Forsythia seedlings are suitable for growing on hillsides, near shrubs , grasslands, or near forests. They are widely planted in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Anhui and other places. Forsythia seedlings are best planted in spring and winter.
What is the best season to plant forsythia seedlings?
Forsythia seedlings are best planted in spring and winter, with the optimal time for spring planting being March to April. Due to my country's vast territory and significant regional climate differences, the planting time for forsythia seedlings may vary, but generally, spring and winter are preferable. For winter planting, sowing should be done in late autumn before the soil freezes, as this period yields better results and promotes seedling growth.
Forsythia seedling cultivation method
1. Seed propagation
① Select healthy branches with short internodes and no pests or diseases. Collect mature fruits in September or October, spread them thinly in a well-ventilated and shady place to dry, then thresh the seeds and collect the plump seeds for sand storage as seed.
②Forsythia seeds are best propagated by sowing in spring. In southern China, this is in early to mid-March, and in northern China, it is in early April. On a prepared seedbed, sow seeds in furrows 20-25cm apart, 4-5cm deep, and 8cm wide. Then, evenly scatter the carefully selected seeds into the furrows, cover with 1cm of fine soil, and then cover with straw or pine needles . Keep the seedbed moist after sowing.
③ Seedlings will begin to emerge about 20 days after sowing. Once all seedlings have emerged, remove the covering. When the seedlings are about 8cm tall, thin them out to maintain a plant spacing of 5cm. When the seedlings are about 15cm tall, thin them out a second time, removing weak seedlings and keeping one strong seedling with a plant spacing of about 8cm. Timely cultivation, weeding, and fertilization are necessary. One year later, when the seedlings are about 50cm tall, they can be transplanted to their final location.
2. Propagation by cuttings
① In the south, it is done in early spring, and in the north, it is done in summer. Take 1-2 year old tender branches from excellent mother plants, cut 30cm cuttings, each section should have more than 3 nodes, and cut the bottom end into a slant.
② Soak the cuttings in a 500ppm rooting powder solution for 10 seconds, then remove and let them dry before planting. When planting, use a stick to make holes, spacing the cuttings 5cm apart by 5cm between plants and 10cm apart by 10cm between rows. Insert half of the cutting into the soil, compacting the soil as you plant, then water thoroughly. Roots and shoots will develop after one month. Seedlings that reach a height of 50cm or more in the same year can be transplanted to their final location.
