Conditions and methods of planting Polygonatum sibiricum

Polygonatum sibiricum is a precious Chinese medicinal plant, also known as chicken-head polygonatum, yellow chicken vegetable, tiger ginger or chicken claw ginseng. It has a long growth cycle and usually takes more than three years to be harvested. The polygonatum sibiricum harvested in the fourth year has the best quality. A mature Polygonatum sibiricum can weigh up to three or four kilograms, and the plant is relatively complete. Polygonatum sibiricum is usually harvested in spring and autumn, among which the quality of Polygonatum sibiricum harvested in autumn is better. Let’s learn about the conditions and methods for growing Polygonatum sibiricum .

1. Planting conditions of Polygonatum sibiricum

1. Soil conditions: Polygonatum sibiricum prefers a moist and shaded growing environment and has strong cold resistance. In order to ensure its good growth, loam or sandy loam with deep soil layer, loose structure and rich in organic matter should be selected for planting.

2. Light requirements: Polygonatum sibiricum is suitable for growing in places with weak light, such as under the shade of trees, in bushes or on the shady side of hillsides. It should avoid long-term direct exposure to strong sunlight, because excessive light may be detrimental to its growth.

3. Water management: Polygonatum sibiricum requires more water during its growth period, but be careful not to overwater it to avoid excessive field humidity, which can induce root rot, anthracnose, leaf spot and other diseases. Water regularly to keep the soil moderately moist, usually keeping the soil moisture at around 50%.

4. Fertilizer supply : Apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting. About 2,000 kilograms of organic fertilizer are required per hectare of land. During the growing season, top dressing is required 3-4 times. 1,500 kg of soil fertilizer, 50 kg of superphosphate and 50 kg of cake fertilizer can be mixed evenly and applied into the furrows between the rows, and the soil should be covered after fertilization.

2. Polygonatum sibiricum Planting Method

1. Site selection and preparation

Choose moist and shaded land. The ideal soil type is loose, well-drained and water-retaining loam or sandy loam. Before sowing, the soil should be deeply plowed to ensure that it is fine, soft and flat, and then formed into ridges.

2. Rhizome propagation

In late autumn or early spring in late March, dig up the underground rhizomes, select the tenderer parts at the tip, and cut them into small sections with 3-4 nodes. After the cut is dried, plant it in a bed about 5 cm deep with a row spacing of 22-26 cm and a plant spacing of 10-16 cm. Cover it with 3-5 cm of soil, lightly compact it and then water it. If planting in late autumn, cover the soil with livestock manure or compost to keep it warm before it freezes. When the spring warms up the following year, break up the manure, level the land, and keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge.

3. Seed propagation

After the seeds mature in August, they should be stored in sand immediately. Mix the seeds with sand in a ratio of 1:3 and store them in a pit about 30 cm deep in a cool place to keep them moist. In late March of the following year, sift out the seeds and spread them evenly in the shallow furrows on the bed surface, covering them with about 1.5 cm of soil. After lightly compacting, water them and cover them with a layer of grass. Remove the covering grass before germination. When the seedlings grow to 6-9 cm, thin them out appropriately and transplant them after one year. In order to meet the shade needs of Polygonatum sibiricum, corn can be planted on the ridges.

4. Field management

In the early growth stages, regular tillage and weeding should be carried out, and soil should be added along the rows when necessary. In drought conditions or sunny arid areas, irrigation should be carried out in a timely manner. If conditions permit, cake fertilizer can be applied at a rate of 50-80 kg per mu, in two applications; after that, enclosure fertilizer can be applied every year at a rate of 1000-1500 kg per mu.

5. Pest and disease control

Black spot: This is the main disease of Polygonatum, caused by a Ascomycete, which mainly harms the leaves. Initially, irregular yellow-brown spots appear at the tips of the leaves. As the disease progresses, the spots spread downward. Especially during the rainy season, the disease worsens and eventually causes the leaves to turn yellow. Prevention and control measures include cleaning the fields during harvest and removing diseased remains; spraying 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture or 1000 times diluted 50% thiophanate-methyl before and in the early stages of the disease, once every 7-10 days for multiple times.

Pests: Grubs and cutworms are common pests.

White grub: Belonging to the family Scarabaeidae of the order Coleoptera, the larvae will bite off the seedlings or eat the roots of the seedlings, causing serious damage.

Cutworms: damage seedlings and rhizomes.

Prevention and control methods: Use 75% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate to mix with seeds at 0.1% of the seed amount; during the occurrence in the field, irrigate with 1000 times diluted 90% dichlorvos; use black light or poison bait to kill adult insects; ensure that the applied manure is fully decomposed, and it is best to use high-temperature compost.

The above is an introduction to the planting method of Polygonatum sibiricum. It is very important to grasp the planting conditions and time when planting Polygonatum sibiricum, and don’t follow the trend blindly.