A Detailed Explanation of Polygonatum Planting Techniques and Management Methods
Polygonatum is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb in China, with effects of tonifying the spleen and moistening the lungs to promote fluid production. As its market demand grows, its price keeps rising, and its cultivation prospects are good. So how should polygonatum be planted? Let's take a look at the planting techniques together.
1. Land preparation and fertilization
Polygonatum likes to grow in a moist and shaded environment, so when planting, choose an environment suitable for its growth, ideally loam or sandy loam with loose soil texture and good water retention. To help polygonatum grow better, carry out land preparation before planting. First, plow deeply once or several times to make the soil loose, which is beneficial to the growth of polygonatum. Then apply base fertilizer, mainly farmyard manure or organic fertilizer, generally about 2000 kg per mu, but be careful to apply the farmyard manure or organic fertilizer only after it has been thoroughly decomposed, so as not to harm the polygonatum seedlings. After fertilizing, if conditions permit, the soil can be disinfected and sterilized to reduce the harm of pests and diseases.
2. Planting methods
When planting, polygonatum can be propagated by seeds and rhizomes. Seed propagation is a common sexual propagation method. Generally, in August, mature seeds are collected and stored in sand, and then sown in March of the following spring. The broadcast sowing method is generally used. First, open shallow furrows on the seedbed at a row spacing of 15 cm, then sow the seeds evenly, and cover with 1-1.5 cm of soil. After sowing, water and cover with grass to keep warm and moist, and after one year of cultivation, they can be transplanted. For rhizomes, select the rhizomes of mature polygonatum plants, cut off several young and tender parts, let the wounds dry, and then plant them. Similar to sowing, keep the soil moist. In production, seed propagation has a longer growth cycle, so it is mostly used to cultivate a large number of seedlings.
3. Intertillage and weeding
During the seedling stage, the main work is intertillage and weeding. To avoid weeds competing with seedlings for water and nutrients, start weeding after the seedlings emerge. Generally, weeding is carried out 3-4 times a year to ensure there are no weeds in the field. At the same time, in order to promote the growth of the seedling root system, intertillage is necessary, as it can loosen the soil and prevent the soil from becoming compacted and hindering root growth. Especially after rain, the soil is very prone to compaction, and timely intertillage can prevent the roots from suffocating due to lack of oxygen. In the later stage of the seedling stage, in addition to intertillage, hilling up soil is also needed to prevent the roots from being exposed and to avoid lodging of the plants.
4. Fertilizer and water management
Polygonatum likes to grow in a moist and shaded environment, so attention should be paid to fertilizer and water management. Generally, after transplanting, water once a week to keep the soil moist, and also do a good job of shading to prevent strong light from affecting plant growth. Topdressing is generally carried out together with weeding. The first fertilization is done after the first weeding, and thereafter fertilize once every 1-2 months. However, when fertilizing, pay attention to the amount and concentration to avoid burning the roots. At the same time, also pay attention to the reproduction of pests and diseases, especially underground pests during the seedling stage. They will bite off the seedling roots, causing broken seedlings, and in severe cases, leading to the death of large areas of seedlings.
The above is an introduction to polygonatum planting techniques. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.