Detailed introduction to the sowing methods of February orchid (Orychophragmus violaceus)

Sowing time:

February orchid is usually sown in autumn, and the best time is August. If sown too late, the seedlings will be too small to withstand severe cold and will die.

Sowing rate:

Each gram of February orchid seed contains about 300-400 seeds, and the suitable sowing rate is 1 kg per mu, usually 1-2 grams per square meter.

Sowing depth:

Strictly control the sowing depth; shallow sowing is preferable. When soil moisture is sufficient for germination, a sowing depth of 1-2 cm is enough; for plots with poor soil moisture, sow at a depth of 2-3 cm.

Sowing methods:

February orchid can be sown by broadcasting or in drills. For drilling, the row spacing should be controlled at 15-20 cm. After broadcasting, the soil needs to be turned over to cover the seeds. If conditions permit, special tools or machinery can be used for sowing, but no matter which sowing method is used, after sowing the soil must be raked level and compacted at the right time.

February orchid has a certain cold resistance, but after sowing, attention must be paid to keeping the seedlings warm during the seedling stage, otherwise the seedlings will suffer frost damage and die. In addition, before propagation, the soil should be prepared to ensure it is loose and fertile, and watering should be increased according to seedling growth. When the sprouts grow into seedlings, fertilization should be increased to provide the nutrients they need for growth, and during the growth of Orychophragmus violaceus, light exposure should be appropriately increased to enhance photosynthesis and promote plant growth.

Conclusion: That is the introduction to the sowing methods of February orchid. Friends who are interested should quickly try it themselves.

February orchid growing methods and February orchid flower language

Orychophragmus violaceus (February orchid), of the genus Orychophragmus in the Brassicaceae family, is an annual or biennial herb. Because it begins to bloom with blue-purple flowers around the second lunar month, it is called February orchid. It grows in plains, mountains, roadsides, and field edges. It has low requirements for soil, light, and other conditions, is tolerant of cold and drought, and has strong vitality. So how is February orchid grown? What is the flower language of February orchid, and how long is its flowering period? When should February orchid be sown?

February orchid growing methods:

1. Soil: February orchid is not strict about soil. It is best to choose loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil. For potted February orchid, the requirements for potting soil are relatively high. Here, you can consider evenly mixing 6 parts garden soil, 2 parts perlite, and 1 part plant ash, and sufficient base fertilizer should be placed in the pot.

2. Light: Because February orchid is a short-day plant, it does not need long daily sunlight, and indoor scattered light is sufficient.

3. Temperature: Because February orchid is cold-resistant, temperature regulation can be extensive. The most suitable temperature for growth and flowering is between 15°C and 25°C.

4. Fertilization: February orchid likes fertilizer. Sufficient fertility will not only make February orchid grow faster but also promote its flowering and fruiting. Fertilize 4 times a year. Flower bud fertilizer in early spring, vigorous-growth fertilizer after flowers fade, fruit-strengthening fertilizer after fruit set, and seedling-strengthening fertilizer before winter. If a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution is sprayed on the leaves once each during the bud stage and young fruit stage, the flower color will be more brilliant and the fruit will be fuller.

5. Pests and diseases: Common pests in February orchid cultivation include aphids, cabbage caterpillars, snails, leaf miners, and so on. If pests are found, timely chemical control should be carried out.

6. Pruning: To maintain a good ornamental effect of February orchid, it must be prevented from setting seed. Generally, during the seed-setting period, use a lawn mower to trim it to a height of 10-15 cm.

February orchid flower language

The flower language of February orchid: modest and simple, selfless dedication. It is an annual or biennial herb. Because it begins to bloom with blue-purple flowers around the second lunar month, it is called February orchid. Also, because legend says Zhuge Liang once gathered its tender shoots as a vegetable when leading troops on a campaign, it is also called Zhuge cai.

Legends related to February orchid

According to legend, after Zhuge Liang became Liu Bei's military palace attendant and chief supervisor of military grain and taxes. Because Liu Bei had a large number of troops, the demand for grain and forage was relatively great, and the burden on the common people was even greater. For example, if the people did not have enough to eat or warm clothes to wear, people's hearts would be unsettled. Once, when Zhuge Liang went on an inspection tour in plain clothes, he saw a vegetable called "mangjing" (turnip). From an old farmer he learned that this vegetable was treasure all over: its leaves and stems could both be eaten, and what was left could be made into pickles. During the lean season when the old crop was gone and the new one was not yet ripe, this vegetable could become the main vegetable.

Zhuge Liang was extremely interested in this vegetable. He asked the old farmer about the yield per mu of "mangjing" and how to grow it, then ordered soldiers to open wasteland and plant this vegetable. On the one hand, it supplemented military grain; on the other hand, it could be used as livestock feed. It was both economical and practical, achieving two goals at once. So Zhuge Liang ordered soldiers to plant "mangjing" widely. Military grain was abundant, and later generations called this vegetable Zhuge cai.

February orchid flowering period

February orchid blooms from April to May, and the fruiting period is from May to June.

