Cultivation Methods and Key Technical Points for Goatweed
Goatweed (Ixeris denticulata) is a wild plant that serves both as medicine and food. It is an annual herb, commonly known among the people as bitter vegetable, and also known by other names such as Tianxiangcai and Wuxiangcai. Because of its efficacy in treating anemia, relieving summer heat and promoting health, clearing heat and detoxifying, and killing bacteria and reducing inflammation, it is deeply loved by everyone in the market. So how should goatweed be cultivated? Let's take a look together.
1. Land preparation and fertilization
Goatweed has low requirements for soil. For cultivation, it is enough to choose an area that is ventilated, sunny, and convenient for drainage and irrigation. Because its seeds are relatively small and its ability to push through the soil is weak, the soil should be loosened before planting. When plowing the soil, apply 2000-3000 kg of farmyard manure per mu and 25 kg of compound fertilizer as base fertilizer. After fertilizing, harrow finely and level the soil.
2. Sowing and seedling raising
Goatweed can be sown in spring or autumn. In northern regions, sowing is generally carried out in early April. Sowing can be done by direct seeding or by raising seedlings and transplanting, and direct seeding is generally used in production. For direct seeding, methods such as hole sowing, drilling, or spot sowing can be used. Because the seeds have poor soil-pushing ability, the sowing depth should not be too deep; 3-4 cm is appropriate, and the seeding rate per mu is between 0.5-1 kg. For raising seedlings and transplanting, a seedbed must first be prepared well, with a sowing rate of 0.1-0.2 kg per mu. When the seedlings grow to 4-5 true leaves, they can be transplanted. When transplanting, the row spacing should be controlled at 25-30 cm and the plant spacing at 10-15 cm.
3. Field management
After transplanting, in order to improve the survival rate, promptly water with rooting water and survival water, then cover with a shade net for one week and remove it promptly once the plants have survived. In winter, if a cold wave occurs, cultivation in a greenhouse is needed. However, it should be noted that the greenhouse temperature should not exceed 30 degrees. Once the temperature is too high, ventilate promptly to cool it down. The nighttime temperature should preferably be kept between 15-20 degrees. At the same time, pay attention to humidity. The air humidity should not be too high, and heavy water irrigation is strictly prohibited. During growth, it is only necessary to keep the field moist.
4. Pests and diseases
The goatweed plant contains a white milky sap, which is a bitter principle, so it has very few pests and diseases. Generally, some pests cause damage only during the transition between summer and autumn. At this time, spraying ordinary insecticide is enough for control, but spraying pesticide is not recommended, so as to create pollution-free green food.
The above is an introduction to the cultivation methods for goatweed. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more about cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to us.