Cultivation time of Polygonatum sibiricum

Polygonatum sibiricum is a traditional Chinese medicinal material that can be used as both medicine and food. It is widely loved by people and is often used to make tea for drinking. Polygonatum sibiricum not only has medicinal effects, but is also highly respected for its unique edible value. It can be made into a variety of delicious foods, such as traditional recipes such as Polygonatum sibiricum rice porridge, Polygonatum sibiricum soup and Polygonatum sibiricum stewed chicken, and performs excellently in diet therapy and health preservation. Let’s learn about the cultivation time and methods of Polygonatum sibiricum.

1. Soil selection

Polygonatum sibiricum prefers to grow in moist mountain shrub areas and forest edge grasses. It likes cool environments and has high requirements for light. When planted under the forest, the appropriate density is 0.4 to 0.6; if planted in the field, shade is required and the light transmittance of the shade net should be controlled between 0.4 and 0.5. The most suitable growth temperature is 20 to 25℃ during the day and 15 to 20℃ at night. The soil should be loose, fertile, deep, and yellow loam or loam with a pH value of 5.5 to 7.0. Polygonatum has high requirements for water. It is neither drought-resistant nor water-resistant and requires good water sources and drainage conditions. In addition, the planting area should be away from industrial waste gas emission sources.

2. Planting time and method

1. Site selection and land preparation

For planting Polygonatum sibiricum, newly reclaimed wasteland should be selected, with priority given to open land under the forest or on the edge of the forest with deep soil, rich humus and good upper light transmittance. Before planting, evenly spread 2000 to 2500 kg/mu of decomposed organic fertilizer and 25 kg/mu of superphosphate, then plow the land to a depth of 25 to 30 cm, and dig 40 to 60 cm deep drainage ditches around the flat land.

2. Seed selection and planting

(1) Seed stem selection: Select rhizomes that are 3 to 4 years old, free of pests and diseases, undamaged, and with intact buds as seed stems. Cut the seed stem with buds into 3 to 4 sections and apply wood ash to the wounds.

(2) Seed stem treatment: Before sowing, soak the seed stems in 800 to 1200 times diluted carbendazim wettable powder, agricultural streptomycin, methyl thiophanate and other fungicides for 15 to 30 minutes, then remove and air dry. After drying, spread the seed stems under the sun for 1 to 2 days before planting.

(3) Cultivation: Polygonatum sibiricum is best sown from September of the previous year to March of the following year before seedlings emerge. When planting, dig furrows with a row spacing of 35 to 40 cm and a plant spacing of 15 to 20 cm. The planting depth is 8 to 10 cm. Cover the soil with 5 to 8 cm after planting. September to October is the best sowing period.

(4) Covering: Before the Polygonatum sibiricum seedlings emerge, cover the bed surface with straw or other thatch (3 to 5 cm) to increase soil organic matter, prevent weed growth, and maintain soil moisture.

3. Field Management

(1) Intertillage and weeding: From April to November each year, intertillage and weeding should be carried out according to the soil moisture. When intertillage and weeding, shallow hoeing should be done to avoid damaging the rhizomes of Polygonatum.

(2) Fertilizer and water management: irrigate in time during drought to keep the soil moist; clean drainage ditches in time during the rainy season to avoid water accumulation. From March to April, after the Polygonatum sibiricum seedlings have grown fully, apply seedling fertilizer, mainly urea, at a rate of 10 to 15 kg per mu. Apply bud-picking fertilizer after bud removal in May, and apply root-strengthening fertilizer in July during the rhizome expansion period combined with tillage and weeding. Spread 25 to 30 kg/mu of triple compound fertilizer . After transplanting the seedlings in November, combine farmland cleaning with re-applying winter fertilizer, mainly organic fertilizer , applying 1000 to 1500 kg/mu of decomposed farmyard manure, plus 50 kg/mu of superphosphate and 50 kg/mu of cake fertilizer.

(3) Shading: When the light intensity increases in April, artificial shading is carried out. Use a sunshade net with a light transmittance of 30% to 40% to build a shade shed to ensure ventilation on all sides.

(4) Thinning flowers and picking buds: To reduce the consumption of nutrients for reproductive growth and promote the accumulation of nutrients in the rhizomes, the buds should be picked in time before the formation of flower buds. The buds should be picked when the Polygonatum sibiricum is forming from April to May.

(5) Seed preservation: Select tall, strong, neat, and disease- and insect-free plants for seed preservation. The seeds are harvested after they mature from September to October. Soak the seeds in clean water, remove the incomplete seeds, drain and dry them, and store them in net bags with sand for later use.

4. Pest and disease control

Agricultural prevention and control: Select rhizomes of Polygonatum that are highly disease-resistant and free of pests and diseases; promptly clean up diseased and damaged plants and dead branches and leaves; accurately predict and prevent the disease.

Physical control of pests: From April to July, install frequency-vibrating insecticidal lamps or hang yellow sticky insect boards in the Polygonatum fields for prevention and control.

The above is an introduction to the cultivation time and technology of Polygonatum. When planting Polygonatum, you need to see whether the local environmental conditions are suitable. Also, don’t blindly invest and follow the trend.