Detailed Explanation of Gardenia Planting Techniques and Cultivation Management Points
Gardenia, also known as Huangzhizi or Shanzhi, is one of China's traditional medicinal herbs and can be used both as medicine and food. It has effects such as protecting the liver, promoting bile secretion, lowering blood pressure, calming, stopping bleeding, and reducing swelling, and clinically it can also treat conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. So how should it be planted? Follow along with the editor to learn about gardenia planting techniques.
1. Site Selection and Land Preparation
Choose alluvial soil or black soil with deep soil layers and loose, fertile texture as the seedbed. The seedbed should have convenient drainage and irrigation. Then apply 2000-4000 kg of farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, plow it deeply into the soil, harrow it finely and level it, and make raised beds 40 cm high. Choose a gentle slope or flat wasteland with sufficient water sources, convenient drainage and irrigation, and facing south as the planting site. Before planting, carry out reclamation, dig holes at a plant spacing of 1-1.5 m, and apply 4 kg of decomposed farmyard manure per hole as base fertilizer.
2. Propagation Methods
In gardenia production and cultivation, propagation and seedling raising are mainly carried out through seeds and cuttings. Seed propagation can be done in spring or autumn. On the prepared seedbed, dig holes at a row spacing of 25 cm, scatter the treated seed kernels into the holes, and cover with a layer of fine soil mixed with plant ash and phosphate fertilizer. After covering with soil, cover with grass to prevent soil compaction. Use 2-3 kg of seed per mu. Cutting propagation can be done from February to April and from September to October. Select robust 1-2 year old branches, cut them into 7-20 cm cuttings, and insert them on the bed surface at a row spacing of 15-30 cm. When cutting, the cuttings should be slightly tilted, inserted one-third into the soil, with one bud node exposed. After cutting, water frequently to keep the soil moist, and they can be planted out after one year.
3. Planting Out
After one year of cultivation, when seedlings grow to 25-30 cm, they can be transplanted and planted out. If the seedlings have not grown to this height, topdress promptly to promote seedling growth, carry out intertillage and weeding, and plant them out in autumn or winter of that year. The planting time is generally from the Beginning of Spring to Qingming in the first half of the year, and in late autumn or early winter in the second half. When planting out, the seedlings should carry some soil and phosphate fertilizer. On the prepared planting site, plant one plant per hole, fill with soil and compact it, and water thoroughly.
4. Field Management
During cultivation, carry out timely intertillage and weeding, mainly focusing on weeding. When intertilling, cultivate shallowly, not deeply. In winter, combine garden cleaning and fertilizing with earth banking once to help it overwinter safely. Topdressing after planting out is essential. During the vegetative growth period of gardenia, topdressing should mainly be nitrogen fertilizer, supplemented by phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and some organic fertilizer should be applied, which can promote crown formation and growth. After entering the fruiting period, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be the main focus to increase fruit setting rate and fruit number, thereby achieving the goal of high yield. Proper pruning during cultivation can also affect the yield of gardenia. When the plant grows to 50 cm, pruning should be carried out. Prune off creeping branches, weak branches, drooping branches, reverse-growing branches, and diseased or insect-damaged dead branches at 30 cm from the main trunk, leaving only one thick branch and 3-4 secondary branches in different directions, which can promote crown formation.
The above is an introduction to gardenia planting techniques. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.