How to Grow Houttuynia cordata? A Detailed Guide to Planting Time and Cultivation Techniques

As the health benefits of Houttuynia cordata continue to be explored, various snacks and dishes derived from Houttuynia cordata have become widely popular with consumers, and for a time the market for Houttuynia cordata has been in a state of demand exceeding supply, and the Houttuynia cordata planting industry has likewise become a common trend, so what exactly is the correct way to grow Houttuynia cordata?

Cultivation Techniques for Houttuynia cordata

1. Cultivating seed stems

Houttuynia cordata is a perennial root plant. Although seeds are available for propagation, artificial cultivation mostly uses old, mature underground rhizomes as propagation material. In the first year of cultivation, seed stems can be obtained directly from wild Houttuynia cordata; in the following year, seed can be collected from high-yield fields. For seed stems, choose old stems that are thick and plump, with long internodes and no pests or diseases.

Dig and select them in winter when the stems and leaves turn yellow and withered, and bury the selected seed stems underground to overwinter naturally. Before sprouting the following spring, cut the seed stems into small sections 4—6 cm long, each section requiring 2—3 nodes; during high-temperature and drought in summer, there must be 3 nodes to ensure sprouting. If seed stems are plentiful, the sections can be slightly longer, at 15—20 cm.

2. Cutting propagation and seedling raising

First, before sowing, the soil should be deeply plowed to a depth of about 26 cm. After deep plowing, harrow and break up the clods, level the surface, and remove grass roots. Make beds 170—200 cm wide. For plots prone to waterlogging or in rainy seasons, make deep furrows and high beds; for plots with good drainage and no waterlogging, flat beds can be made to help keep the soil moist. Then, on the prepared bed surface, open sowing furrows crosswise, preferably 8—10 cm deep and 13—15 cm wide, with a row spacing of 25—30 cm.

After opening the furrows, apply base fertilizer: for every 667 sq m, apply 3000—5000 kg of fully decomposed barnyard manure, 50 kg of superphosphate, and 15—20 kg of potassium sulfate (or 100 kg of plant ash). The barnyard manure must be fully decomposed, otherwise fermentation of the manure will burn the seed stems to death. Place the seed stems along both sides of the furrow, one piece every 7—10 cm. After sowing, cover with soil and water. If the plot has low water content, or if the climate is dry at sowing time, first water thoroughly to establish bottom moisture before sowing.

3. Fertilizer and water management

Houttuynia cordata likes moist soil and is afraid of drought. After cutting, water once again 3—4 days later to promote sprouting of the seed stems. In high-temperature and drought seasons, especially, ensure sufficient soil moisture. After emergence, the soil should always be kept moist, and the soil water content should regularly be maintained at 75%—80% of maximum water-holding capacity. Sprinkler irrigation or furrow irrigation is preferable; never use flood irrigation, to avoid soil compaction. When seedlings reach 3 cm tall, topdressing should begin, applying dilute human excrement and urine about once every 15 days.

In early summer, when stems and leaves grow vigorously, 50% decomposed human excrement and urine can be splashed between the rows, once every 15 days, with an application rate of 1500—2000 kg per 667 sq m. At the last topdressing, add 10 kg of urea so that the plants close rows before drought arrives, both shading and preserving moisture and providing sufficient nutrients to support underground stem growth. After row closure, soil topdressing is generally not carried out, but foliar topdressing with 0.1%—0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be used, once every 7 days, for a total of 2—3 times.

Planting Time for Houttuynia cordata

The planting time for Houttuynia cordata varies according to the propagation method. For division propagation, the planting time is about late March to early April; for rhizome propagation, planting can be carried out in February to March.

Harvesting Houttuynia cordata

To allow Houttuynia cordata to fully grow and develop and achieve the goal of high quality and high yield, the harvest period is generally controlled to late autumn and winter. At harvest, first cut the aboveground part, cutting down the whole plant, washing it clean, cutting it into sections, drying it, and packaging it for sale to medicinal materials companies. The underground tender stems can be harvested throughout the winter; dig them out with a hoe and shake off the soil. The tender stems and leaves of Houttuynia cordata can also be eaten, generally picked in batches from July to September. For those harvesting underground tender stems, it is not advisable to pick stems and leaves in early summer.

Planting Benefits of Houttuynia cordata

Planting Houttuynia cordata brings quick results. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, planting from late February to early March allows batch harvesting 3 months after planting, and it can also be planted and harvested outside the normal season. Yield is about 3000 kg per mu, with high yields reaching 5000 kg. Because of its fishy smell, no pests or diseases have been found during the growing period, making it a pollution-free and non-polluting vegetable that sells well on the market and brings high returns.

Houttuynia cordata has very strong reproductive capacity, so growing it is relatively less difficult than in the medicinal herb planting industry. In addition, the yield of Houttuynia cordata is also considerable, and some of its own characteristics make it a green and healthy vegetable in people's minds, widely welcomed in the market.