How many years does it take to harvest angelica?

Angelica , the root part of the Angelica sinensis plant of the Umbelliferae family, is harvested in late autumn. After digging, the attached roots and soil need to be removed. After the surface moisture has partially evaporated, the leaves are tied into small bundles and placed on a shed to be gradually dried by smoking. So how many years does it take to harvest angelica ?

How many years does it take to harvest angelica?

The planting cycle of angelica is generally 2-3 years. Seedlings are raised in the first year, transplanted into the field in the second year, and harvested in the same year. If produced as seeds, angelica will bloom and bear fruit in the third year and produce seeds. Therefore, the harvest time of angelica is usually in the second year after planting. The specific harvest time can be determined according to the growth of the plant and local climatic conditions. When harvesting, it is generally done in the cool hours of the morning or evening to reduce water evaporation and ensure the quality of the roots. After harvesting, the angelica roots need to be cleaned and air-dried or sun-dried, and then stored in a ventilated, dry, and dark place to prevent mold.

How to plant angelica

Suitable planting areas: Angelica is suitable for planting in high mountainous areas with an altitude of 1500 to 3000 meters, where the air is usually humid. Ideal soil conditions are slightly acidic to neutral, deep, loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam or humus-rich loam. Continuous planting of angelica on the same land should be avoided.

Land selection and preparation: Choose a semi-shaded and semi-sunny sloping land. The soil should be fertile, loose, neutral or slightly acidic sandy loam rich in humus. Deeply plow the land 20 to 25 centimeters, apply 30 to 60 kilograms of compound fertilizer , and carefully prepare the land. Usually, dig furrows 1 meter wide to make ridges, with a 30-centimeter width and a 25-centimeter height, and ensure there is a good drainage system all around. The previous crops should be wheat , hemp, flax , rapeseed, etc., and avoid using land with potato and bean crops.

Sowing and seedling raising: The seedling raising time is from early to late June. Soak the seeds in 30℃ warm water for 24 hours before sowing. After drying, broadcast the seeds and cover the weeds. The sowing rate per acre is 4 to 5 kg. About half a month after germination, loosen the covering appropriately to avoid damaging the seedlings. Remove the covering in early August, weed in time to keep the field free of weeds, and thin out the seedlings appropriately, keeping the plant spacing at about 1 cm.

Transplanting: Select seedlings with a diameter of 2 to 5 mm, uniform and strong growth, no disease or injury, few branches and smooth skin for transplanting. Before transplanting, soak the seedlings in a mixture of 40% methyl isothioate and 40% carbendazim for 10 hours to prevent diseases and pests. Transplanting time is divided into winter planting (after the beginning of autumn and before freezing) and spring planting (from the vernal equinox to Grain Rain, around Qingming Festival). The planting density is 6,500 to 8,000 plants per mu. The ground film is used for cultivation. Two rows are planted in each ridge, with a row spacing of 50 cm, a hole spacing of 20 cm, two seedlings in each hole, and a hole depth of 15 cm.

Field management: Seedlings will emerge 20 to 30 days after transplanting, so check and supplement the seedlings in time. After all the seedlings have emerged, three tillage and weeding operations are carried out, when the seedlings are 5 cm, 10 to 15 cm, and 25 to 30 cm tall respectively. Avoid excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer during the seedling stage, and apply 30 to 50 kilograms of compound fertilizer per mu in the middle and late stages. Remove the plants that sprout prematurely in time to ensure the quality of the medicinal materials. Water appropriately in the early growth stage to keep the soil moist, and prevent waterlogging in the field in the later stage.

Pest and disease control: Root rot mainly harms the roots. Prevention and control methods include soil disinfection, selection of disease-free seeds, timely drainage after rain, and removal of diseased plants. Brown spot disease mainly harms leaves and is prone to occur under high temperature and high humidity. In the early stage, it can be controlled with 65% mancozeb 600 times solution or Bordeaux mixture.

The above is an introduction to some technical knowledge about Angelica sinensis planting. When planting Angelica sinensis, you need to choose suitable land and environment. Not all areas can cultivate it on a large scale.