What are the key points of rhubarb cultivation techniques?
Rhubarb is a perennial plant of the genus Rheum in the Polygonaceae family, and it is widely used as a medicinal herb in China. Rhubarb has effects such as clearing heat and purging fire, and removing blood stasis and detoxifying. Rhubarb is now being planted over an increasingly wide area, and more and more people are using it. Many people want to grow rhubarb on a large scale, but they do not know how to begin. So below, the editor brings you the cultivation techniques for rhubarb. Let's take a look together!
1. Site selection and land preparation
Rhubarb has relatively poor heat tolerance and is suitable for growing in low-temperature environments. It is usually planted in areas at an altitude of about 1200 m. The roots of rhubarb extend very deep, and the main root can even extend to about 50 cm underground. When choosing planting soil, ensure the soil is deep, loose and soft, rich in organic matter, and has normal drainage and irrigation. Clayey soil is not suitable. After selecting the site, do the land preparation well, plow about 25 cm deep, and apply sufficient farmyard manure as base fertilizer. It should also be noted that rhubarb cannot be continuously cropped and must be rotated for at least four years.
2. Timely planting
The main planting method for rhubarb is sowing. However, the storage period of the seeds is relatively short. When selecting seeds, do not choose seeds that have been stored for more than one year, as overly old seeds have a low germination rate. Sowing is usually carried out in spring and autumn. When sowing, pay attention to the sowing density, dig the sowing holes well, put 5 seeds into each sowing hole, then cover with fine soil, and manage water and fertilizer well to promote seed germination. If planting in areas unsuitable for direct sowing, the seedling-raising and transplanting method can be used. Prepare the seedling bed well, dig the field beds well, and manage them according to the management methods for direct sowing. After emergence, transplant appropriately according to the weather and the growth of the seedlings.
3. Seedling management
If direct sowing is used, thin the seedlings in time when the seedlings grow to about 9 cm, removing weak seedlings and those with pests and diseases. Then, when they grow to about 15 cm, carry out final thinning, with no more than one seedling per planting hole. For seedling raising and transplanting, this is usually done in mild-temperature seasons such as spring and autumn. When transplanting, according to the size of the seedlings, dig the planting holes while transplanting. Pay attention to the spacing and depth between planting holes to ensure the seedlings can grow normally after planting. After planting, cover with fine soil, tread firmly and press tightly, and build up water for seedling recovery to improve the survival rate.
4. Field management
Rhubarb has a relatively long growth and maturation period. After planting, it usually takes about 4 years before it can be harvested. Therefore, during the planting cycle, good hilling and weeding work must be done. During the seedling stage, weeds pose the greatest threat, and weeding should be done about 3 times. Later, observe the weeds in the soil and the growth of the rhubarb and weed in time to prevent weed overgrowth and promote the growth of rhubarb. Then there is topdressing. Rhubarb has a relatively large fertilizer requirement, so in addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, at least about two topdressings should be applied each year. The fertilizer is mainly farmyard manure, combined with an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer, to meet the nutritional needs of rhubarb.
Because the growth period of rhubarb is relatively long, in the first year after transplanting, we can appropriately practice intercropping and relay intercropping to improve land utilization. Then do good field management, strengthen the growth ability of rhubarb, promote the growth of rhubarb, and increase yield. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Friends who want to learn more related information, please continue to follow us!