Full star mulching cultivation technique
Let's talk about the experience of growing the herbaceous flower Full star with mulch film, the Full star mulching cultivation technique, let's understand it together.
Mulch film coverage can increase ground temperature, making the Full star grow vigorously and bloom 10 to 15 days earlier. After covering, soil moisture cannot evaporate through the film to the atmosphere, which can play a moisture retention role. At the same time, the temperature difference between the upper and lower layers of the soil is relatively large, and the deep soil moisture moves upwards through capillary action to accumulate in the upper layer, playing a moisture retention role. Due to the balanced moisture in the soil after covering with the film, the Full star grows with less water loss, thus greatly reducing irrigation water and also reducing soil compaction and soil-borne diseases caused by watering. The improvement of soil temperature and moisture conditions is conducive to microbial activity, accelerating the decomposition of organic matter in the soil, increasing the amount of available nutrients in the soil, and reducing the leaching and loss of soil nutrients. The soil must be finely and smoothly prepared before laying the film, and after covering, the mulch film should be tightly attached to the soil without forming large gaps, otherwise, it will promote weed growth, and the film punctured by weeds will not function properly, so growers must pay attention to details.
Land preparation and application of sufficient base fertilizer
Since no weeding is usually done during the whole growth period, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied before tillage, evenly mixed with the soil, and repeatedly cultivated to make the soil fine and loose; decide whether to irrigate depending on the soil moisture. The ridge should be made with a high center and gentle slopes on both sides, forming a "rounded high ridge," which makes it easy for the mulch film to be pulled tight and closely contacting the ground surface. The ridge height is 15 to 20 centimeters, the ridge width is ten to ninety centimeters, the ridge ditch width is forty to fifty centimeters, and the soil surface should be flat and the soil particles fine.
Planting
Select Full star seedlings of suitable age for planting 3 to 5 days after mulching. Plant two rows per ridge, with a plant spacing of forty to fifty centimeters. If early-maturing varieties are chosen, the planting density can be increased appropriately, with a plant spacing of 25 to 30 centimeters. When planting, arrange the plants in an alternating pattern, make a "plus" shaped planting hole in the film with a knife, and keep the hole as small as possible. After planting, pour enough water around the planting hole to settle the roots, then cover the planting hole with soil.
Fertilization and irrigation
Applying sufficient organic and compound fertilizers before covering with mulch film can ensure the nutrient needs of the Full star during all growth stages, so no topdressing is usually done in the early growth stage. Topdressing can be done in the middle and late stages of growth, either by foliar application or by using a topdressing gun to apply a small amount of inorganic fertilizer along the planting hole. The amount of irrigation water should be reduced appropriately throughout the growth period. Water should be controlled in the early stage to prevent excessive growth and premature aging, and irrigation can be done in the middle stage depending on the soil moisture. When irrigating, a sharp metal tube can be placed at the front of the watering pipe and inserted diagonally into the film for watering; alternatively, furrow irrigation can be used, but be careful not to flood, and remove standing water promptly after furrow irrigation. If a drip irrigation system is used, two drip tubes are used per ridge, and the drip tubes are placed under the film during mulching, and plants are planted along the drip line during planting. This way, watering and fertilization can be done through the drip tubes.
High pruning and branching
Full star plants covered with mulch film tend to sprout more branches. If pruning and bud removal are not done in time, the dense plant growth will not be conducive to ventilation and light, leading to an increase in ineffective blind flower branches, severely affecting the quality and yield of cut flowers. The high pruning technique can effectively prevent the formation of Full star rosettes, that is, not using the conventional pinching method during growth, but removing the growing point 5 to 10 centimeters below the top when the plant bolts are about 30 centimeters tall, promoting the uniform growth of lower side branches, and removing excessive rosette-like side branches at the base to concentrate nutrients for the upper buds. High pruning can make the Full star bloom uniformly without affecting yield and quality.
Setting up stakes to prevent lodging
After the cut flowers start to be harvested, the remaining flower branches are prone to lodging, causing a decline in yield and quality in the middle and late stages, so stakes need to be set up to support the plants. A mesh size of 25 centimeters by 25 centimeters is suitable. When setting up the net, a stake is set up every 3 to 5 meters, with thicker nylon ropes or wires passing through both sides of the net and tightly fixed at both ends of the ridge to fully tension the net. The height of the net above the ridge surface should be 25 to 30 centimeters, as too high is inconvenient for cutting flowers, and too low does not have a good fixing effect.
Disease and pest control
The common diseases of Full star are gray mold and stem rot. In the early stage of gray mold, a 50%扑海因 or 70% methyl thiophanate wettable powder (800 to 1000 times solution) or a 1000 to 1500 times solution of carbendazim can be used, with one spray per week for three to four times. Mulch film coverage can reduce soil splashing on the stem base, greatly reducing the incidence of stem rot. Once the plant is infected, it should be removed promptly, and the soil around the planting hole and the root zone of the nearby plants should be watered with a 75%扑海因 wettable powder solution (500 times solution).
In recent years, the most serious pest affecting Full star is the leafminer. Leaves and leaf flesh affected by the leafminer are eaten by larvae, forming winding tunnels, leaving only the white epidermis, and in severe cases, the whole plant's leaves turn yellow, severely hindering growth. Good control methods for leafminers include isolating the source of pests, using yellow sticky paper cards for trapping, and chemical control. The best pesticides currently available are 1.8%爱福丁 emulsion (3000 times solution), 90%巴丹 wettable powder (1000 times solution), and 75%灭蝇胺 wettable powder (5000 times solution), which should be alternated, with one spray every 7 days, and after 3 consecutive sprays, focus on pest control depending on the situation. The best time to spray is before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m., which has the strongest killing effect on larvae and adults.
Harvesting and preservation
Full star can be harvested when about 75% of the flowers are open in spring and 50% in summer and autumn. If harvesting is delayed, the first flowers to open are prone to discoloration. Since the Full star flower stems have poor water absorption, it is best to carry a water bucket to the field when harvesting, and insert the cut stems into the bucket immediately to absorb water fully to prevent drying and withering. The cut Full star should be packaged and processed promptly and brought to the market or placed in a cold storage as soon as possible.
The above is the introduction of the Full star mulching cultivation technique, hoping to bring a little help to your life!