How to Grow Houttuynia Cordata? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods

Houttuynia cordata is grown in the provinces south of the Yangtze River basin in China. As early as the late 1980s, Gaoping Town in Guanghan City, Sichuan, introduced large-scale field cultivation, which has now driven nearly 10,000 mu of planting area in surrounding towns and formed the largest Houttuynia cordata planting base in China today. Below, let us take a look together at how to grow Houttuynia cordata!

Propagation Methods of Houttuynia Cordata

Houttuynia cordata can be propagated by division, cuttings, or rhizome propagation. For division propagation, in late March to April, dig up the mother plant, divide it, and either transplant the divisions into a sandy soil seedbed to raise seedlings or transplant them directly. For cutting propagation, in spring and summer, cut healthy, pest-free vigorous branches as cuttings, cut them into 12-15 cm lengths, and insert them into flower pots at a row-to-plant spacing of 16 cm × 10 cm or 14 cm × 10 cm. After insertion, water and shade them; once rooted, transplant the seedlings for permanent planting. For rhizome propagation, which can be done in February to March, select white, thick rhizomes free of disease spots, cut them into small sections with more than 2 axillary buds, and open shallow furrows in flower pots to raise seedlings or plant them permanently. In winter and early spring, attention should be paid to protection against freezing and keeping warm; in summer and early autumn, attention should be paid to shading and moisture retention.

Planting Methods of Houttuynia Cordata

When planting Houttuynia cordata, choose a location with natural shade (half shade, half sun) and loose, fertile potting soil. It can be planted all year round, but planting in winter, spring, and early summer allows harvest in the same year; the best sowing time is generally around the Beginning of Spring. Open furrows in the flower pot in the same direction for row planting, with furrow depth 8-10 cm, width 13-15 cm, and row spacing 20-25 cm. Place Houttuynia cordata seed rhizomes in the furrows, laying two parallel rows per furrow, with a spacing of 5-8 cm between stem sections, placed continuously end to end. The seed stems should be placed evenly, then covered with soil; after planting, keep them warm and moist. If planting during the high-temperature summer season, there must be 3 nodes to ensure that the middle node can sprout and take root.

If planting before winter, plastic film or newspaper should also be added as a cover to facilitate normal growth and development in winter and early spring and achieve high yield.

Daily Management of Houttuynia Cordata

After permanent planting, if the seedlings encounter drought, water them in the morning and evening to moisten the bed soil. From seedling survival until the rows close, carry out 2-3 rounds of intertillage, weeding, and topdressing, with nitrogen fertilizer as the main fertilizer. Each time you weed, combine it with topdressing; apply 20-30 grams of urea per square meter, applying dilute fertilizer first and then stronger fertilizer. After each harvest, apply topdressing mainly with nitrogen fertilizer to promote plant sprouting.

After entering autumn and following harvest, mainly apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and earth up the soil to help overwintering and lay a good foundation for sprouting the following year. In dry seasons, irrigate in a timely manner; in the rainy season, drain promptly, and avoid prolonged water accumulation in the flower pot.

Weeds should be removed promptly, and shallow intertillage and soil loosening 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. For plants whose aboveground stems and leaves grow too vigorously, pinch the tips to inhibit height growth and promote the development of side branches.

Harvesting and Storage of Houttuynia Cordata

After Houttuynia cordata is planted permanently, once the seedlings are 8-10 cm tall, you can begin picking the tender stems and leaves, and thereafter harvest once every 10-20 days. The picked tender stems and leaves can be sold fresh or dried and then sold. After the underground stems have been planted for more than half a year, they can be dug up at the appropriate time according to market demand; after washing and removing impurities, they can be sold fresh or used for pickling and processing.

Underground stems reserved for seed use can be harvested as needed. The whole plant of Houttuynia cordata can be used medicinally and can be harvested at any time; after washing, it can be dried and stored or sold on the market.