Key Points of Standardized Cultivation Techniques for Houttuynia cordata

Houttuynia cordata, scientific name Houttuynia cordata Thunb., also known as ceyuergen, or wall-louse vegetable, belongs to the family Saururaceae, a perennial herbaceous plant, with the plant growing prostrate on the ground and underground stems creeping, is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, with effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, aiding digestion and regulating qi, relieving pain, relieving cough, expelling wind, and strengthening the stomach. The tender stems and leaves of Houttuynia cordata taste delicious when served cold or boiled in soup; regular consumption can prevent influenza, pneumonia, eczema and many other diseases, making it a medicinal and edible health vegetable. With the enhancement of people's health awareness, Houttuynia cordata, as a pollution-free health vegetable, has gradually been accepted and recognized by people, and has been developed and processed into Houttuynia cordata tea, wine, soda and other health drinks and foods, with very promising market prospects. Houttuynia cordata was originally a wild plant; with the popularization of its consumption, demand has surged, and wild sources alone can no longer meet demand, so artificial cultivation emerged. Yanshan has a history of cultivation in recent years. In order to gradually improve the standardized cultivation techniques for Houttuynia cordata in our county and produce more high-quality health Houttuynia cordata that meets the needs of modern citizens and the market, the standardized cultivation techniques for Houttuynia cordata are formulated as follows:

I. Requirements of Houttuynia cordata for environmental conditions

Houttuynia cordata prefers warm, shady and humid environments, is afraid of frost and avoids drought; its underground stems are relatively cold-tolerant and can overwinter below -15°C, begin to sprout at 12°C, and the optimum growth temperature is 16—25°C; it originally grew in low-lying wet areas and beside ditches, has relatively high water requirements, and requires a sufficient water supply throughout the growing period, keeping the soil moist; it is not strict about soil and light, and soil rich in organic matter is best, with a ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of 1:1:5. Houttuynia cordata can be grown on land or hydroponically, and can be grown alone or intercropped in orchards.

II. Land selection, land preparation and application of base fertilizer

1. Plot selection Select flat terrain, sufficient water source, convenient irrigation and drainage, deep plough layer, suitable soil structure, good physical and chemical properties, and moderate fertility loam or sandy loam for planting.

2. Fine land preparation After selecting the plot, thoroughly remove weeds and gravel, and carry out deep ploughing and sunning of the soil. Before planting, plough and harrow level, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and make the plot loose, fertile and level.

3. Apply sufficient base fertilizer Before planting, evenly broadcast 2000--3000kg of fully decomposed farmyard manure and 150--200kg of plant ash (or 15kg of potassium sulfate) per 667 square meters, plough once to a depth of 25--30cm, and fully mix the fertilizer with the soil.

4. Scientifically make beds Make beds according to local conditions; make sunny beds in low-lying land and cold soaked land, and make low beds or flat beds on high land, divide into 2 m sections for bed making, with a bed width of 1.5--1.7m.

III. Planting techniques

1. Propagation methods Plant after the late spring frost ends; Houttuynia cordata generally uses underground stems for asexual propagation, divided into rhizome propagation and cuttings propagation:

(1) Rhizome propagation. Carry out in February--March; before the plant sprouts new shoots, dig out the rhizomes. Cut them into small sections 10-12 cm long with more than 2 axillary buds, and keep the fibrous roots. Open shallow furrows 3-4.5 cm deep at a row spacing of 30 cm, place the cut rhizomes in the furrows at a plant spacing of 8—10 cm, cover with 6-10 cm of soil, press lightly, and water. Keep the soil moist, and seedlings can emerge after 20 days.

(2) Cuttings propagation. It can be carried out in spring and summer; select relatively thick, pest-free and healthy aboveground stems, cut them into 12--15 cm long sections with 3-4 nodes as cuttings, and insert them in a cutting bed of sandy loam in the open field, with row and plant spacing of 14 cm×10 cm; insert two nodes of the cutting into the bed soil, leaving 1-2 nodes exposed. After inserting, properly build a shed on the cutting bed for shading. The bed temperature should be 25°C-30°C; the relative humidity is preferably above 90%. After the cuttings take root and grow new leaves, the shade shed can be gradually removed, and after 10-15 days, transplant to the field for growth.

3. Planting method Select fat and strong seed stems, cut them with sterilized tools into 5--10cm lengths, ensuring each section has 3--4 nodes. Open planting furrows 15cm wide and 20cm deep on the bed surface, place the seed stems flat in the furrows at a plant spacing of 5cm, cover with 6--7cm of fine soil; if the soil is moist, no watering is needed, and if the soil is dry, irrigate in a timely manner; they can sprout and emerge in 15--20d, with a seed quantity of 80-100 kilograms per mu.