How much do Prunella vulgaris seeds cost? With a detailed guide to planting methods
Prunella vulgaris, also known as Mai Xiaku, Tiesecao, Datouhua and so on, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Prunella in the Lamiaceae family. It is widely distributed throughout China, with the largest amounts found in Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan and other places. It is harvested in summer when the fruit spikes turn brownish-red. As a medicinal herb it has the effects of clearing fire and brightening the eyes, and dispersing nodules and reducing swelling. Let us now take a look at Prunella vulgaris seed prices and planting methods!
How much do Prunella vulgaris seeds cost per jin?
The price of Prunella vulgaris seeds is about 40-50 yuan per jin, but prices vary considerably depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin and the market. Prunella vulgaris grows in wet places in mountain gullies or in damp grass thickets, wasteland and roadsides along riverbanks. It can be planted on dry slopes, at the foot of hills, in grassland at the edge of woods, along roadsides and in fields. When the flower spikes turn yellow-brown, pick off the fruit spikes and dry them in the sun, shake out the seeds, remove impurities, and store them for later use.
Sowing methods for Prunella vulgaris
Prunella vulgaris can be sown in spring or autumn. Spring sowing is from late March to mid-April, and autumn sowing is in late August. For drilling, open furrows on the bed at a row spacing of 20-25 cm and a furrow depth of 0.5-1 cm, then sow the seeds evenly into the furrows, cover with fine soil, press down lightly, water, and keep the soil moist at all times. Seedlings emerge in about 15 days. The seeding rate is about 0.5-1 kg per mu. For dibbling, the seeds can be sown directly, with 8-10 seeds per hole and 17,000 holes per mu.
Planting methods for Prunella vulgaris
1. Choosing and preparing the land: Prunella vulgaris prefers a warm and humid environment, can tolerate cold, and has strong adaptability, but sandy loam with plenty of sunlight and good drainage is best. It can also be planted on dry slopes, at the foot of hills, in grassland at the edge of woods, along roadsides and in fields, but low-lying, waterlogged land is not suitable for cultivation.
2. Weeding and thinning: When Prunella vulgaris seedlings have about 4 leaves, combine weeding with removing small seedlings and keeping large ones, and removing weak seedlings and keeping strong ones. When they have about 10 leaves (the beginning of tillering), thin to a final stand, setting the basic number of seedlings at a spacing of 5-6 cun between plants and rows, basically ensuring 2-3 strong seedlings per clump.
3. Reasonable topdressing: Prunella vulgaris is generally topdressed 2 times. The first is around mid-March at the beginning of the tillering stage, broadcasting 5-10 jin of urea per mu. The second is around mid-May at the late flowering stage, broadcasting 10-15 kg of imported compound fertilizer per mu.
4. Harvesting and processing: Prunella vulgaris sown in spring is harvested in the same year, and that sown in autumn is harvested the following year. When 80% of the plant's fruit spikes turn yellow and gradually become brown in June, on a sunny day the plants can be cut at the base or the fruit spikes can be cut back, dried in the sun and the seeds collected. The dried herb and dried fruit spikes are stored separately and kept until the price is good for sale.
Pest and disease control for Prunella vulgaris
1. Mosaic virus disease
[Symptoms] Mosaic, leaf deformity and plant stunting. Diseased leaves are uneven in thickness, uneven in color, deformed and wrinkled.
[Control] In the early stage of the disease, spray with 20% Junduqing wettable powder at 500 times dilution, 1.5% Zhibingling emulsion, or 20% moroxydine hydrochloride wettable powder at 400 times dilution, spraying once every 10 days for 2-3 consecutive sprays.
2. Leaf scorch disease
[Symptoms] In the early stage, red lesions appear on the leaves and gradually expand, ultimately causing the entire leaves to scorch, wither and fall off.
[Control] In early April, at the early stage of the disease, spray with 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 800 times dilution or 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at 600-800 times dilution for control, taking care to alternate the pesticides.
3. Large gray weevil
[Damage] The larvae and adults feed on the tender tips and leaves of Prunella vulgaris. In mild cases they eat the leaves into notches or holes, and in severe cases they eat Prunella vulgaris down to bare stems, causing missing plants and broken rows.
[Control] 1.8% abamectin emulsifiable concentrate at 2000 times dilution, 20% chlorantraniliprole suspension concentrate at 3000 times dilution.