February orchid plants are 20-70 cm tall, usually mostly 30-50 cm. The stem is erect and only single. The basal leaves and lower cauline leaves are pinnately deeply lobed, with a heart-shaped leaf base and blunt teeth on the leaf margin; the upper cauline leaves are oblong or narrowly ovate, with an ear-shaped clasping leaf base and irregular serrate structures on the leaf margin. The raceme is terminal, bearing 5-20 flowers. The petals have fine vein patterns. The flowers are mostly blue-purple or pale red. As the flowering period continues, the flower color gradually fades and finally becomes white. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is May-June. There are 4 petals, long ovate, with long claws about 3-6 mm long, and the petals are about 1-2 cm long; there are 6 stamens, with white filaments and yellow anthers; the calyx is slender and tubular, blue-purple, with sepals about 3 mm long. The fruit is a cylindrical silique, 6-9 cm long, with a slender beak at the tip. The fruit has four ridges and contains numerous tiny dark brown seeds. The seeds are ovate to oblong. After the fruit matures, it naturally splits open and expels the seeds.

When to sow February orchid

Some freshly harvested seeds have a post-ripening physiological phenomenon. If sown early, the germination rate is low, and germination may continue for 1-2 months or even longer. Seeds that have undergone storage treatment have already passed dormancy, so February orchid can be sown directly. Sowing can be done in summer or autumn, but August to September is most suitable. The sowing rate is 2-3 g per square meter. If the spray-sowing method is used, the sowing rate should be increased by 15%-20% accordingly. Each gram contains 300-400 seeds. The flowering period of February orchid begins between February and March each year and can continue until June of that year, blooming continuously during this period. The fruit matures successively from May to June. After maturity, the fruit of February orchid automatically pops open and widely disperses the seeds inside. February orchid cultivation and management are relatively simple. Water timely and fertilize 1-2 times.

How to eat February orchid

1. The wild vegetable February orchid can be eaten cold dressed

The wild vegetable February orchid can be eaten cold dressed. When making it cold dressed, soak the collected wild February orchid in clean water for fifteen minutes, take it out and wash it, blanch it in boiling water, remove and rinse with cold water, then cut it into sections, add edible salt, vinegar, sesame oil, and other seasonings, and mix well. In addition, friends who like garlic can also add an appropriate amount of minced garlic.

2. The wild vegetable February orchid can be used as filling

Using the wild vegetable February orchid as filling is also a good way to eat it. You can blanch fresh February orchid in boiling water, remove the water, then chop it together with beef or mutton, add light soy sauce, salt, sesame oil, five-spice powder, and so on, mix it into filling, and then make buns or dumplings. Both are good choices.

3. The wild vegetable February orchid can be stir-fried

Stir-frying the wild vegetable February orchid is a very common way to eat it. Just soak it in clean water when washing to avoid residual harmful components. After soaking and washing, cut it into sections and stir-fry it directly into various dishes according to your own taste.

Key points of February orchid growing methods and precautions for growing February orchid

February orchid has strong cold resistance and remains evergreen in winter. It is also relatively shade-tolerant. Used as ground cover, it has a good covering effect, with lush green leaves and a sheet of verdant green that people love. It has strong adaptability and can grow from Northeast China and North China all the way to East China and Central China. In winter, if there are heavy frosts and snow, some leaves may freeze, but in early spring they can still sprout new leaves, bloom, and set seed. It is not strict about soil.

February orchid has extremely strong vitality and strong adaptability to the northern environment, especially in winter, when it can endure the northern winter with very strong cold resistance. February orchid especially likes shady and moist growing environments and has low requirements for water and light. In terms of soil, it is suitable for growing in slightly alkaline soil. It is a type of plant that remains evergreen all year round. It is the first to bloom in early spring, carrying the meaning of announcing the arrival of spring. It is a very plain and lovely plant.

Orychophragmus violaceus is mainly propagated by seed and has strong regeneration ability. After the plant withers, newly dropped seeds will soon germinate and grow into new plant seedlings. On soil that has not been plowed, artificially broadcast seeds can also form seedlings, and it has strong weed resistance. Therefore, cultivation and management can be relatively extensive and fairly easy. Some freshly harvested seeds have a post-ripening physiological phenomenon. If sown early, the germination rate is low, and germination may continue for 1-2 months or even longer. Sowing can be done in summer or autumn, but August to September is most suitable. Each gram contains 300-400 seeds, and the sowing rate is about 1 kg per mu. If calculated per square meter, it should be 1-2 grams per square meter. If the spray-sowing method is used, the amount per unit area should preferably be increased by 10%-20%.

Mix garden soil, perlite, and plant ash evenly in a ratio of 6:2:1 for the potting soil. Apply sufficient base fertilizer when potting. After the seedlings stand upright, move the pot to a sunny place for routine fertilizer and water management.

