The five-claw wind is the whole grass of the Rosaceae Wuzhou Xuanhouzi, mainly distributed in Sichuan and Guizhou provinces in China. It has the effect of promoting blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis. When planting the five-claw wind as a Xuanhouzi plant, the following points should be noted.
Image of five-claw wind
Point 1. Land preparation
Land preparation refers to soil cultivation, weed removal, land leveling, and fertilization. The main fertilizer is basal fertilizer, and the dosage depends on the soil fertility. Under normal circumstances, apply 10-12 tons of organic fertilizer per hectare and incorporate it into the soil.
Apply phosphorus fertilizer at a rate of 180-240 kg per hectare within 30-45 days before planting, and apply potassium fertilizer at a rate of 120 kg per hectare, incorporating them into the soil. Lime can be applied to acidic soil to improve it.
It can be planted in both spring and autumn. It is best to plant in early April in spring. In autumn, it is best to plant when the branches stop growing, before the first frost arrives.
The row spacing for planting five-claw wind is 2.5-3 meters, and the plant spacing is 0.5-0.75 meters. If there are sufficient seedlings, the plant spacing can be reduced to 0.25-0.35 meters.
The results show that with a plant spacing of 0.5-0.75 meters, it takes 3-4 years for the Xuanhouzi to completely occupy the row space. If the plant spacing is 0.25-0.35 meters, it can occupy the row space in the second year and bear fruit in the third year.
Image of five-claw wind
Point 2. Cultivation
Cultivation mainly includes loosening the soil and weeding. In spring, loosen the soil between the rows and weed within the rows. In summer, cultivate the soil based on the degree of soil compaction and weed growth. Generally, loosen the soil between the rows 2-3 times before harvesting the fruit.
After harvesting the fruit, loosen the soil once and perform two additional inter-row cultivations, because the soil between the rows becomes compacted and weeds grow vigorously during the berry harvesting process.
In early summer, remove weak and damaged root suckers, remove excess branches to prevent overcrowding. Also, prune the two-year-old branches that have already borne fruit immediately after harvesting, and remove any excess, broken, or diseased one-year-old branches.
Trellising is also an important aspect of Xuanhouzi field management. Trellising refers to using supports to keep the stems of Xuanhouzi upright, preventing them from being bent over heavily after fruiting. Trellising can effectively improve fruit quality and yield.
Point 3. Harvesting
Harvesting the five-claw wind should be done at the right time, neither too early nor too late. Generally, it is harvested within one to two days after maturity. When harvesting the berries, it is best to leave the fruit stems and some calyx.
The harvested berries are best stored in a refrigerator at a temperature close to 0°C and a relative humidity of around 90%. Under such temperature and humidity conditions, they can be stored for about a week. Cold storage facilities can be used for long-term preservation of the berries.
