When is the best time to plant Astragalus?

Astragalus , as a highly respected Chinese medicinal material , is well known for its remarkable health benefits. This medicinal material enjoys a stable demand in the market and maintains a stable price level. In our country, the market prospects of Astragalus are still quite good. So when is the best time to plant Astragalus?

When is the best time to plant Astragalus?

As a plant with high medicinal value, Astragalus is suitable for sowing in spring, summer and autumn. Usually in spring, when the local temperature is stable at 5 to 8 degrees Celsius in mid-to-late April, it is the best time for sowing. Seedlings can be seen emerging from the soil about 15 days after sowing.

As for autumn sowing, it should be done when the ground temperature remains between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius. To ensure that the seeds do not germinate immediately after sowing, but remain dormant over the winter, a later sowing time should be chosen. If sown too early, the seeds may die in severe frost as they germinate. At present, the two main methods of sowing Astragalus are hole sowing and row sowing. Hole sowing is considered a better sowing method because of its good moisture retention ability, consistent soil cover thickness and appropriate pressure, which are conducive to seed germination. In addition, concentrated seeds in hole sowing help to shade and keep warm between seedlings after emergence, thus benefiting the protection of seedlings. When sowing in holes, holes are usually dug at intervals of 20 to 25 cm, 2 to 10 seeds are sown in each hole, the soil is covered to a thickness of about 1.5 cm, and then lightly compacted. The sowing amount per 667 square meters is about 1 kg. For row sowing, the seeds are sown in furrows with a row spacing of 20 to 30 cm. The thickness of the soil covering is between 1.5 and 2.0 cm. The soil is lightly compacted after sowing. The sowing amount is about 1.5 kg.

Key points for planting Astragalus

Soil: Astragalus is not particularly strict about the soil, but the best soil is fertile and loose, rich in humus, with good drainage and deep sandy loam. Such soil conditions are conducive to the growth and root development of Astragalus.

Time: Astragalus can be sown in spring, summer and autumn. Spring sowing is usually carried out in mid-to-late March when the local temperature is stable at 5-8℃. Seedlings will emerge about 15 days after sowing. Autumn sowing is carried out when the ground temperature is stable at 0-5℃, usually in September, to ensure that the seeds will not germinate before winter, but remain dormant over the winter.

Density: When sowing, proper spacing between seedlings should be maintained. Generally, holes are dug at a distance of 20-25 cm for hole sowing, 2-10 seeds are sown in each hole, and the soil is covered with 1.5 cm of thickness. For row sowing, seeds are sown in furrows with a row spacing of 20-30 cm and covered with soil 1.5-2.0 cm thick.

Field management: During the growth period of Astragalus, weeding and seedling replacement should be carried out in time, and the soil should be kept moist. During summer droughts, you can increase the frequency of watering appropriately to replenish the water needed for growth and lower the temperature to prevent the plants from dehydration.

Fertilization: Astragalus grows rapidly and requires adequate nutrients. During the entire growing season, top dressing is required two or three times, and soil cultivation should be carried out after fertilization.

Pest and disease control: The main diseases of Astragalus include powdery mildew and purple feather disease. It can be controlled by using appropriate pesticides , such as thiophanate-methyl.

Harvesting: Astragalus is usually harvested when the seeds are mature. Healthy and disease-free plants are selected as seeds. After harvesting, they are dried, threshed and stored.

The above is an introduction to the sowing time and planting points of Astragalus. Although the market demand for Astragalus is stable, the prerequisite is that everyone can find a market. It is not recommended to blindly follow the trend and plant it.