Propagation Methods and Key Cultivation Management Techniques for Garden Balsam

Propagation method: propagate by seed.

1. Site selection and land preparation: a sunny site with moist, fertile, loose and well-drained soil is preferable. Apply base fertilizer, prepare the land and make beds; make raised beds in the south and level beds in the north, with a bed width of 1.2 m.

2. Sowing method: the seeds are tiny and have a long viability; stored at room temperature for 3 years, their germination rate still reaches 79.7%. Sow directly in the field, in March in the south and April in the north. With a row spacing of 35 cm, open shallow furrows 1 cm deep, scatter the seeds evenly into the furrows, cover with soil and press lightly, then water. After sowing, keep the soil moist; at a temperature of about 25°C, seedlings begin to emerge in about 5 days. The seeding rate is 500 g per 667 sq m.

Cultivation management:

1. Thinning: thin the seedlings when they are 5-10 cm tall, removing the small, weak and overcrowded seedlings, and set the plants at a spacing of 20 cm. Reasonable close planting can give good quality and high yield.

2. Intertillage and weeding: after emergence, to prevent weeds from competing for water, loosen the soil and weed in good time. Water promptly in dry weather. Carry out intertillage and weeding 2-3 times a year.

3. Topdressing: when the plants are 30-40 cm tall, the old leaves on the lower part of the stem can be removed and the growing tips pinched off to encourage more branching. At this time, apply 40 kg of cake fertilizer per 667 sq m; a furrow can be opened along the rows, the fertilizer scattered into the furrow, covered with soil and watered. Pay attention to drainage in hot, rainy seasons.