Latest Prices and Planting Methods for He Shou Wu (Fallopia multiflora) Seeds

He Shou Wu (Fallopia multiflora) is a perennial twining vine of the Polygonaceae family and the genus Fallopia. It grows in valley thickets, under mountain slope forests, and in stone crevices along ditches. It is produced in southern Shaanxi, southern Gansu, East China, Central China, South China, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou. Its tuberous root is used as medicine and has the effects of nourishing blood and yin, moistening the intestines and relieving constipation, and dispelling wind and detoxifying. Now let us take a look at the price of He Shou Wu seeds and its planting methods!

How much is a jin of He Shou Wu seeds?

The price of He Shou Wu is about 15 to 20 yuan per jin, but prices vary widely depending on seed quality, variety, place of origin, and market conditions. He Shou Wu is mainly grown by direct seeding, though it can also be raised in seedbeds and transplanted. The seeds mature around September to October. Select superior individual plants with pure variety, no pests or diseases, and robust growth as the mother plants for seed collection. When the seed surface turns from white to brown and the inside turns black, harvest promptly, otherwise the seeds will naturally fall off. After harvesting, dry the seeds in the sun and store them in gunny bags or sand cloth bags in a ventilated, dry place. Never store them in plastic bags.

Sowing Methods for He Shou Wu

1. Site selection: He Shou Wu has strict soil requirements. Plots with deep soil layers, loose and fertile soil, convenient water sources, and both drainage and irrigation capacity are ideal. After the seedbed site is determined, remove all weeds in advance to prevent weeds from competing with seedlings for nutrients and light.

2. Land preparation: After deep plowing, expose the He Shou Wu seedbed land to the sun for 15 to 20 days, then carry out land preparation. Combine this with applying base fertilizer at 10 kg of high-quality farmyard manure per sq m. After application, turn the soil once more, remove weed roots, and break the soil up fine and level the bed surface.

3. Bed making: Because spring drought is often severe after sowing, He Shou Wu mainly relies on manual irrigation, so flat beds are preferable. Make the beds 1.5 m wide, with soil ridges formed around them 30 cm wide, which helps retain water and fertilizer.

4. Sowing time: The best sowing period for He Shou Wu is in March, at “Jingzhe”. Sowing too early cannot meet the temperature requirements for seed germination, while sowing too late, although seedlings emerge quickly after sowing, shortens the optimal growth period and is unfavorable for seedling growth.

5. Sowing: The sowing rate for He Shou Wu is 4 to 6 grams per sq m. In the morning or evening when there is no wind, mix the seeds with fine soil or plant ash and broadcast them. After sowing, cover the bed surface with sieved fine soil and a small amount of farmyard manure, then scatter a layer of fresh pine needles on top.

Seedling Stage Management of He Shou Wu

1. Watering: He Shou Wu seeds are very small, so when watering, be sure to use a watering can and spray multiple times. Do not pour water directly in a strong stream. After that, on sunny days, water lightly once daily after 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. After seedlings emerge in about 20 to 25 days, water once every 2 to 3 days.

2. Weeding: After sowing He Shou Wu, weeds emerge first, so weeds should be removed promptly and watering adjusted as appropriate. After that, weed once about every 10 days. This is very critical to whether seedling cultivation succeeds.

3. Topdressing: Sixty days after He Shou Wu seedlings emerge, spray once every 10 to 15 days with 100 kg of water plus 0.2 to 0.3 kg of compound fertilizer or urea. In the middle and later stages, spray with compound fertilizer or urea at a concentration of 0.5 to 1%, or apply 50 kg of clear water plus 5 to 8 kg of manure water.

4. Thinning: The first thinning of He Shou Wu is carried out about 30 days after seedlings emerge, the second about 50 days after seedlings emerge, and the third thinning should basically leave one plant every 3 to 4 cm. It is better to do this early than late, and after each thinning, water appropriately.

5. Disease prevention: The main pests and diseases of He Shou Wu seedlings are cutworms and powdery mildew. Cutworms can be caught manually or sprayed with Decis at a dilution of 1:2000. For powdery mildew, spray Bordeaux mixture at 1:1:200 before onset, and spray a 500 to 800 times solution of 25% carbendazim when the disease occurs.

Planting Methods for He Shou Wu

1. Fertilization: For transplanted He Shou Wu plots, apply 1000 to 1500 kg of farmyard manure per mu plus 30 to 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer or 20 to 30 kg of compound fertilizer. Generally, fertilizer is applied in the transplanting holes, mixed with soil, and then transplanting is carried out.

2. Topdressing: When transplanted He Shou Wu seedlings grow to about 60 cm, combine cultivation and weeding and apply 30 to 40 kg of compound fertilizer or 30 kg of urea per mu, preferably dissolved in water and poured on. After that, weed at any time.

4. Trellising: He Shou Wu is a climbing vine. After transplanting, when the plant grows to about one meter, it must be supported with bamboo poles or branches to a height of more than 1 m, and ventilation and light conditions should be improved.

5. Pinching: When the He Shou Wu vine grows to 2 m tall, remove the terminal buds to encourage branching. After 30 days, cut off overly dense branches and excessive vegetative shoots sprouting from the base to reduce nutrient consumption. Remove leaves at the base of the stem and flower buds not kept for seed to improve ventilation and light penetration.

6. Hilling: In southern production areas, He Shou Wu is hilled around the root zone at the end of December to increase propagation material and promote tuberous root growth. In the north, hill before winter to help it overwinter.

Pest and Disease Control of He Shou Wu

1. Leaf spot disease

[Damage] The disease begins in hot, rainy seasons, and is severe when field ventilation is poor. It damages leaves.

[Control] (1) Maintain ventilation and light penetration, and prune diseased leaves. (2) In the early stage of the disease, spray 1:1:120 Bordeaux mixture once every 7 to 10 days, for 2 to 3 consecutive times.

2. Root rot

[Damage] It mostly occurs in summer and damages roots.

[Control] (1) Pay attention to watering. (2) Pull out diseased plants, sprinkle lime into the diseased holes, cover, and firm the soil. (3) Drench the root area with a 1000 times solution of 50% carbendazim wettable powder, which can provide protection.

3. Rust disease

[Damage] The disease begins in late February and causes severe damage in March to May and in July and August. It damages leaves.

[Control] (1) Remove diseased leaves, diseased plants, and fallen leaves on the ground. (2) Spray with a 1000 times solution of 75% chlorothalonil or an 800 to 1000 times solution of 75% thiophanate-methyl once every 7 to 10 days, for 2 consecutive times.

4. Aphids

[Damage] They damage stems and leaves.

[Control] Spray to kill with a 1500 to 2000 times solution of 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate plus a small amount of laundry detergent, once every half month.