Latest Prices and a Detailed Guide to Growing Sichuan Lovage

Sichuan lovage, also known as fragrant fruit, Huqiong, Xiongqiong and so on, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Ligusticum in the Apiaceae family. It is mainly produced in Sichuan (Pengzhou City; the traditional production area has now shifted somewhat), and is cultivated in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Hebei and other provinces and regions. Now let us take a look together at the price and growing methods of Sichuan lovage!

How much is Sichuan lovage per jin?

Note: Sichuan lovage is a well-known bulk commodity medicinal herb produced in Sichuan since ancient times, and its price varies with product quality, place of origin, specification and market. The above prices are for reference only; please rely on the actual price when selling or purchasing.

Propagation methods for Sichuan lovage

1. High-mountain Ling cultivation: The main production areas in Sichuan generally use mountain-area Ling cultivation to supply planting stock for the dam areas. From the end of December to mid-January of the following year, Sichuan lovage from the flat dam areas is dug up, the stems, leaves and fibrous roots are removed, and it is transported to the mountains for planting. It sprouts in early March, and in early August the stems are taken out and transported down the mountain to be used as seed stock.

2. Dam-area Ling cultivation: Sichuan lovage planted in dam areas can be used to grow Ling on the spot. In March, “Fuqiong” is taken and planted on the spot, with management the same as for high-mountain Ling cultivation. In early July the Ling stems are harvested; those with prominent node discs are selected, the leaves and tender Ling are removed, and they are tied into small bundles and stored in a pit for 20 to 30 days before planting.

3. Paddy-field Ling cultivation: In mountainous areas at an altitude of about 1000 m, or in new production areas nearby with no mountains, Sichuan lovage is mostly propagated using Ling from the paddy field itself. Although this method can also produce fairly good Ling, continuous use of paddy-field Ling as seed for many years will lead to degeneration.

Growing methods for Sichuan lovage

1. Site selection and land preparation: Sichuan lovage should be grown on sunny, deep soil that drains well, is fairly fertile, and is neutral or slightly acidic. Before planting, remove all weeds, burn the weeds into charcoal to use as fertilizer, plow the land and level it, then, according to the terrain and drainage conditions, make beds 1.6 to 1.8 m wide.

2. Timely planting: In early to mid-August, plant Sichuan lovage on the prepared bed surface by opening furrows at a row spacing of 33×20 cm. At the same time, every 6 to 10 rows, plant one dense row of Ling between the rows to provide seedlings for gap filling. The Ling must be planted shallowly, laid flat in the furrow with the buds facing upward, and pressed upright into the soil.

3. Cultivation and weeding: After planting Sichuan lovage, cover the Ling with sieved fine compost or soil manure. About half a month after planting, once the seedlings are established, remove the covering grass. Cultivate and weed about once every 20 days. Where seedlings are missing, fill the gaps in conjunction with cultivation, and carry out the last cultivation and weeding while earthing up around the rhizomes.

4. Reasonable topdressing: Within 2 months after planting Sichuan lovage, apply topdressing 3 times in concentrated fashion: per mu, apply 1.2 tonnes of farmyard manure, 30 kg of oil cake, 100 kg of plant ash, 25 kg of ammonium sulfate, 40 kg of superphosphate, and 10 kg of potassium sulfate. Apply one more topdressing in spring when the stems and leaves grow rapidly.

5. Timely harvest: For Sichuan lovage, the most suitable time to dig is late May of the second year after planting. If too early, the underground rhizome is not yet fully mature, resulting in low yield; if too late, the rhizome is fully ripe and tends to rot underground. Digging should be done on a sunny day.

Pest and disease control for Sichuan lovage

1. Leaf blight

[Damage] It mostly occurs from May to July. When the disease strikes, brown, irregular spots appear on the leaves, then spread to the whole leaf and cause the entire plant to wither and die.

[Control] In the early stage of the disease, spray 65% zineb 500-fold solution, or 50% Tuzet 1000-fold solution, or 1:1:100 Bordeaux mixture for control, once every 10 days, 3 to 4 times in succession.

2. Powdery mildew

[Damage] From late June to July, when temperature and humidity are high, the disease becomes severe. It starts on the lower leaves, and grayish-white powdery mildew appears on the leaves and stems, then gradually spreads upward. Later, small black spots appear on the diseased parts, and in severe cases the stems and leaves turn yellow and die.

[Control] After harvest, clean up the garden and burn the remaining diseased plants and leaves in a centralized manner. In the early stage of the disease, spray 25% triadimefon 1500-fold solution, or 50% thiophanate 1000-fold solution, once every 10 days, spraying 2 to 3 times in succession.

3. Soft rot

[Damage] It occurs during the growing period and at harvest. The interior of the diseased rhizome rots into a yellow-brown, water-soaked, soft-rot state with a special foul odor. After being affected during the growing period, the aboveground leaves gradually turn yellow and fall off.

[Control] Once it occurs, immediately pull out the diseased plants and burn them in a centralized manner to prevent spread. Pay attention to drainage, especially in the rainy season; when there is too much rain and drainage is poor, the disease is severe. At harvest and seed selection, discard diseased “Fuqiong” and already rotted “Ling”.

4. Stem node moth

[Damage] In the early stage, the larvae damage the top of the stem; afterward the insects bore from the stem tip into the stem and damage it node by node until the whole plant dies.

[Control] During the Ling cultivation stage, spray with 80% trichlorfon 100- to 150-fold aqueous solution, and pay attention to controlling the first-generation larvae before the second instar.