Safflower Planting Methods and Key Technical Points
Safflower, also known as grass safflower, is a plant of the genus Carthamus in the Asteraceae family. Its flowers can be used as medicine, with effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and are mainly used to treat dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, uterine blood stasis, traumatic injuries and other conditions. In addition to its powerful medicinal value, it is also a natural pigment and dye, an important industrial raw material with significant economic benefits. Safflower is cultivated throughout China. Let's take a look at its planting methods below.
1. Site Selection and Land Preparation
Safflower is a plant that relatively prefers drought and fertile conditions, and can also adapt to poor soil, but it should not be grown in damp, waterlogged low-lying areas. Therefore, when planting, it is advisable to choose dry land or wasteland. The previous crop is best to be soybean, winter melon, taro, etc. After the previous crop is harvested, plow the plot, plowing finely and harrowing thoroughly, so that the soil is loose and well-drained. When plowing, apply 1000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 15 kg of calcium superphosphate per mu.
2. Sowing
The sowing time for safflower is not fixed; it can be sown in spring, autumn or winter according to local climatic conditions. Generally, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places sow in winter, while Shandong sows in autumn, and ** and the cold regions of Northeast China sow in spring. Make high or low beds according to the terrain, with two rows per bed, and sow in drills or in hills. Whether drilling or dibbling, sow 6-7 seeds at a certain plant spacing, then cover with soil and water, and seedlings will emerge within about two weeks. Generally, 1.5-2.5 kg of seed is used per mu.
3. Field Management
When the seedlings grow to 6-7 cm, thin them out, removing weak seedlings and keeping strong ones. Generally, keep 2-3 strong seedlings per hole. If there are gaps where seedlings are missing, replant promptly. When the seedlings grow to have 4-5 leaves, apply a once-off light dressing of diluted human manure and urine fertilizer. When topdressing, apply it beside the roots to prevent the seedlings from lodging. Around the time of Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects), apply the second fertilizer, 500-600 kg of human manure and urine fertilizer per mu, and support the plants after application to prevent the flower buds from lodging.
4. Pests and Diseases
During growth, safflower suffers from the invasion of various pests and diseases. Common diseases include root rot, rust, black spot, and anthracnose, while pests are mainly cutworms, crickets, wireworms, white grubs, and mole crickets. They all affect plant growth and can cause plant death in severe cases, causing great harm, so pest and disease prevention and control work must be done well.
The above is an introduction to safflower planting methods. We hope it helps you. To learn more about medicinal herb cultivation, please stay tuned to us.