Acanthopanax senticosus planting techniques and methods

Acanthopanax is a shrub with a stem that is usually densely covered with thorns and has a few upright branches that may grow in a scattered manner, are usually slender and tend to grow downward, have a narrow base, and have denser thorns at the base of the petiole. It prefers warm and humid climatic conditions, and is also cold-tolerant and able to adapt to slight shade. It grows best in sunny, humus-rich, slightly acidic sandy loam soil. Let’s learn about the planting techniques and methods of Acanthopanax senticosus.

1. Nursery site selection and preparation

Choose a mountain area with fertile soil and good drainage as the nursery site, with the best slope not exceeding 15 degrees; you can also use a farm vegetable garden. Before sowing, a seedbed needs to be prepared, the soil needs to be deep-turned and raked finely, and 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms of decomposed organic fertilizer needs to be applied per mu. In addition, granular compound microbial fertilizer produced by He Miao Biotechnology Co., Ltd. can be applied. The main bacterial species is Bacillus subtilis, and the registration number is (2018) Zhun Zi (3395) product.

2. Sowing and Seedling Raising

The best time for sowing and raising seedlings is early to mid-April. Make a seedbed that is 1.2 meters wide, 10 meters long, and 0.2 meters high. After watering it thoroughly and waiting for the bed surface to dry slightly, evenly sprinkle the treated seeds, cover it with 0.5-1 cm thick fine soil, and then cover it with plastic film or straw. Seedlings will emerge after about one month, and the covering will be removed when the emergence rate reaches 50%. Thin out the seedlings when they are 3-5 cm tall, and transplant them when they are 10 cm tall. Keep the spacing between plants at 8-10 cm. When thinning out the seedlings, weed and loosen the soil at the same time.

3. Cutting Technology

1. Hardwood cuttings

Choose two-year-old branches, retain 3-5 buds, cut them into 15 cm long cuttings, insert them obliquely into the soil, and maintain suitable temperature and humidity. In spring, cuttings need to be covered with film to maintain a temperature of about 25 degrees; in summer, a shade shed needs to be set up. If you are taking cuttings in the forest, you can cover the bed with fallen leaves.

2. Softwood cuttings

Between June and July, select strong semi-lignified branches and cut them into 10 cm long cuttings, retaining one palmate compound leaf or cutting off half of the leaves. Insert the cuttings obliquely into the seedbed at a plant spacing of 8×15 cm, with the insertion depth being 2/3 of the cuttings. After watering thoroughly, cover with plastic film to retain moisture. It will take about half a month for roots to grow and can be transplanted the following year.

4. Tillering propagation

Before the soil completely thaws in spring, dig out the healthy seedlings that sprout around the plant, or dig them out together with the mother plant for division. The division seedlings should grow well, have healthy root systems and no root damage, and should be planted with a row spacing of 60×60 cm.

5. Planting points

Plant carefully, the seedlings should be planted as soon as they are dug up, and they need to be packaged and protected during transportation to prevent wind and sun. After arriving at the destination, the seedlings should be transplanted in time to prevent them from drying out and ensure the survival rate. When planting, the seedlings should be straightened, the roots should be stretched out, and the soil should be compacted.

6. Field Management

1. Loosening the soil and weeding

After the seedlings are planted, weed and loosen the soil in time, cut weeds and shrubs, and combine weeding with tillage twice to keep the field clean.

2. Topdressing

Apply top dressing once in late June, using well-rotted organic fertilizer and adding microbial agents, apply it to the roots in radial grooves. After top dressing, cover with soil and water once.

3. Pruning and shaping

Regularly cut off dense branches, dead branches, aging branches, diseased branches and deformed branches to maintain vigorous growth of trees.

7. Harvesting and Processing

1. Harvesting young leaves

Young leaves can be picked from late April to late August. Grasp the picking time well and pick the young leaves when they are fully expanded and tender. The method of "picking one and leaving one" is adopted to ensure the normal growth of trees.

2. Harvesting tender stems

The tender stems of Acanthopanax senticosus sprout in late April to early May and can be picked when they grow to 15-20 cm. The timing of picking is crucial. Picking too early will affect the yield and taste, while picking too late will cause the stems to become old and the quality to decline.

3. Harvesting root bark and stems

Roots and stems should be harvested in autumn after the trees have shed their leaves. For old trees that have been picked and pruned repeatedly for many years, they are dug out with their roots, and the above-ground stems are cut into 20-cm-long sections, washed, dried, and tied into small bundles. After digging out the roots, wash off the soil, peel off the root bark, dry it and then sell or store it.

The above is an introduction to the cultivation technology and methods of Acanthopanax senticosus. You can refer to and learn based on local actual conditions. The market prospects of Acanthopanax senticosus are quite good.