The Latest Harvest Time and Method Details for Licorice
Licorice is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Fabaceae family and a traditional Chinese medicinal herb with a relatively long history in our country. The main medicinal part is the root and rhizome of the plant, and it has various medicinal effects such as clearing heat and detoxifying, and relieving cough and phlegm. Its planting area in our country is now very extensive. When planting licorice, its harvest time and method are also very crucial, so when exactly should it be harvested? How should it be harvested? Let's take a look together with the editor below!
1. Harvest Time
The harvest time of licorice should be reasonably adjusted according to the planting method of licorice. If it is direct-seeded, then harvest in the fourth year of planting. If it is propagated by rhizome or division, then it can be harvested in the third year. And if it is raised as seedlings and then transplanted, then it can be harvested the following year. Within 3 years of planting licorice, the secretion of glycyrrhizic acid is relatively high, and then in the fourth year, the glycyrrhizic acid content reaches about 2.5%. So this is also the reason why it is harvested in the fourth year after sowing. At the time of harvest, choose spring or autumn according to factors such as the climate of the planting area. Generally, in autumn, dig it up after the stems and leaves of the licorice plant have withered.
2. Harvest Method
The harvest method should likewise be reasonably determined according to the planting method. If it is direct seeding and seedling transplanting, then manual and mechanical methods are generally the main ones. During manual harvesting, dig open about 25 cm of topsoil beside the two rows of the plant, expose the root crown of the licorice plant, and then grab it and pull it out. Then place the soil dug from the second row onto the first row, and so on, which can significantly increase yield and protect soil quality. If mechanical harvesting is used, then first make a deep plow of about 35 cm to cut off the lateral roots of the plant. Then rake out the roots, straighten the root and rhizome parts of the licorice after harvesting, tie them into bundles, and process them in time.
3. Processing Method
The processing site for licorice should not be too far away. Choose a place with high terrain, dry conditions, normal ventilation, and cleanliness. The fresh grass after harvest should have the reed head, lateral roots, and rotten parts cut off. Then cut it into strips of about 30 cm according to layers, and then tie them into small piles for drying in the sun. After about 5 days, pile them into a large haystack, and then place them in a suitable environment to dry in the shade. Finally, do the bundling work according to national standards, or manually cut semi-processed licorice into slices and air-dry them.
The above is a brief introduction to the harvest time and method of licorice. The harvest time and method of licorice should both be reasonably controlled and adjusted according to the planting method, to ensure the yield of licorice and expand planting benefits. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can be of some help to everyone!