As a high-altitude Taoist medicinal herb, the cultivation of Aba Angelica requires a high level of natural environment. In recent years, with the rise of home gardening, many people try to grow Chinese herbs in their balconies or courtyards.
In this paper, we will analyze the biological characteristics of Angelica sinensis, the core conditions of home gardening, and the practical skills of balcony gardening.
First, the ecological characteristics of Angelica sinensis and planting difficulties
1.Native environment characteristics
- Geographic distribution: wild in the alpine meadow area of Aba Prefecture, Sichuan at an altitude of 2500-3000 meters, with an average annual temperature of 4-8℃ and an annual precipitation of 600-800mm.
- Soil requirements: humus-rich, slightly acidic sandy loam (pH 5.5-6.5), deep, well-drained soil.
- Light conditions: prefers diffused light, needs shade during seedling stage, adult plants need sufficient light.
2.The main challenges of home planting
- Temperature and humidity control: need to simulate the cool and humid climate of the plateau (summer temperature should not exceed 25℃);
- Long growth cycle: 2 years from sowing to rhizome maturity;
- Risk of pests and diseases: confined environment prone to red spider, root rot, etc.
Core conditions for home planting
1.Environmental conditions
- Temperature requirements: Ideal growing temperature 10-20℃. In summer, it needs to be shaded and cooled down, and in winter, it needs to be protected from freezing (it is hardy to -10℃ but the seedlings are fragile).
- Light management: at least 4 hours of diffused light per day, avoid direct light (can be adjusted with shade net).
- Air humidity: Maintain 60-70% relative humidity (humidifier is needed in dry areas in the north).
2.Soil and container
- Substrate formula: peat soil: humus: perlite = 4:3:3 (thickness ≥ 40cm to facilitate root development);
- Container selection: deep bucket-type planting box (depth > 50cm, diameter > 30cm), with a drainage layer at the bottom (ceramic + activated carbon);
- Fertilizer program: apply nitrogen fertilizer (soybean cake water) during the seedling stage, and increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer (bone meal + grass ash) in the second year.
3.Seed source treatment
- Seed selection: purchase seeds of Aba Angelica harvested in the year (germination rate >80%);
- Low temperature germination: mix the seeds with moist fine sand and refrigerate at 0-5℃ for 30 days before sowing;
- Sowing time: March-April in spring or September-October in fall (avoiding high temperature and rainy season).
balcony planting practical steps
1.Planting preparation stage
- Environmental transformation: west or north balcony is preferred, the installation of real-time monitoring of temperature and humidity meter;
- Container disinfection: soak the planting box with potassium permanganate solution to prevent soil-borne diseases;
- Substrate preparation: mix the soil according to the above proportions and sterilize it by spraying with carbendazim.
2.Sowing and nursery
- Sowing method: strip sowing (row spacing 15cm, mulching 1cm), keep the soil moist;
- Seedling management: 15-20 days after germination, remove the covering film, avoid direct sunlight;
- Seedling planting: seedling height 5cm time seedling, keep the spacing 20cm.
3.Daily maintenance points
- Moisture control: follow the principle of “see dry, see wet”, summer morning and evening spray to increase humidity;
- Supplementary light measures: in winter, use LED plant supplemental light (spectrum containing red light 660nm) to extend the light;
- Trimming and leaf thinning: remove old and sick leaves in time to improve ventilation and light conditions.
4.Pest control
- Biological control: hang yellow sticky boards to trap aphids and release predatory mites to control red spider;
- Organic agents: spray Picrasidine or garlic leachate (concentration 2%) at the early stage of disease;
- Root rot treatment: remove diseased plants immediately and irrigate roots with Bacillus subtilis.
Feasibility assessment of balcony planting
1.Successful cases and data
- 2022 Chengdu home planting test showed that: under artificial temperature control (air conditioner + humidifier), the volatile oil content of Angelica sinensis planted in balcony reached 0.35% (close to 80% of wild quality);
- The yield of a single plant is about 50-80g of fresh root (takes 2 years of growth cycle).
2.Limitations and solutions
- Space limitation: adopt three-dimensional planting frame and small varieties (e.g. “Mingui 1”) to improve space utilization;
- Insufficient light: use full-spectrum plant growth lamps (4-6 hours of supplemental light per day);
- Temperature fluctuation: wrapping containers with heat-insulating cotton in summer and covering straw in winter to keep warm.
3.Economy and Practicality
- Costing: The total cost of 2-year planting cycle is about 200 RMB/plant (including electricity and fertilizer);
- Medicinal value: self-grown Angelica sinensis can be used to make medicinal meals (e.g. Angelica sinensis chicken soup), but the content of active ingredients is lower than that of Taoist medicinal herbs, so it is not recommended to replace clinical medication.
Experts’ suggestions and precautions
- Prioritize the selection of varieties: recommend the balcony-adapted varieties such as “Mingui No. 2”, which is 30% more heat-resistant than the wild varieties;
- Avoid continuous crop obstacles: rotate the planting of legumes (such as peas) every 2 years to improve the soil. 3;
- Harvesting timing control: digging in the fall when the leaves are withered and yellow, washing and drying in the shade (avoiding the loss of volatile oils due to exposure to the sun).
References
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. (2021). Technical specifications for home cultivation of Chinese herbal medicines.
- Wang Lijuan et al. (2020). Light and Temperature Response Mechanisms of Angelica sinensis in Balcony Cultivation. Journal of Horticulture. 3.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. (2023). Climate Database of Angelica Sinensis Habitat Regions.