How to Grow Gynura bicolor? A Detailed Guide to Four Key Cultivation Techniques!

Gynura bicolor, also known as red fengcai, is fairly common in everyday life. It is a plant used both as medicine and as food, and it is grown in southern China. Medicinally, it is mainly used to treat hemoptysis and dysmenorrhea; its rhizome quenches thirst and relieves heatstroke; its leaves strengthen the stomach and relieve cough. With so many benefits, how should Gynura bicolor be grown? Below is an introduction to the cultivation techniques for Gynura bicolor.

I. Site Selection and Land Preparation

Before planting Gynura bicolor, choose a hillside woodland plot with deep soil, loose and fertile texture, and rich in humus. When planting, the seedbed should also be made of deep, loose and fertile sandy loam; first plow it once, then make raised beds as the seedbed. The beds should be 15-20 cm high and 1.2-1.5 m wide, while the length depends on the scale of seedling raising.

II. Propagation Methods

There are two propagation methods for Gynura bicolor: root division propagation and cutting propagation. For root division propagation, dig up the roots of Gynura bicolor, cut them into several divisions, plant them at a certain density in the prepared seedbed, water moderately, and after some time they will grow into new plants. For cutting propagation, when Gynura bicolor is growing well, cut off vigorous, disease-free branches about 10 cm long as cuttings; keep 2-3 leaves on the upper part of the cutting and cut the lower part into a wedge shape. First use a small wooden stick to make small holes in the seedbed, then insert the cuttings into the holes and press the soil so that the cuttings make full contact with the soil. After cutting, water once thoroughly; roots generally form after one month.

III. Transplanting and Field Planting

The soil of the planting site should be the same as that of the seedling site. Then deeply plow the soil about 35 cm, apply 4000-5000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 100-150 kg of plant ash per mu, and after fertilizing, make raised beds according to the terrain. On the bed surface, dig holes at a spacing of 15×25 cm or 18×30 cm, and transplant one plant per hole. When transplanting, be careful not to damage the root systems of other Gynura bicolor plants. After transplanting, water thoroughly to settle the roots and improve the survival rate.

IV. Field Management

After field planting, weed once to prevent weeds from competing with the plants for nutrients and water. After each harvest, after watering, and after rain, cultivate the soil to maintain soil aeration and promote plant growth. At the same time, earth up promptly to prevent the plants from lodging. After the transplants have established, apply additional fertilizer in moderation to speed up plant growth.

Gynura bicolor is a plant of the Asteraceae family with a special fresh fragrance and a unique flavor. We hope this introduction to the methods for cultivating Gynura bicolor is helpful to you.