A Detailed Guide to the Cultivation Techniques and Planting Management Methods of Jiaogulan
Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a herbaceous climbing plant of the Cucurbitaceae family. Jiaogulan has a wide cultivation area in southern China. It is also very popular because Jiaogulan has effects such as reducing inflammation and detoxifying, and relieving cough, and contains various vitamins. Moreover, Jiaogulan is also a very famous tea; Jiaogulan tea has the effect of lowering blood lipids and preventing and treating various cardiovascular diseases. So how should Jiaogulan be cultivated? Below, the editor brings you the cultivation techniques of Jiaogulan. Let's take a look!
1. Land preparation and fertilization
Jiaogulan is a plant that likes warmth and dislikes water. It has strong adaptability and is relatively simple to grow, so it can grow in all kinds of soil. However, try as much as possible to choose shady soil with good drainage and irrigation and fertile texture. After choosing the land, plough carefully and harrow finely, loosen the soil, and make field beds to facilitate later management and harvesting. Then apply sufficient base fertilizer and disinfect the soil. The base fertilizer is mainly farmyard manure, then combined with an appropriate amount of lime. Pay attention to the fertilizer dosage; farmyard manure is about 650kg/mu, and lime about 25kg, to ensure that Jiaogulan has enough nutrients for growth.
2. Sowing and seedling raising
After preparing the land, use fresh seeds to start sowing and raising seedlings. Pay attention to the appearance of the seeds. Jiaogulan seeds that are grayish-dark with spots indicate that the seeds are relatively mature and have strong germination ability; pick out the light-colored immature seeds. The germination rate of fresh seeds is very high, so when selecting seeds we must pay attention to the freshness of the seeds. Seeds stored for 6 months basically cannot germinate. The sowing time is in spring and autumn each year; the temperature in these two seasons is relatively warm, suitable for seed germination and seedling emergence. After sowing, pay attention to covering with fine soil for heat preservation. Under normal management, seedlings can emerge in 8-12 days, and after the seedlings grow for about one and a half months, they can be transplanted and planted.
3. Water and fertilizer management
Although Jiaogulan's water demand is not large, the soil must still be kept moist. However, pay attention to the amount of water; waterlogging must never occur. If there is rainy weather, drain water in time and spray pesticides in the field for pest and disease control. 5-7 days after successful planting, topdressing should begin, and later topdressing should be applied in a timely manner according to the plant's growth. Jiaogulan's demand for nutrients is relatively large, so during the growth process we must ensure timely topdressing to prevent stunted growth caused by malnutrition. But also pay attention to the fertilizer dosage; if excessive, it may cause root burn of the plant.
4. Timely harvesting
Jiaogulan's harvesting time is somewhat different from that of other crops. The best harvesting time for Jiaogulan is before flowering and fruiting, when the plant is about 1-8 meters. This is because before flowering, the nutrient content in the plant is at its highest, and at this time the plant's color, aroma, taste and quality are all at their peak. However, it can only be harvested at this time. If harvested too early, Jiaogulan's quality is poor and its commercial value is low. But if harvested too late, the plant gradually ages and its value is even lower. When harvesting, pay attention to leaving the roots, because Jiaogulan is a regenerating plant; after leaving the roots, it can regrow from the old stubble.
The above is a brief introduction to the cultivation techniques of Jiaogulan. The market for Jiaogulan is very large, but this is mainly because Jiaogulan has high nutritional value and obvious effects. To grow high-yield Jiaogulan, you must cultivate it step by step and down-to-earth, and have patience and careful management, so as to increase yield and ensure quality. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.