When is the best time to harvest Houttuynia cordata (fish mint)?

Some people drink Houttuynia cordata all year round, but that is mostly because it keeps for a long time after being dried. So, in which season does Houttuynia cordata grow? When is the best time to harvest Houttuynia cordata?

The edible part of Houttuynia cordata is usually its underground root. To let Houttuynia cordata grow and develop fully and achieve good quality and high yield, the harvest period is generally kept to late autumn and winter. It is usually harvested in batches from July to September. For harvesting the tender underground stems, the stems and leaves should not be picked in early summer. Houttuynia cordata can be used as food and as medicine, so you can harvest it according to your own needs.

In areas where the above-ground stems and leaves are mainly eaten, they can be harvested and brought to market successively after June; in areas where the underground stems are mainly eaten, they are harvested and brought to market in September.