Seeding and Seedling-Raising Methods and Key Techniques for Dianthus

Dianthus is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Dianthus in the family Caryophyllaceae, with numerous varieties and rich flower colors, and it is mainly propagated sexually.

When raising Dianthus seedlings, choose a flat, dry site, apply 15 kg of compound fertilizer, deep-plow, break up the soil, and level it, then form beds 1 m wide. Irrigate once thoroughly, and sow immediately after the water seeps in. After sowing, cover with a thin layer of fine soil, set up a small arch shed, and cover with plastic sheeting. The temperature inside the shed should preferably be 20°C to 26°C, so that seedlings emerge in about 10 days. After emergence, pay attention to ventilation to prevent excessive growth, so as to achieve the purpose of hardening the seedlings. After half a month of hardening, choose an overcast or cloudy afternoon, remove the plastic sheeting, clear away the weeds thoroughly, and pay attention to controlling cutworms and aphids. After 2 to 3 months, the seedlings can be divided and transplanted. This method is suitable from after the spring thaw until before wheat harvest. For sandy soil, sow 0.5 kg per mu; for clay soil, 0.6 kg; for engineering land, 0.9 kg. Its advantages are: a high seedling survival rate, saving seeds, and allowing seedlings to leave the nursery early. Its disadvantages are: it is labor-intensive and the cost is slightly higher.

For raising Dianthus seedlings, the direct sowing method can also be used: after fertilizing, deep-plowing, and leveling the seedling plot, scatter the seeds evenly over the soil surface, and rake once lengthwise and once crosswise. Do not use too much force when raking. Afterward, it is best to roll it once with a roller or tread it once by hand, then spray water to maintain moisture. The number of waterings can be determined according to soil moisture and weather; generally spray once or twice a day, more on sunny days, and less or not at all on cloudy days. Seedlings emerge in about two weeks. After emergence, strengthen management, remove weeds promptly, and pay attention to drainage on rainy days. This method is suitable for use from after wheat harvest until before the soil freezes. For sandy soil, sow 0.6 kg per mu; for clay soil, 0.8 kg; for engineering land, 1.3 kg is suitable. In addition, the sowing rate can also be determined on your own according to soil structure, soil properties, and planting requirements. Its advantages are: no need to transplant seedlings, which can save a large amount of labor; its disadvantage is: it uses slightly more seeds.

In Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, ** and the Dunhuang area of Gansu, the direct sowing time should be arranged 50 days before the soil freezes. Otherwise, it is unfavorable for Dianthus overwintering. Of course, protected cultivation is an exception.