What is the best mulch to cover coriander after sowing? Mulch selection tips

Summary: What is the best mulch to cover coriander after sowing?

Coriander has a short growth cycle and is a type of fast-growing vegetable. It can be planted for many successive crops a year, and its unique aroma makes it a relatively popular seasoning on the market. Generally speaking, coriander is suitable for growing under cool climatic conditions. Its optimum growth temperature is 15~20°C. Temperatures that are too high or too low both affect its growth. In addition, the germination of lettuce has relatively strict requirements for soil moisture, so many farmers cover coriander with a layer of material after sowing to provide shade, warmth and moisture retention. So what is the best mulch to cover coriander after sowing?

Why cover coriander after sowing?

Coriander seeds have a relatively long germination cycle. If they are sown directly without seed soaking and sprouting, they generally need about 20 days to germinate after sowing. During this period, the soil must be kept moist, and the temperature must not change too much; too high or too low both affect the germination rate. In addition, coriander must not be exposed to direct sunlight when germinating, as strong sunlight can easily scorch the young sprouts. Coriander is generally sown from August to September, or in spring. In this season, exposure to the sun must be avoided, and after sowing coriander with a thin layer of soil, moisture evaporates easily and the soil cannot retain moisture. Therefore, mulch is needed after sowing to provide shade and maintain soil moisture.

What is the best mulch to choose after sowing coriander?

The mulch used after sowing coriander must both provide shade and allow air through, while also maintaining soil moisture, and it must be removed promptly after coriander breaks through the soil so as not to affect the growth of coriander seedlings. Generally, farmers choose materials such as rice straw or stalks for mulching. These mulches both provide shade and allow air through, and will not affect the growth of coriander seedlings. Second, wheat awns, that is, the husks left after threshing wheat, can also be used as mulch. This kind of mulch does not even need to be removed after coriander breaks through the soil, because coriander sprouts can grow out through the gaps in the wheat awns, and later, after the wheat awns rot, they can also serve as farmyard manure, which is relatively convenient. In addition, if you are worried about coriander sprouts being scorched by direct sunlight later, you can also build a shade shed to avoid direct sunlight while reducing soil moisture evaporation. No matter which mulch is chosen, in order to keep the soil moist, it must be sprayed with water regularly until the coriander seedlings emerge.

Besides using mulch, what other measures help coriander improve its germination rate?

A major reason for the low germination rate of coriander is that its seed coat is relatively hard, making water penetration difficult. Therefore, before sowing, the following measures can be used to improve the germination rate. On the one hand, before sowing, the seeds can be rubbed to remove the hard shell or mechanically damaged, then soaked and sprouted, and sown after the coriander seeds show white; on the other hand, after rubbing the seeds, they can be soaked in hot water at about 40°C for about half an hour, stirring several times during this period. After the hot water cools, soak the seeds for a while longer, and then sow.

In addition, besides seed treatment, relatively loose soil should also be chosen. Before sowing, water thoroughly to keep the soil moisture moderate, and apply sufficient base fertilizer to ensure the growth of the seedlings after the seeds germinate. After emergence, thin and weed in time.

Coriander cultivation is still relatively time-saving and labor-saving, because after sufficient base fertilizer is applied to coriander, there is basically no need for additional fertilizing, and coriander is not prone to pests and diseases, is simple to manage, and has a short growth cycle. As long as seed germination in the early stage is ensured, it is very easy to manage in the later stage.

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