Codonopsis pilosula so it thrives? Key points of Codonopsis pilosula cultivation techniques

Codonopsis pilosula is a very common Chinese medicinal herb. It has effects such as strengthening the body's resistance, nourishing the blood and replenishing qi, lowering blood pressure, and treating gastric ulcers. At present, the main producing areas of Codonopsis pilosula are still in southwest China, Hebei, northeast China and Inner Mongolia. It is generally planted in spring and autumn, preferably in March and April and in October and November each year. So how should Codonopsis pilosula be grown to achieve high yields? Today let's take a look together.

1. Site selection and land preparation

According to relevant surveys, the soil for high-yielding Codonopsis pilosula cultivation is generally sandy loam, with good soil structure, rich in organic matter, sufficient nutrients, and good both water retention and drainage. The terrain is relatively high, and a semi-sunny slope is usually chosen. At the same time, continuous cropping cannot be carried out. When preparing the land, deep plowing is generally combined with base fertilizer. The base fertilizer is mainly farmyard manure or organic fertilizer. After spreading the fertilizer evenly, deep plowing is carried out, which can better improve soil fertility. Finally, beds are made and furrows are raised, and then you can wait to sow.

2. Seed selection and germination promotion

The quality of seed selection directly determines the yield and quality of Codonopsis pilosula, so when selecting seeds we should try to choose seeds that are plump, bright in color, and free from pests and diseases. Then place the selected seeds in the sun to dry for one or two days. After screening, the seeds need to be put into a bag and soaked in warm water. After soaking for one day, remove the seeds and place them at a suitable temperature for seed germination to promote sprouting. Generally, after about a week, most seeds will show white sprouts, and then they can be sown.

3. Seedling raising and transplanting

There are two methods of planting Codonopsis pilosula, namely direct sowing and seedling raising followed by transplanting. Direct sowing means sowing the seeds on the prepared land at a row spacing of 30 cm and a plant spacing of 10 cm. However, in order to ensure the seedling emergence rate and yield of Codonopsis pilosula, we now usually use the method of seedling raising followed by transplanting. First, the treated seeds need to be sown on a seedbed. After a period of careful management and after seedlings grow, it is best to transplant in March. When transplanting, it is best to transplant with soil, as this will lead to a higher survival rate. The transplanting density can be divided into several types, namely row spacings of 35, 30, and 25 cm, and plant spacings of 15, 10, and 5 cm. The specific implementation needs to be carried out according to the fertility of the planting site and the purpose of planting.

4. Field management

First, we need to inspect seedlings, thin seedlings, and fill gaps in the field, and then carry out timely intertillage and weeding, generally about one month after planting. Later weeding needs to be carried out according to the growth of Codonopsis pilosula and the growth of weeds in the field. Second, in order to keep the growth of the branches and leaves of Codonopsis pilosula in check, it is necessary to appropriately remove the tips of some branches and leaves. Because the branches and leaves of Codonopsis pilosula can grow to at least 1 m, we can set up trellises when it grows to about 25 cm, which can reduce diseases and enhance field ventilation. Finally, timely topdressing and watering are required, and specific water and fertilizer management needs to be carried out according to the different growth stages of Codonopsis pilosula. Nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied in a one-sided way, and drainage should be carried out in time.

5. Pest and disease control

Codonopsis pilosula is one of the more resistant medicinal herbs. Generally, if field management is done well, there will not be many pests and diseases, but we still need to prevent and control root rot and rust disease. Both of these diseases are caused by high temperature and high humidity, and both can be controlled with carbendazim. The main insect pests are some underground pests, red spiders, and rats. Underground pests can be irrigated with trichlorfon, red spiders can be controlled with hexythiazox, and as for rodent pests, only trapping methods can be used.