Plantain herb, also known as Plantago asiatica, Snake Tongue Grass, or White Plantain, is a common herbaceous medicinal plant. It has low planting technology requirements, and currently, it is produced in most parts of China. So, what are the planting time and methods for plantain herb? Let's find out together.
Planting Time and Methods for Plantain Herb
Planting Time for Plantain Herb: Plantain herb thrives in temperatures between 15-25°C, making spring and autumn the ideal seasons for sowing. Spring sowing generally occurs from late March to mid-April, while autumn sowing takes place around late October.
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Site Selection: Plantain herb does not have strict requirements for the plot. It can be cultivated in paddy fields, vegetable plots, or sandy loam. However, it is best to choose moist, fertile, and sunny sandy soil for planting plantain herb.
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Land Preparation and Fertilization: Plantain herb roots mainly distribute in the 10-20 cm cultivation layer, so land preparation should be meticulous. Plow to a depth of 15-20 cm, break up soil clumps to form ridges with a width of 1 meter and a length of 10-15 meters. Apply 4000 kg of organic base fertilizer per acre before sowing.
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Seed Treatment: Firstly, mix sand and plantain herb seeds and rub them together to remove the oil coating on the seeds for easier germination. Then, soak the seeds for germination. Warm water soaking at around 55-60°C for about ten minutes followed by gradually adding cold water to 20-30°C and soaking for 24 hours is recommended. After soaking, wrap the plantain herb seeds in disinfected and moistened gauze for germination.
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Sowing: Sowing can be done using the row method, with row spacing of 15-20 cm and plant spacing of 6-7 cm. Make shallow furrows, 1-1.5 cm deep, and cover the seeds lightly. Firm the soil to prevent soil evaporation and facilitate seed germination. The seeding rate is generally 4-5 kg per acre.
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Transplanting: Transplanting of plantain herb is done in early August to early September. Before transplanting, spray 150 grams of butachlor per acre mixed with 50 kg of water to moisten the soil surface and eliminate weeds. Transplant on a cloudy afternoon before dew, planting 4 rows per bed with a spacing of 30×20 cm per hole, planting one sturdy seedling per hole, with 8500-9000 plants per acre.
In conclusion, planting plantain herb is relatively simple, and basic sowing can ensure successful growth. However, mastering the best planting techniques is essential for ensuring high-quality and high-yield production, especially paying attention to details such as timing and methods.
