A detailed guide to the sowing method of Madagascar periwinkle, easy for beginners to learn too
Madagascar periwinkle is a plant in the Apocynaceae family, also known as golden marigold, four-season spring, and so on. Madagascar periwinkle not only has very high ornamental value, but its whole plant can also be used as medicine, with effects such as relieving pain and reducing inflammation, and promoting sleep and bowel movements. Therefore, quite a lot of people grow Madagascar periwinkle nowadays, so how should it be sown when growing it? Today, the editor brings you the sowing method of Madagascar periwinkle, so let's take a look below!
1. Seed collection time
Before sowing, we first need to do a good job of collecting Madagascar periwinkle seeds. The ripening period of Madagascar periwinkle fruit varies because the flowering time is different, so when collecting seeds, we should mainly collect them as they ripen. After the Madagascar periwinkle fruit matures, its color gradually turns black. The pericarp splits open easily, and the seeds then fall out and scatter, so we must collect seeds in time. When we find that the pericarp color is gradually turning yellow and the seeds can be faintly seen, we should begin harvesting.
2. Sowing time
The sowing time of Madagascar periwinkle is also very crucial, and the sowing time has a direct impact on the growth of Madagascar periwinkle. The suitable temperature for Madagascar periwinkle seeds is generally around 20 degrees, so the sowing time should be decided according to the environment and climate of the region. However, in general, most regions sow around April, for the purpose of annual cultivation. If you want to sow Madagascar periwinkle earlier, then in early spring you can raise seedlings in a greenhouse, maintain a suitable temperature, and move them to open-field cultivation after the temperature gradually rises again.
3. Seedbed preparation
After determining the sowing time and collecting seeds, we also need to choose a good sowing seedbed. The sowing seedbed for Madagascar periwinkle should be chosen in a place with higher terrain, dry conditions, sufficient light, and normal drainage and irrigation. The sowing soil should maintain sufficient fertility, be loose, and have good permeability; if conditions permit, it can be prepared with materials such as peat and perlite. Then disinfect it with carbendazim, and after the liquid dries slightly, do the land preparation work, deeply plow the soil, and then make beds ready for sowing. If you want to increase the emergence rate, then we can put the seeds in warm water, potassium permanganate, and other solutions for sprouting and disinfection.
4. Sowing method
The sowing method of Madagascar periwinkle is mainly broadcasting, and it is enough to scatter the seeds evenly over the soil. After sowing, be careful to cover with a layer of fine soil, and do not let the seeds be exposed to light directly. Then water appropriately, and cover with plastic film to improve the soil's moisture retention capacity; after about a week, seedlings can emerge. After the seedlings emerge, remove the film and appropriately increase the light duration. The seedling stage of Madagascar periwinkle grows relatively slowly, and the growth rate speeds up after the temperature rises, so at this time thinning of seedlings should be done well.
The above is a brief introduction to the sowing method of Madagascar periwinkle. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can be helpful to everyone!