Chrysanthemum Greens Planting Methods and Cultivation Management Techniques

Chrysanthemum greens (Chrysanthemum nankingense) is a close relative of the herbaceous wild chrysanthemum in the Asteraceae (Compositae) genus Chrysanthemum. There are two types, small-leaf chrysanthemum greens and large-leaf chrysanthemum greens, with the large-leaf type being superior in quality. Chrysanthemum greens is the most common dish on folk dining tables; in particular, chrysanthemum greens and duck egg soup is an excellent dish for preventing heatstroke and clearing internal heat in summer. Chrysanthemum greens is rich in nutrients and is a wild vegetable with great development prospects.

Planting Methods

1. Site Selection for Planting

This vegetable is relatively cold-tolerant but poor in heat resistance, and its suitable growing temperature is controlled above 10° and no more than 20°. When selecting a site, one with relatively stable and somewhat lower temperatures is best. Fertile, moist soil is preferred; a relatively elevated terrain that does not easily accumulate water can help improve production quality. If local water diversion is inconvenient, it is best to choose a spot with a water source nearby, so that later irrigation will be extremely convenient.

2. Seed Cultivation

Chrysanthemum greens is cultivated by direct sowing, as its seedlings are rather fragile and the survival rate of transplanted seedlings is relatively low. After choosing the planting site and leveling it, plant directly; prepare a certain amount of base fertilizer at the bottom of the hole, scatter the seeds, and cover with soil, with no need to press down. The covering soil should be crushed by hand; there must be no clods, otherwise the growth of chrysanthemum greens will be inhibited. If you want it to grow well later, you can spread a thin layer of fertilizer on top, preferably livestock manure, then cover with dry grass and water with a small amount of water; for dry soil, a bit more water is needed.

3. Fertilizer and Water Application

Generally, chrysanthemum greens is planted rather densely, with a plant spacing of only about 10 cm, so fertilizer and water need to be applied somewhat frequently. When the seedlings emerge and reach about 5-10 cm, begin the first topdressing; at this time, mainly use urea liquid fertilizer, which can also save the watering step, with the ratio controlled at about 1 part urine to 2 parts water. Later, control topdressing to about three times every 2 months; when fertilizing, pour from the roots downward, all mainly with liquid fertilizer. If the soil is extremely fertile, control it to once a month.

4. Field Management

During growth, weeds are a relatively common problem for chrysanthemum greens, so weeding should be done fairly diligently; weeds must not exceed 8 cm. Generally, it is enough to clear the larger weeds; small weeds will later be shaded out by the chrysanthemum greens and will find it hard to grow large. Chrysanthemum greens is a multi-harvest crop and can be harvested multiple times, so it must not be picked together with the roots; harvest at the stage of its first branching position. Immediately after harvesting, topdress and cover part of its rhizome with soil so that it grows better later.