How to grow Codonopsis pilosula? A detailed explanation of the key points of Codonopsis pilosula cultivation techniques

1. Site selection and land preparation

For the seedling bed, it is best to choose a sandy loam or humus loam close to a water source, with loose, fertile soil and good drainage, and a shady slope facing away from the sun; for the planting site, a gently sloping field or terraced field with high, dry terrain and good drainage should be chosen, and virgin wasteland as well as flat land are both acceptable, but the soil layer must be deep, relatively fertile, well structured, and easy to cultivate. After the soil is selected, in the winter of the previous year clear the shrubs and weeds from the virgin wasteland, burn them to ash for fertilizer, then deep plow the soil 30 cm, level and harrow it fine, and make raised beds 1.3 m wide, with ditches 30 cm wide and 15 cm deep. For cultivation on previously cropped land, land preparation should be done in autumn or before sowing in spring. Along with land preparation, apply 2000-2500 kg of decomposed stable manure or compost per mu, turn it into the soil as base fertilizer, then harrow fine and level, and make raised beds 1.3 m wide, with drainage ditches opened well around them.

2. Transplanting

After sowing and raising seedlings, carry this out immediately in the autumn of the same year after the aboveground stems and leaves turn yellow and wither, or in the early spring of the following year after the soil thaws 10 cm. It is better to do it early than late; otherwise, growth will be affected after the Codonopsis pilosula seedlings sprout. Before transplanting, dig up the seedlings, remove inferior ones without buds, with damaged or broken roots, or too small, tie them into small bundles, and take them as needed for planting. If they cannot all be planted the same day, they should be buried in moist soil for temporary storage, and must never be sprinkled with water. When transplanting, dig trenches horizontally in the planting site at a row spacing of 20 cm, 15-18 cm deep, place the seedlings diagonally in the trenches at a plant spacing of 4-5 cm, with the tail not bent and the root system naturally spread out. Then cover with fine soil 6 cm above the root crown; after compacting, water thoroughly to settle the roots. Each mu requires 25-30 kg of seedlings.

3. Intertillage and weeding

In spring, after the seedlings emerge, pull out the weeds immediately; afterward, weed once each during thinning and replanting, preferably by hand pulling, and loosen the surface soil lightly to avoid damaging the roots. Only when the seedlings are about 9 cm tall may the soil be loosened and weeds hoed. Stop after the rows close.

4. Fertilization

The seedling bed is not topdressed during the seedling stage, in order to control excessive growth of the seedlings. In the planting site, each spring after intertillage and weeding, apply 1000-1500 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu as topdressing. For the second application, before the rows close or before trellising, apply 1500 kg of dilute human and livestock manure water per mu as topdressing. For the third application, before autumn intertillage, apply 1000-1500 kg of compost per mu, add 50 kg of superphosphate, or 15 kg of bone meal, mix well and scatter it between the rows, then turn it into the soil. After applying, earth up to protect against cold so as to help overwintering. In the following spring, after the Codonopsis pilosula seedlings turn green again, remove the cold-protection soil.

5. Drainage and irrigation

During the seedling stage and after transplanting, irrigate little but frequently. After field planting or transplanting and survival, water less or stop watering. In the rainy season, pay attention to drainage to prevent root rot.

6. Trellising

When the seedlings are 30 cm tall, use bamboo poles or tree branches to set up a trellis so that the vine stems climb and grow upward, which not only facilitates ventilation and light penetration and enhances photosynthesis, but also prevents excessive field humidity that can lead to pests and diseases. This is a yield-increasing measure in Codonopsis pilosula cultivation.