Castor Planting Time and Method

Castor is a widely used economic crop with strong adaptability and a wide range of cultivation. It has a wide range of uses and many people want to grow it. Here are some tips on when and how to plant castor oil plants .

Castor bean planting time

Castor belongs to the genus Ricinus of the Euphorbiaceae family. Due to different growing periods, it is divided into annual and perennial types. In southern my country, the winter climate is mild, so it can grow all year round, continuously bloom and bear fruit, becoming a perennial crop; in Heilongjiang Province, due to the severe cold winters, it can only be planted in spring and harvested in autumn, becoming an annual crop. Castor bean planting can be arranged in late March of each spring, or in mid-September of autumn.

How to grow castor beans

1. Site selection and land preparation

Choose sandy soil and black calcium soil with rich organic matter and good drainage to grow castor. When planting castor, it is necessary to apply organic fertilizer to improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil, making the soil loose and conducive to the growth of castor. The taproot of castor plant goes very deep into the soil and has strong drought resistance. When planting castor in large plots, shallow plowing and deep loosening should be done in autumn, with shallow plowing of 15-20 cm and deep loosening of 20 cm.

2. Seed treatment

You can select the seeds. Choose a sunny day to spread the seeds into a thin layer, dry them in the sun for 2-3 days, and turn them over 2-3 times a day. Castor seeds can be disinfected by mixing them with a paste of lime slurry . You can also use a disinfectant prepared by mixing 40% formalin with water in a ratio of 1:300 and evenly wet the seeds, then let it sit for 3 hours. 2-3 days before sowing, soak the seeds in 45℃ warm water for 4 hours, or 25℃ warm water for 1 day and night. During this period, replace with hot water, maintain the water temperature, and stir 5-6 times. After soaking the seeds, place them in a greenhouse at 25℃ for a day and night to germinate, and turn them over several times. When the seed coat breaks, they can be sown.

3. Sowing method

The best sowing depth for castor seeds is 5-7 cm. Plant 2-3 seeds in each hole and cover with soil after sowing. The sowing density should be determined reasonably based on the characteristics of the variety and local natural conditions. If the humidity is high during sowing, you should first "air the soil" and then press it down when it is "dry on the back". If the humidity is medium or insufficient, you can step on the grid first and then press the soil down in time after sowing.

4. Thinning and finalizing seedlings

Castor oil plant is transplanted during the seedling stage. If any seedling shortage is found after transplanting, it should be promptly replaced. The seedlings should be transplanted when they have 3-4 true leaves, leaving one plant in each hole. For crops planted on barren hills and slopes, transplanting can be delayed.

5. Reasonable fertilization

For castor oil plant, use 8-10 kg of diammonium phosphate as seed fertilizer per mu, apply it 6 cm away from the seeds. For plots with less base fertilizer, topdressing should be done twice, during the seedling establishment period and the ear formation period, with 15 kg of diammonium phosphate or ammonium nitrate applied each time, or 7.5 kg of urea, applied deeply 8-10 cm away from the seedlings. If there is sufficient base fertilizer, ammonium nitrate can be applied once when thinning out the seedlings, 15 kg per mu.

6. Intertillage and weeding

Castor oil plant needs to be weeded. The field can be weeded once in early June, mid-June and early July. The second and third times the field can be shoveled each time, and then autumn ridges can be laid. Tilling the land and topdressing can be carried out together. Note that if drought occurs after tilling the land, water should be irrigated in time to ensure the healthy growth of castor oil plant.

7. Drought and flood prevention

Castor oil plant requires more water during the seedling and filling stages. Irrigation is required in case of drought. If heavy rain occurs after irrigation, drainage is required in time. The soil moisture content should be maintained at 18-20% during the growth period. In case of drought, areas with irrigation conditions can water once before flowering to increase the number of pods and pod grains per plant, and water again during the pod-setting period to increase grain weight and prolong flowering time.

That’s it