What Are the Prospects for Dandelion Cultivation? Detailed 2020 Planting Methods

Dandelion is a plant everyone is familiar with. In many places, tenacious dandelions will grow, and children even like to blow on its flowers, watching the petals drift away. In fact, dandelion has high medicinal value, so what are the prospects for planting dandelion in 2020? How should it be planted?

I. What are the prospects for planting dandelion in 2020?

Dandelion has effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing abscesses and dissipating nodules, and reducing inflammation and strengthening the stomach. The tender seedlings and leaves can be used for cooking, and the whole plant can be used as medicine. It is one of the eight great warriors of traditional Chinese medicine. It can be harvested four times a year for dried product and leaves, which is the main economic source of dandelion cultivation. In one year of planting, each mu of land can produce 400 jin of dried product. In spring, the fresh and tender dandelions can also be sold as vegetables in the market, and greenhouse cultivation can supply dandelions year-round, so the cultivation prospects are also very good. Moreover, dandelion has high yield and strong adaptability, and with the development of artificial dandelion cultivation, the varieties are becoming more and more high-quality.

II. How is dandelion planted?

1. Seed selection: At present, the technology for artificial dandelion cultivation is getting better and better, and the dandelions that can be planted are becoming more and more high-quality. Choose plants with thick and large leaves, many leaves and green color, relatively deep serrations, and thick and strong rhizomes as seed-collecting plants for cultivation, so the output is higher and the planting benefits will be higher.

2. Land preparation: Choose loose, fertile sandy loam rich in organic matter for planting, and apply 3000—3500 kg of fully decomposed high-quality farmyard manure per mu. After the autumn harvest and clearing of the garden, spread the fertilizer evenly and plow 20-25 cm for land preparation. High beds or flat beds can be made according to local habits.

3. Sowing: Dandelion cultivation mainly has two methods: drilling and broadcasting. Drilling is to open shallow furrows on the bed surface at a row spacing of 20-25 cm, with a sowing width of about 10 cm. After the seeds are sown, cover with soil 0.3-0.5 cm and then press lightly. Broadcasting is to scatter seeds on a flat bed, using about 1 kg of seed per mu. After sowing, cover with grass to keep warm and moist. When seedlings emerge, remove the covering grass. Seedlings can emerge in about 7-10 days. If it is relatively humid and cool, covering with grass is not necessary.

4. Seedling stage management: Seedlings emerge about one week after sowing. After the seedlings are fully emerged, remove the plastic film, and promptly carry out intertillage, weeding, topdressing, and watering, which can make the seedlings more vigorous. When the seedlings enter the 2 to 3 true leaf stage, 5 to 6 true leaf stage, and 7 to 9 true leaf stage, thinning should be carried out 3 times respectively in combination with intertillage and weeding (the thinned seedlings can be sold on the market). For the last time, select strong seedlings and set the plants at a spacing of 3 cm. After thinning and setting, generally all need timely watering. After setting, apply 10-15 kg of urea and 5 kg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu, and water once more in combination with topdressing. During this period, excessive growth and lodging should be prevented, and field weeds should be removed promptly in combination with intertillage.

5. Water and fertilizer: Keeping the soil moist and maintaining soil fertility are the keys to dandelion growth. After each thinning and each harvest, apply 1 application of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer in combination with watering. Do not water within 3-4 days after harvest to prevent root rot. During the growth period, topdress 1-2 times, applying 10-14 kg of urea and 5-6 kg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu each time. Water frequently to keep the soil moist.

Dandelion has very strong vitality and relatively few pests and diseases, and the market demand for dandelion is also growing. The prospects for cultivation are very good.