Detailed Explanation of Daylily Cultivation Techniques and Processing Methods

Daylily is a floral treasure vegetable with high nutritional value and multiple health benefits, loved by many consumers. Its edible part--the flower bud--is highly nutritious and is called “green gold” and an “all-round nutrition bank.” The cultivation techniques and processing methods of daylily are detailed as follows:

I. Daylily Cultivation Techniques

1. Site selection: Daylily prefers warmth and has strong adaptability, but its above-ground parts wither when exposed to frost; its root system is well developed and highly drought-tolerant, growing well on hillside land; it has low soil requirements and can be planted in sandy soil, clay soil, flat land, and mountainous areas. However, red-yellow soil is best.

2. Deep plowing and land preparation: Daylily is a perennial crop, so deep plowing should be emphasized when tilling the land. Deep plowing of the soil is beneficial to root growth. The plowing depth is 20-30cm. Level the ground, build ridges, dig channels, and make beds. For convenience of future routine management, the bed width should preferably be 1-1.5m; the bed length is unlimited, with convenience as the principle.

3. Growth stages: Daylily is divided into 7 growth stages: early to mid-February to March is the sprouting stage, mid-March to late May is the leaf-spreading stage, late May to mid-June is the bolting stage, mid-June to early July is the budding and flowering stage, early July to early August is the post-harvest leaf-withering stage, early August to before the first autumn frost is the autumn leaf-spreading stage, and from after frost to January of the following year is the dormant stage.

4. Timely transplanting and rational close planting: Transplanting can be done from after flower bud harvest is complete until before spring shoots emerge the following year. Division and transplanting after flower bud harvest is best, as winter shoots can grow that same year, new roots can develop, nutrients can accumulate, and bolting and production can occur the following year. For paddy fields and vegetable garden soil with high fertility, plant 16000 hills per mu. For sloping land and poor soil, plant 2000 hills per mu. The wide-narrow row alternating planting method is preferable. After transplanting, water promptly to settle the roots, and cover the hills with plant ash. After they survive, apply 100-200 kg of human manure and urine diluted with water per mu as a root-settling fertilizer.

5. Scientific fertilization and watering: Rational irrigation and drainage. In rainy spring, timely clearing of ditches and drainage should be done in daylily fields to prevent waterlogging. In the high-temperature and drought season of July-August, water should be introduced in time for drought resistance, keeping the soil moist, prolonging the harvest period, and increasing yield. Water introduction for drought resistance should preferably be done in the morning and evening, with rapid irrigation and rapid drainage, and flooding irrigation must not be used. Daylily greatly prefers fertilizer and is tolerant of it, especially having relatively high demand for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Fertilization should be carried out in separate applications during the spring shoot germination stage, the bolting and flowering stage, and the winter shoot development stage. At the beginning of bolting, spray Huaduozhuangdiling to enhance the plant's drought resistance and disease resistance, prolong leaf function, promote thick and strong flower buds, reduce young bud drop, and increase yield.

6. Harvesting: The optimal harvest time is when buds are formed and enclosed, that is, when the flower bud is plump and unopened, golden yellow in the middle, green at both ends, with a dark tip at the top, and the pointed tip is about to open but not yet open. The harvesting time for daylily is extremely strict; too early or too late is both bad. If too early, they are green buds with low sugar content, light fresh bud weight, and poor color, resulting in poor color of the finished product and low yield; if harvested too late, the flower buds are overripe, with split tips and loose bracts, and the juice easily flows out, resulting in poor product quality and difficulty in storage. The harvest season is generally from June to the end of August. The suitable harvest time is 1-2h before the bud just splits open; at this time, daylily yield is high and quality is good. The best time to pick is 13:00-14:00. The harvested flower buds must be steamed promptly to prevent splitting open and blooming.

II. Daylily Processing Methods

After daylily flower buds are harvested, they should be steamed and processed promptly and must not be left for too long; otherwise, because the flower bud cells are highly vigorous, the buds will loosen, bolt, and bloom, affecting quality.

The simplest method of daylily processing is steaming in a single pot with a single sieve, suitable for one household with a small cultivation area, except that fuel consumption is greater and labor intensity is relatively high. The steaming process is as follows:

On an ordinary firewood stove or coal stove, place an iron wok, keep clean water at one-third depth in the wok, and at 4~5 cm above the water surface, place a wooden cross frame, on which is placed a round bamboo sieve. The sieve edge is 8~9 cm high, and its size fits the iron wok. Place fresh buds in the bamboo sieve, hollow out the center into a depression, and pile them in a concave shape. They should not be pressed tightly; otherwise, the steam will be uneven and the steaming quality will be affected.

First use high heat to bring the water in the wok to a boil, then place the bamboo sieve on the wooden cross frame, cover well with an arched wok lid, and then cook over low heat for 8~10 minutes, until steam emerges around the wok lid. Lift the lid and observe: if the flower bud volume has naturally sunk by one-third, changed from yellow-green to pale yellow, and the bud body has become soft, remove them immediately, cool for 1~2 hours, and then take them out to dry in the sun. If it rains and they cannot be sun-dried, then dry them over low heat to prevent mold and spoilage. If the sun-dried daylily is not sold immediately, it must be sealed and stored in plastic bags to prevent moisture and spoilage.