How to grow nettles? Planting methods and field management key points
We all know that nettles are mainly used for textile manufacturing and are one of the raw materials for cloth. But if we know more about nettles, we know that they can also be used as medicine to dispel wind-dampness; their leaves can also be used as feed. Nettles have a very long planting history in China, but due to the rise of the retro style in recent years, nettle cultivation has entered a new era. So do you know how to grow nettles? Let us learn about it together below.
1. Soil and fertilizer improvement
Nettles have strong resistance. In the past, wild nettles could be seen in many rural places, but now generally wild nettles can only be seen in some very remote mountain villages. Nettles have no requirements for the soil of the planting site; as long as the plot is flat, has good drainage and high looseness, it can be planted. In order to improve the survival rate and yield of nettle cultivation, after choosing the planting site, the land will be prepared, and land preparation will be combined with base fertilizer. It is best to use chicken manure, duck manure, etc. as the base fertilizer. After mixing the base fertilizer and soil evenly, level the ground, open furrows and make beds.
2. Scientific planting
When we grow nettles, we generally use seed sowing. Seed sowing is very simple, but one thing to note is that nettle seedling raising is a little different from other crops: it is best to use potted seedling raising, so that the nettle emergence rate is relatively high. Evenly scatter the selected seeds in the pot, then cover with a layer of fine nutrient soil, then water the soil thoroughly, and you can wait for emergence. Of course, we can also use division propagation to grow them, but it requires relatively many seed roots, so it is generally not suitable for large-scale cultivation.
3. Field management
After seed sowing, seedlings generally emerge in about half a month. During the seedling stage, we should water enough basal water to promote the growth of the seedlings. When the seedlings grow to about eight to ten cm, they can be transplanted and established. When transplanting, we generally establish them at a density of 70 cm between rows and 20 cm between plants. After nettles are established, water them in time to promote the growth of new roots and improve the survival rate of nettles. After nettles survive, weed early to reduce nutrient loss, and at the same time enhance soil permeability and promote nettle growth. During the growth of nettles, carry out topdressing and watering scientifically. Generally, when the base fertilizer is sufficient, no topdressing is needed, but if the nettles show yellowing leaves or thin and weak plants, then appropriately apply nitrogen fertilizer as topdressing, using the method of mixing with water for irrigation, to improve nutrient utilization.
4. Disease and pest control
If management is in place during nettle cultivation, there are very few diseases and pests, because its disease resistance is very strong. However, in high-temperature weather, powdery mildew may also occur. For powdery mildew, we can use Baidaifu for control. Of course, we should also pay attention to preventing pests. The more common ones are aphids, leafminer flies and stinging caterpillars. For aphids and stinging caterpillars, we can use dimethoate for spraying and killing, while for leafminer flies it is best to use Chongbijng for spraying and killing.
Nettle cultivation is indeed very simple, and field management work is also very easy, so its cultivation techniques are very easy to master. Of course, if you want to learn more about nettles, you can follow us, and I believe you will find the answer you want.