How to grow Houttuynia cordata (fish mint): propagate from roots or from seeds?

SummaryHouttuynia cordata can be grown both from roots and from seeds, but root propagation grows faster. The best sowing time is around the Beginning of Spring (Lichun); in a flower pot, open furrows in the same direction for row planting, with a furrow depth of 8-10 cm, a width of 13-15 cm, and a row spacing of 20-25 cm, then place the Houttuynia cordata seed roots in the furrows, laying 2 parallel rows per furrow, with a spacing of 5-8 cm between seed stem segments, placed continuously, head to tail, and the seed stems should be laid evenly before covering with soil.

I. Is Houttuynia cordata grown from roots or from seeds

1. Houttuynia cordata can be grown both from roots and from seeds, but root propagation is more convenient and grows faster. Prepare suitable soil, then plant the rhizomes, and it will grow; seed propagation is also possible, but it grows more slowly and germination is difficult, so seed propagation is not recommended.

2. Houttuynia cordata is mainly produced in the provinces south of the Yangtze River basin in China. As early as the late 1980s, Gaoping Town, Guanghan City, Sichuan, introduced large-scale field planting technology, which has driven nearly 10,000 mu of planting area in surrounding townships, and now forms one of China's relatively large Houttuynia cordata planting bases.

II. Planting methods for Houttuynia cordata

1. To grow Houttuynia cordata, choose a spot with natural shade (half shade, half sun) and loose, fertile potting soil. Houttuynia cordata can be planted all year round, but when planted in winter, spring, or early summer, it can be harvested the same year; generally, the best sowing time is around the Beginning of Spring (Lichun).

2. In a flower pot, open furrows in the same direction for row planting, with a furrow depth of 8-10 cm, a width of 13-15 cm, and a row spacing of 20-25 cm, then place the Houttuynia cordata seed roots in the furrows, laying 2 parallel rows per furrow, with a spacing of 5-8 cm between seed stem segments, placed continuously, head to tail.

3. The seed stems should be laid evenly before covering with soil. After planting, pay attention to keeping warm and moist. If planting during the high-temperature summer season, the stems must have 3 nodes, which helps ensure that the middle nodes can sprout and take root.

4. If planting before the onset of winter, also cover with plastic film or newspaper, which helps normal growth and development in winter and early spring and achieves high yields.

III. Daily management of Houttuynia cordata

1. If drought occurs during the seedling stage of Houttuynia cordata, water in the morning and evening to moisten the bed soil. From seedling survival until the rows close, carry out intertillage weeding and topdress with nitrogen fertilizer 2-3 times; each weeding can be combined with topdressing, applying 20-30 g of urea per sq m, applied diluted first and then concentrated. After each harvest, nitrogen fertilizer can be topdressed to help promote plant sprouting.

2. After the autumn harvest, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and earth up the soil, which helps overwintering and lays a good foundation for sprouting the next year. In dry weather, water in a timely manner; in the rainy season, drain promptly, and do not allow water to accumulate in the flower pot for long periods.

3. Remove weeds promptly and carry out shallow intertillage and soil loosening at the right time. Along with soil loosening, scatter an appropriate amount of decomposed organic fertilizer between the plants and rows. For plants whose aboveground stems and leaves grow too vigorously, pinch off the growing tips to inhibit height growth, which helps the plant grow more side branches.