Cultivation Methods and Key Growing Techniques for Houttuynia cordata
Houttuynia cordata is a perennial herbaceous plant of the family Saururaceae. Because the whole plant of Houttuynia cordata has a fishy smell, it is also called fish mint. Houttuynia cordata is found growing wild in all provinces along the Yangtze River basin and to the south in China. Houttuynia cordata has high medicinal value and edible value, and its plants grow robustly and have extremely strong resistance to pests and diseases, so no pest or disease control is needed in production cultivation, and it can avoid contamination by chemicals. It is a pollution-free medicinal and vegetable dual-purpose plant, and has broad development prospects for development and use as a green, pollution-free health-type vegetable.
Houttuynia cordata is mainly used as a vegetable from its tender stems and leaves and underground stems, and the whole plant can be used fresh or dried for medicine.
Houttuynia cordata is a perennial root herbaceous plant. It likes warm and humid environments and can grow in various soils. It grows most vigorously in loose, fertile neutral or slightly acidic sandy soil (or sandy loam). It is afraid of frost, is not tolerant of drought or waterlogging, and has strong shade tolerance. Due to excessive harvesting, wild resources of Houttuynia cordata are currently severely damaged. In order to protect wild resources, development and use should be actively carried out along with artificial domestication and introduction for cultivation.
Houttuynia cordata is often propagated and cultivated using underground stems (about 6—10 cm long) or strong seedlings with roots. This can be done throughout the year. In winter and early spring, attention should be paid to freeze protection and heat preservation, and in summer and early autumn, attention should be paid to shading and moisture retention.
To plant Houttuynia cordata, choose a field with natural shade (half shade and half sun), convenient drainage and irrigation, loose and fertile soil, and moisture-retaining capacity. After the previous crop is harvested, plow the soil to a depth of 25—30 cm, and broadcast per mu 5000—6000 kg of decomposed manure, 50 kg of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium compound fertilizer, and 40—50 kg of cake fertilizer as base fertilizer. After cultivating finely and leveling the soil, make high beds or flat beds with a bed surface width of about 150 cm, and plant seed stems (underground stems) or transplant strong seedlings on the bed surface at a row spacing of 30—40×8—10 cm. High-ridge cultivation can also be used, with a ridge surface width of about 40 cm, planting 2 rows of seed stems (or strong seedlings) per ridge, with a row spacing of 25—30×5—8 cm.
After planting, irrigate timely during dry seasons, and drain timely during the rainy season. Avoid prolonged water accumulation in the field. Half a month after planting, apply once every 2 weeks or so a dilute, decomposed human and livestock manure or biogas fermentation fertilizer plus an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium chemical fertilizer. Weeds in the field should be removed promptly, and shallow intertillage and loosening of the soil should be carried out in a timely manner. Combined with soil loosening, spread an appropriate amount of decomposed organic fertilizer between the plants and rows.
Houttuynia cordata can also be intercropped with crops such as chili pepper, eggplant, tomato, common bean, corn, sugarcane, and tobacco. It can also be grown in open spaces in front of and behind houses, or in containers such as flower pots, basins, buckets, and vats.
After Houttuynia cordata is planted, when the seedlings are 8—10 cm tall, harvesting of tender stems and leaves can begin, and thereafter harvest once every 10—20 days. The harvested tender stems and leaves can be brought to market fresh or dried and then brought to market. Underground stems can be dug up in a timely manner according to market demand after half a year of planting. After washing and removing impurities, they can be brought to market fresh or used for pickling and processing. Underground stems kept for seed use can be harvested as needed. The whole plant of Houttuynia cordata can be used for medicine, can be harvested at any time, and after washing can be dried and stored or sold on the market.