Detailed Explanation of Valerian Planting Techniques and Management Key Points
Valerian is a perennial herb and a traditional Chinese medicinal material. Many Chinese patent medicines contain its components, and because of its high medicinal value, it has relatively wide uses. However, it grows slowly, and wild resources cannot meet the growing demand, so artificial cultivation is carried out in many regions. So how should valerian be planted? Let's take a look together.
1. Site Selection and Land Preparation
Valerian generally grows on hillside grasslands, under forests, or beside ditches at altitudes below 2500 m. It prefers humid environments. For planting, choose land with a high groundwater table or low-lying land, requiring convenient drainage and irrigation and loose, fertile neutral or acidic sandy soil. When planting, combine with land preparation and apply 2500 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 50 kg of compound fertilizer per mu. After intensive cultivation, make beds and open drainage ditches well.
2. Propagation Methods
Valerian is propagated by sowing. In June-July, when most of the seeds turn yellowish-brown, harvest them and dry them in the sun for later use. When collecting seeds, note that valerian seeds are relatively small and very easily blown away by wind and water. Generally, autumn sowing is used. In September-October, open furrows on the bed surface at a row spacing of 40 cm, sow the seeds evenly, and note that the soil cover should not be too deep, with 1 cm being appropriate. After sowing, water promptly if drought occurs, and seedlings can emerge in about 7-10 days. If in a high-cold region, sowing can be done in March in spring.
3. Field Management
Valerian prefers humid environments, so it should be watered frequently to keep the soil moist, especially during the seedling emergence stage. If the soil is dry, it may affect the seedling emergence rate, and in severe cases, the seeds may fail to emerge smoothly, causing seed rot. The first fertilization is carried out after the seedlings turn green following emergence in spring, applying 1000-1500 kg of human and livestock manure water or 8-10 kg of urea per mu; the second fertilization is in early June, when it is in the peak growth period, applying 1500 kg of human and livestock manure water per mu as a topdressing, while spraying foliar fertilizer once a week. After budding, except for seed-production fields, remove the flower buds to reduce nutrient consumption, concentrate nutrients to supply the roots, promote tuber enlargement, and increase yield.
4. Pest and Disease Control
The main disease of valerian is viral mosaic disease, which causes plant leaves to shrink and become deformed or causes plants to be stunted. Diseased plants should be pulled out promptly and taken out of the field to be burned, and aphid control should be strengthened to prevent the spread of this disease. The main insect pests are mole crickets and aphids. Mole crickets can be controlled by spraying carbofuran, and aphids can be controlled by spraying dimethoate.
The above is an introduction to valerian planting techniques. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.