Kudzu is a treasure from top to bottom; the stem bark fiber can be twisted into rope, woven into kudzu cloth, and also used as a papermaking raw material. At the same time, the leaves of kudzu are also an excellent green feed and can be used to feed pigs, raise rabbits, and so on, giving it high cultivation value. In the process of growing kudzu, doing its seedling raising work well is the foundation. So, how should kudzu seedlings be raised? Below we introduce the seedling raising techniques for kudzu. Let's take a look.

Image: Kudzu

I. Seedbed preparation

Choose a mountain area or garden plot that is sheltered from the wind and faces the sun, with sandy soil and no harm from livestock and poultry, as the seedbed. Prepare the seedbed land into ridges 15-20 cm high and 60-100 cm wide, with no limit on length. Apply 1.5-2.5 kg of decomposed manure or farmyard manure per square meter. Deeply plow and rake level, with the middle of the seedbed slightly raised, and the ditches on both sides 20-30 cm wide.

II. Seeding operation

Before sowing, the seedbed should be fully moistened. Take selected kudzu vine stems of a superior variety, use one bud as one seed, cut the bud nodes into small sections 6-10 cm long, and scatter them on the prepared seedbed. To avoid overlap, cover them with fine soil 2-3 mm thick, in principle reaching a state where they are faintly visible, then broadcast some decomposed manure, and cover with a layer of rice straw. Use bamboo strips or small bamboo slivers about 2 m long to insert into the seedbed in an arch shape, inserting one every 35 cm. Cover with agricultural film and fully cover the seedbed into an arch shape, then compact the edges all around with soil.

Image: Kudzu

III. Seedbed management

Because the temperature during the seedling raising period is relatively low, the water consumption of the seed stems is not large. After about 10 days, if the ridge surface is dry, water once. After the planted roots sprout branches, the water requirement should be increased appropriately, watering about once every 3 days to keep the seedbed fully moist. The seedbed temperature is best at around 20°C. When the temperature reaches above 30°C, the film should be uncovered for ventilation or water sprayed to regulate it, so that the temperature is balanced. When the seed ears sprout branches, uncover the covering rice straw to avoid direct sunlight, and provide appropriate shading at noon on sunny days to prevent scorching. When the seed ears grow young branches and unfold 3 leaves and reach a length of 5 cm, seedlings can be lifted with soil. The lifting action should be gentle to avoid damage.

[Editor's concluding remarks]Doing the seedling raising work for kudzu well is the foundation for successfully cultivating kudzu, and attention should be paid to it. The above has introduced the seedling raising techniques for kudzu for everyone, and we hope it can be helpful to you!

How is kudzu planted?

Kudzu, also known as Getiao, Gange, Fenge, etc., is the dried root of the wild kudzu plant of the genus Pueraria in the Fabaceae family. Kudzu is a very common Chinese medicinal herb, with effects such as relieving muscle tension and reducing fever, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst, and raising yang and stopping diarrhea. It is an emerging green health and longevity food and a tight export product, with high cultivation value. So, when is kudzu planted? How is it planted? The planting time and methods of kudzu are introduced below.

Image: Kudzu planting

I. Planting time of kudzu

The best planting period for kudzu is from mid-to-late March to early April (the noon temperature must not be lower than 10°C). Plant seedlings (with roots) or cut seedlings (containing 2 stem nodes, without roots) diagonally into the soil at 30 degrees to the ground. Note that the growth point at the stem node of the seedling must be exposed above the soil surface; for cut seedlings, one of the two stem nodes must be in the soil and one outside the soil.

II. Planting methods of kudzu

1. Land selection and preparation:For kudzu planting, choose a plot with good drainage, deeply plow 30 cm before winter, and apply 2000-3000 kg of farmyard manure per mu in combination with plowing, turning it evenly into the soil. The following spring, shallow plowing can be done again, breaking up soil clods, raking finely and evenly, leveling, and making beds 1-1.2 m wide for later use, with ditches about 30 cm between beds.

2. Seed propagation:Around Qingming in spring, soak the seeds in 40°C warm water for 1-2 days, stirring frequently. After taking them out and drying the water, open holes in the middle of the prepared bed and sow, with holes 3 cm deep and plant spacing 35-40 cm, sowing 4-6 seeds per hole. After sowing, level the holes, water, and seedlings emerge in about 10 days.

Image: Kudzu planting

3. Intertillage and weeding:Wild kudzu grows relatively fast. Remove weeds once before germination in early spring, and remove weeds once more after leaf fall in late autumn. Generally, frequent weeding is not needed during the growing period.

4. Reasonable topdressing:This can be done in combination with intertillage and weeding. After greening up, apply greening-up fertilizer mainly as decomposed human manure water, applying 1000 kg per mu, and appropriately apply urea together. After leaf fall, apply overwintering fertilizer, mainly farmyard manure. During the peak growth period each year, a small amount of potassium fertilizer can be applied in combination with watering to promote root growth.

5. Staking in due time:Wild kudzu cultivation requires staking. Between two rows, erect 1 wooden post every 2-3 m, connect the posts with wire, and tie bamboo poles or wire between beds to facilitate climbing. When the seedlings are 30 cm high, the vines can be guided onto the trellis.

6. Pruning and trimming:During the growing period, the growth of stems and vines should be controlled, and the terminal buds should be removed to reduce nutrient consumption. The plant shape should also be reasonably adjusted to make full use of sunlight, and dead vines and diseased or damaged branches should be cut off in time.

Image: Kudzu planting

7. Disease and pest control:Wild kudzu has few diseases. During the growing period, the main pests harming stems and leaves include crickets and scarab beetles. Crickets can be killed by spraying with 2000-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate. For scarab beetles, spray the leaf surface in May-June with 1000-fold dilution of 90% trichlorfon crystals. For other pests, dimethoate, insecticide, and the like can be used.

8. Harvesting and processing:Cultivated wild kudzu can be dug in late autumn to early winter or before early spring after 2-3 years. When digging, dig out all the roots, remove the stems and vines and fibrous roots, scrape off the coarse bark, cut into small sections about 10 cm long, and longitudinally cut into slices or strips about 5 cm thick. They can be dried on a heated kang as they are cut, or soaked in 2% lime water and then sun-dried. Those that are white in color and high in powder with no mildew are preferred.

[Editor's concluding remarks]Kudzu likes a warm environment and has a certain tolerance to cold and drought. It grows well in loose, fertile loam or sandy loam with good drainage, and special attention is needed during the planting process. The above has introduced the planting time and methods of kudzu for everyone, and we hope it can help you!