How to grow Acanthopanax senticosus? Planting techniques and cultivation management methods

Acanthopanax senticosus (Latin scientific name: Acanthopanax senticosus (Rupr. Maxim.) Harms), also known as: kan guai bang zi, lao hu lao, yi bai zhen. It is a shrub, 1-6 m tall, with many branches. The leaves have 5 leaflets, rarely 3; the petioles often bear sparse fine prickles, the leaflets are papery, elliptic-obovate or oblong, the apex acuminate, the base broadly cuneate, the upper surface rough and dark green with coarse hairs on the veins, the lower surface pale green with short pubescence on the veins, and the margins sharply doubly serrate; the petiolules have brown short pubescence.

Cultivation techniques

1. Site selection: choose a coniferous-broadleaved mixed forest, broadleaved forest or open woodland, with the canopy density of the upper tree layer between 0.3 and 0.5. Slope aspects facing shade or semi-shade are preferable. Afforestation-exclusive barren hills and wastelands may also be chosen for full-light afforestation. The soil is required to be moist and fertile with good drainage. The forestland slope should not exceed 25 degrees.
2. Site clearing and land preparation: weeds and shrubs must be cleared completely, with the stubble height not exceeding 6 cm. Use the pit-planting method of land preparation, with pit specifications of 50 x 50 cm, removing tree roots, weeds and stones and loosening the soil. The planting spacing is 1 x 1.5 m, that is, a planting density of 6666 plants per hectare.

Careful planting is required; the seedlings are best lifted and planted immediately, and during transport they must be bundled to prevent wind and sun exposure. Seedlings transported to the afforestation plot must be heeled in promptly to prevent them from drying out in the wind and to ensure the survival rate. When planting, the seedlings should be held upright, the roots spread out, and the soil firmed by treading.

1. Loosening soil and weeding: after the seedlings are planted, weed and loosen the soil promptly; first cut down the sprouting weeds and shrubs, and for the cultivation techniques of Belamcanda chinensis, loosen the soil within the planting pits, combining weeding with two rounds of intertillage to keep the field clean.
2. Topdressing: apply topdressing once in late June, using decomposed farmyard manure or human excrement and urine, applied in radial trenches around the roots; after topdressing, cover with soil and water once with clear water.
3. Pruning and shaping: at any time cut off branches that grow too densely, as well as dead branches, aged branches, diseased and rotting branches and deformed branches, to maintain the tree's sanitary condition and vigorous growth.

1. Harvesting young leaves: they can be picked from late April to the end of August. The picking timing must be accurately grasped, picking when the young leaves are fully spread and still in a fresh and tender state. When picking, use the "pick one, leave one" method to ensure there are enough leaves for the normal growth of the tree.
2. Harvesting young stems: Acanthopanax senticosus generally begins to sprout from late April to early May, and the young stems can be picked when they grow to 15-20 cm. Grasping the picking timing is very important: picking too early gives low yield and poor taste; picking too late makes the stems tough and reduces quality.
3. Harvesting root bark and stems: the roots and stems are best harvested in autumn after the trees shed their leaves. For old trees that have been picked for many years and repeatedly cut back at ground level and have no hope of rejuvenation, dig them out including the roots; cut the above-ground stem parts into 20 cm long sections, wash them clean, dry them in the sun and tie them into small bundles. After the roots are dug out, shake off the soil, wash them clean with clear water, peel off the root bark and dry it in the sun before selling or storing.