Compared with other flowers, cultivation and management are relatively extensive and do not require much care. It has strong cold resistance and shade tolerance, and can grow, bloom, and set seed normally with a certain amount of scattered light. It is not strict about soil. It is best to choose loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil. As long as it is watered and fertilized in time, it can grow robustly with only a little management. Fertilize 4 times a year. Flower bud fertilizer in early spring, vigorous-growth fertilizer after flowers fade, fruit-strengthening fertilizer after fruit set, and seedling-strengthening fertilizer before winter. If a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution is sprayed on the leaves once each during the bud stage and young fruit stage, the flower color will be more brilliant and the fruit will be fuller. The flowering period is from early spring to June. The silique is elongated, maturing in June. The seeds are dark brown and ovate. In winter, Orychophragmus violaceus has lush green leaves, and in early spring the flowers bloom in patches. If there is heavy frost in winter, frost protection measures should be strengthened. If grown for eating, divide the plants frequently to promote the sprouting of tender stems and leaves.

1. Soil: February orchid is not strict about soil. It is best to choose loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil. For potted February orchid, the requirements for potting soil are relatively high. Here, you can consider evenly mixing 6 parts garden soil, 2 parts perlite, and 1 part plant ash, and sufficient base fertilizer should be placed in the pot.

2. Light: Because February orchid is a short-day plant, it does not need long daily sunlight, and indoor scattered light is sufficient.

3. Temperature: Because February orchid is cold-resistant, temperature regulation can be extensive. The most suitable temperature for growth and flowering is between 15°C and 25°C.

4. Fertilization: February orchid likes fertilizer. Sufficient fertility will not only make February orchid grow faster but also promote its flowering and fruiting. Fertilize 4 times a year. Flower bud fertilizer in early spring, vigorous-growth fertilizer after flowers fade, fruit-strengthening fertilizer after fruit set, and seedling-strengthening fertilizer before winter. If a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution is sprayed on the leaves once each during the bud stage and young fruit stage, the flower color will be more brilliant and the fruit will be fuller.

5. Pruning: To keep a wildflower mix always showing a good ornamental effect in landscape arrangements, it must be prevented from setting seed. Generally, during the seed-setting period, use a lawn mower to trim it to a height of 10-15 cm. In addition, when preparing the land for autumn sowing, remove ground debris that hinders good contact between seeds and soil, including dead branches and fallen leaves. At present, in the field of landscaping, creating natural and diverse garden landscapes, exploring plant application forms that return to simplicity and nature, and building a resource-saving and sustainable ecological environment are the directions for future development. Wildflower mixes can create natural and beautiful landscape effects, and with their extensive management, rich species, full wild charm, low establishment cost, and long ornamental period, they will become the most distinctive element in the field of landscaping and be most widely used.

Sowing precautions: Sowing can be done in summer or autumn, but August to September is most suitable. Each gram contains 300-400 seeds, and the sowing rate is about 1 kg per mu. If calculated per square meter, it should be 1-2 grams per square meter. If the spray-sowing method is used, the amount per unit area should preferably be increased by 10%-20%.

6. Pests and diseases: Common pests in February orchid cultivation include aphids, cabbage caterpillars, snails, leaf miners, and so on. If pests are found, timely chemical control should be carried out.

a. Symptoms: In the early stage of the disease, yellow-green, polygonal spots appear on the leaf surface. Subsequently, a white downy mildew layer appears on the underside of the lesions, causing swelling, bending, and greening of the petals on stems and flowers.

b. Pathogen: The pathogen is a fungus in the genus Peronospora. This disease mostly occurs on the lower leaves of February orchid. Especially in April, when the weather is cloudy, cold, and humid, plants are more likely to be infected. Planting too densely can also lead to the occurrence of this disease.

c. Diagnosis and countermeasures: Choose a well-ventilated and well-lit area for planting. Keep planting density reasonable. Spray 50% phosethyl-Al 500-fold solution.

7. Weed management

Water before sowing to promote the germination of weed seeds in the surface soil. If soil moisture is moderate, seeds can germinate within two weeks. Do not plow the soil again, otherwise more weed seeds will be brought to the surface soil. Applying herbicide spray can basically eradicate weeds, but be sure to rest for a period after applying herbicide before sowing, because herbicides are harmful to any plant.

When using chemical herbicides, be sure to pay attention to safety and avoid chemical residues affecting the germination and growth of flower seeds. Therefore, generally before sowing wildflower mix seeds, reserve 3-4 weeks for the soil to recover, and then plant the wildflower mix, because widespread use of herbicides may delay seed germination or weaken the growth vigor of flower seedlings.

Remove weeds promptly when flower seeds germinate to prevent them from spreading. If conditions permit, weeds should be pulled out immediately whenever found. In addition, a relatively effective method is to use broad-spectrum herbicides or cut them with a weed trimmer (or brush cutter). Make sure to remove weeds before they drop seeds. Many annual or perennial weeds can be controlled with professional herbicides. These herbicides will not affect the growth and development of broadleaf plants and can be used on wildflower mixes. Spraying them on newly grown seedlings works very well.