How many years does it usually take to harvest Astragalus?

Astragalus is a common Chinese medicinal material , not only with high market demand. Moreover, Astragalus is drought-resistant and cold-resistant, has strong adaptability and stable yield, and therefore has good planting prospects. So how many years does it usually take to harvest Astragalus ? Let’s learn more about it below.

How many years does it usually take to harvest Astragalus?

The harvesting time of Astragalus is affected by many factors, including planting environment, climatic conditions and cultivation management. Usually Astragalus can be harvested within 1-7 years of planting, but generally speaking, the quality and yield of Astragalus harvested after 2-3 years are the most impressive. Generally, Astragalus planted for 3 years can produce about 1,500 kilograms of fresh goods per mu.

The harvesting and processing method of Astragalus

1. Harvest time

The best harvesting period for Astragalus is in autumn, especially September, when the root dry product rate is high, the roots are firm, powdery, of good quality, and high yield. This is the peak period for the astragaloside content. Alternatively, harvesting can be done in the spring of the following year before the plants sprout.

2. Harvesting method

Since Astragalus is a deep-rooted plant with roots deep in the soil, mechanical harvesting will cause too much loss. At present, most growers use the method of manual shoveling. Be careful to dig out the entire root to avoid damaging the bark and breaking the roots. After digging out, shake off the soil, cut off the rhizome while it is fresh, and trim off the dead roots and fibrous roots.

3. Post-harvest processing

(1) Cleaning: Wash the Astragalus root thoroughly in clean water.

(2) Pressing: Flatten the soaked Astragalus, and then use a planer to clean the skin on both sides of the Astragalus. If needed, the astragalus can be pressed wider and the skin on both sides can be shaved off again.

(3) Slicing: Use a planer or slicing machine to cut the astragalus into slices of standard length, generally 15-17 cm. Slices that do not meet the standards can be called horse ear slices.

(4) Drying: Arrange the sliced ​​astragalus slices and place them in an oven for drying. The oven temperature is controlled within 70-80℃, and the drying is continued for half an hour, and moisture is removed every 10 minutes until dry.

4. Screening and storage

(1) Screening: Screen the dried Astragalus to remove drug debris and impurities, then slice, cut or diced it according to specifications, and choose the appropriate packaging method according to needs.

(2) Storage: Packaged Astragalus should be stored in a dry, cool, and ventilated place to extend its shelf life and maintain its efficacy.

Generally speaking, it is best to harvest Astragalus after 2-3 years of planting. The specific harvesting time can be after the plant withers in autumn or before the plant sprouts in spring. In addition, pay attention to post-harvest processing to ensure the quality and yield of Astragalus.