How to Grow Japanese Honeysuckle? A Detailed Guide to Cultivation Techniques

If it weren't for the breadth and depth of Chinese culture, the Chinese nation is the embodiment of wisdom. Take traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, for example. Many nameless little plants in the countryside, once tasted by our ancestors, leapt to become effective medicines for curing diseases and saving lives. The Japanese honeysuckle, a small country flower, has gradually become a prosperity flower that can earn real gold and silver.

How to Grow Japanese Honeysuckle

1. Timely pruning: Pruning is carried out from after leaf fall in autumn to before bud break in spring. Generally, vigorous branches are pruned lightly, weak branches pruned heavily, and every branch is pruned. When pruning, pay attention to ensuring good ventilation and light penetration after new branches grow. Thin and weak branches, dead and old branches, and basal shoots should all be cut off. For plots with poor fertilizer and water conditions, pruning should be heavier. For aging plants, cut off old branches to promote new growth. Young plants should focus on developing plant shape and be pruned lightly. For mountain and ridge plots, generally leave 4-5 main trunk branches; for plain plots, leave 1-2 main trunk branches. The tops of main trunks should be cut off to make them thicker and more upright.

2. Reasonable shaping: Shaping is carried out in conjunction with pruning. In principle, it is based on fertilizer and water management, promoting overall growth, making full use of space, increasing the amount of branches and leaves, making the plant shape more reasonable, and notably increasing flowers and yield. After pruning, the flowering time is relatively concentrated, which facilitates harvesting and processing. Generally, after pruning, the branches can be made upright, and removing thin and weak branches and basal shoots helps the formation of new flowers. After picking flowers, prune again, then apply a quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer and water once to promote early flowering of the next crop. In this way, 4 harvests of flowers can be obtained per year, with an average yield of 150-200 kg of dried flowers per mu.

3. Earthing up and weeding: Japanese honeysuckle cultivation requires earthing up and weeding 3-4 times per year. The first time is when new leaves appear, the second time is before the second flowering period, and the last time is in late autumn or early winter before frost. The purpose of earthing up is to prevent flower roots from being exposed above ground. It is recommended to carry it out together with fertilization. Weeding should start from the outer perimeter of the plant, working from far to near, and care must be taken not to damage the root system.

4. Reasonable topdressing: In the first 1-2 years after planting Japanese honeysuckle, it is the period when the plant's development takes shape. Apply more fertilizers such as human and animal manure, plant ash, urea, and potassium sulfate. After 2-3 years of planting, in early spring each year, apply more fertilizers such as livestock and poultry manure, barnyard manure, cake fertilizer, and superphosphate. After the first crop of flowers is harvested, an appropriate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizer should be applied to provide sufficient nutrients for the next crop of flowers. Each year after budding in early spring and after the first batch of flowers is harvested, open ring trenches and apply human feces and urine, chemical fertilizers, etc. by irrigation, with each fertilizer applied at 250 grams.

Pruning Techniques for Japanese Honeysuckle

1. Trunk establishment: In the same year for spring planting or the second year for autumn planting, establish the trunk when the branches grow to about 33 cm. For the main trunk, generally choose upright, thick branches and cut off the upper end at about 16 cm-27 cm from the ground. The second step is to select and retain side branches. On the main trunk, select and retain 3-5 thick branches that are evenly distributed and do not shade each other, and cut off two-thirds of their tips. After trunk establishment and pruning, apply 50 grams of urea and 100 grams of superphosphate per clump, and carry out intertillage and weeding regularly.

2. Winter pruning: After winter begins, carry out one winter pruning. The main task is to cut off branches growing from the main trunk, and on the main branches select and retain a small number of mother branches that can flower next year.

Growing Conditions for Japanese Honeysuckle

1. Soil conditions

Japanese honeysuckle is not strict about soil requirements. It can grow and flower on coarse skeletal soil of gravel mountains, calcareous brown soil, and general saline-alkali land. 2. Moisture conditions

Japanese honeysuckle has extremely strong drought resistance. On coarse skeletal soil with a soil moisture content of about 10%, ordinary tree species would generally already be wilted, while Japanese honeysuckle still grows and flowers normally. When soil moisture conditions are suitable, the plant grows vigorously, the crown width is large, and the yield is high. When soil moisture is too high, the leaves tend to turn yellow and drop.

2. Temperature conditions

Japanese honeysuckle has a very wide range of temperature adaptation. In winter, it can overwinter safely at minus 30 degrees. In spring, when the temperature is above 5 degrees, it begins to sprout and unfold leaves. In summer, at 20-30 degrees, new shoots grow fastest.

3. Light conditions

Japanese honeysuckle likes light. With sufficient light, the plant is robust, the number of flowers is large, and the yield is high. With insufficient light, the branches and tips are slender, the leaves are small, and the yield is low. Therefore, Japanese honeysuckle should be planted on sunny slopes or field ridges, and is not suitable for cultivation under forests, in valleys, or on shady slopes.

Harvesting Japanese Honeysuckle

The best time to harvest Japanese honeysuckle is early morning and forenoon. At this time, the harvested flower buds are not likely to open, have sufficient nutrients, a strong fragrance, and good color. Harvesting in the afternoon should be finished before the sun sets, because the opening of Japanese honeysuckle is restricted by light, and after the sun sets, mature flower buds will open, affecting quality. Do not include young buds or leaves. After picking, place them in wicker or bamboo baskets. When gathering them together, do not pile them into a large heap. They should be spread out, and the storage time should not exceed 4 hours at most.

With the increase in the number of growers and the accumulation of experience, the cultivation techniques for Japanese honeysuckle have gradually developed and improved. Here, the editor has only made a simple collection and arrangement. The real techniques and skills still need everyone to accumulate and discover through hands-on practice. In the future, content about Japanese honeysuckle will become more detailed and accurate because of us later generations.