When to plant Platycodon grandiflorus (balloon flower)? Planting methods and precautions

Under normal circumstances, the market purchase price of fresh first-grade Platycodon grandiflorus is basically 2.6-6.0 yuan per kg, and the purchase price of dried goods is 12 yuan per kg. At present, the market gap for Platycodon grandiflorus is relatively large, at 5 million kg per year, accounting for only about 50% of demand, and the market has seen a situation where Platycodon grandiflorus is in short supply. Therefore, growing Platycodon grandiflorus is profitable.

1. Site selection and land preparation. Choose a slope with sufficient sunlight and deep soil, or level ground with good drainage. The soil should preferably be sandy loam or humus soil. Apply 4000 kg of farmyard manure per mu as base fertilizer, and plow deeply 30-40 cm. Break up the soil finely and rake it level, then make beds 1.2-1.5 m wide.

2. Key points of propagation

1. Seed treatment: Select large, plump seeds produced by two-year-old Platycodon grandiflorus plants with a dark color, place them in warm water at 50-60°C, stir continuously and skim off impurities, and after the water cools, soak them for another 12 hours, or soak the seeds in a 0.3% potassium permanganate solution for 12 hours, which can increase the germination rate.

2. Sowing period: Autumn sowing, winter sowing and spring sowing are all possible, but autumn sowing is preferable. With autumn sowing, seedlings emerge in the same year, the growth period is long, and the fruit-setting rate and root thickness are significantly higher than those of spring sowing the following year. Winter sowing or spring sowing: winter sowing is from November to January of the following year, and spring sowing is from March to April. Winter sowing is preferable, and broadcast sowing is generally used.

3. Sowing method: Direct sowing is generally used, but seedling raising and transplanting can also be used. The yield of direct sowing is higher than that of transplanting, and the root shape has less branching and better quality. Open furrows on the bed surface at a row spacing of 20-25 cm, 4-5 cm deep, with a sowing width of 10 cm. To sow the seeds evenly, mix them with 2-3 times their volume of fine soil or fine sand before sowing, and cover with 2 cm of soil after sowing. Seed rate: 750-1000 g per mu for direct sowing, and 2350-5000 g per mu for seedling raising.

3. Field management

1. Thinning and reseeding: When the seedlings are 2 cm high, thin them appropriately. When the seedlings are 3-4 cm high, finalize the stand, keeping 1 strong seedling at a spacing of about 10 cm. Reseeding and thinning can be carried out at the same time, and reseeding with soil attached makes it easier for the seedlings to survive.

2. Cultivation and weeding: Because Platycodon grandiflorus grows slowly in the early stage, weeds should be removed in time, generally 3 times. The first time is when the seedlings are 7-10 cm high, the second time is one month later, and the third time is another month after that. Weeds should be removed whenever they appear.

3. Fertilizer and water management: In late June and July, topdressing should be applied in a timely manner according to plant growth, mainly with human and livestock manure, combined with a small amount of phosphate fertilizer and urea. Water should be applied during drought, and drainage should be noted during the rainy season.

4. Topping and flower removal: When the seedlings are 10 cm high, topping should be carried out on two-year-old plants retained for seed production. For annual or biennial plants not retained for seed production, all flowers should be removed to reduce nutrient consumption and promote the growth of underground roots. Spraying 1 ml/L ethephon once at full bloom can basically achieve the purpose of flower removal, and the yield increases by 45% compared with those not sprayed.

4. Pest and disease control

1. Ring spot disease and sheath blight mainly damage leaves. In the early stage of the disease, spray 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture or 50% carbendazim 1000-fold solution for control.

2. False wireworms damage the roots. During the larval stage in May-June, spray 90% trichlorfon 800-fold solution or 50% phoxim 1000-fold solution to kill them.

3. Aphids and red spider mites damage seedlings and leaves. Spray 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate 1500-2000-fold solution or 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate 1500-fold solution once every 10 days.

4. Dodder can spread over a large area in Platycodon grandiflorus fields and should be pulled out in time. In addition, mole crickets, cutworms and white grubs can be trapped and killed with trichlorfon poison bait.

5. Harvesting and processing. In autumn of the second year after sowing or in the year of transplanting, when the leaves turn yellow and wither, they can be dug up. Cut off the stems, leaves and root crowns, wash the soil off the roots, soak them in water, and while fresh scrape off the rough surface skin with a bamboo strip or glass shard, wash clean, and dry in the sun or dry over a smokeless coal fire.