The Latest Jiaogulan Planting Techniques and Methods Tutorial

Jiaogulan, also known as Qiyedan, Wuyeshen, Qiyeshen, etc., is a herbaceous climbing plant of the genus Gynostemma in the Cucurbitaceae family. Folk tradition calls it the magical “herb of immortality and longevity.” The state listed it first among the “precious Chinese medicinal herbs” awaiting development in the “Spark Program,” and the Ministry of Health also included it in the health products list. It has extremely high cultivation value. Let us take a look at the planting techniques for Jiaogulan below!

Growth Habits of Jiaogulan

In China, Jiaogulan is distributed in Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and other places, while wild Jiaogulan is mainly distributed in Hunan and the Shengtang Mountain area of Jinxiu County, Guangxi. Wild Jiaogulan grows under mountain forests, beside ditches, and in shady, damp valleys. It prefers shaded environments with an upper-layer coverage of about 50-80%, ventilation and light transmission, and sandy soil, sandy loam or rubble rich in humus. It can grow in neutral, slightly acidic or slightly alkaline soil.

Propagation Methods of Jiaogulan

1. Sowing: Jiaogulan is sown in late March to early April of the following year. After the soil is plowed and harrowed three times, beds are made. The seeds are disinfected and then soaked in warm water for 24 hours to promote germination. Drilling or broadcasting may be used, with a sowing rate of 1.5 kg per mu. After the seeds are sown, sieve a layer of fine soil over them, cover with rice straw and set up a shed for shade. Within half a month, water 1 to 2 times daily depending on the weather to keep the bed soil moist. When 70% of the seedlings have emerged, remove the straw promptly, and spray carbendazim or dexon to prevent disease, as seedlings are prone to damping-off during the seedling stage. When the seedlings grow 2 true leaves, gradually uncover the shed to increase light. When the seedlings reach more than 10 cm in height, they can be lifted with soil and transplanted.

2. Cuttage: Jiaogulan can be propagated by cuttings from vine stems or rhizomes. Select robust, disease-free vines and cut them into cuttings with 3 to 4 nodes, with a row spacing of 7 by 3 cm. After cutting, set up a shed for shade immediately, water frequently, and keep the seedbed moist. After 40 to 50 days, when the seedlings reach about cm in height, they can be transplanted, or they can be inserted directly into the field.

3. Rhizome: Rhizome propagation of Jiaogulan is carried out in spring from February to March or in autumn from September to October. Dig out the rhizomes, cut them into small sections of about 5 cm, each with 1 to 2 nodes, then open holes at a spacing of 30 cm x 50 cm, place 1 small section in each hole, cover with about 3 cm of soil, and water promptly after planting to retain moisture.

Field Management of Jiaogulan

1. Cultivation: Before the seedlings close the rows, pay attention to cultivation and weed control, and be careful not to get too close to the seedling heads to avoid damaging the underground tender stems.

2. Topdressing: One week after planting, apply 1 application of thin manure, together with a small amount of urea and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. After each harvest or topping, apply 1 application of fertilizer. After the last harvest, apply winter fertilizer. Winter fertilizer is mainly farmyard manure.

3. Topping: When the main stem grows to 30-40 cm, perform topping on a sunny day to promote branching. This can be done 2 times a year, generally removing 3-4 cm of the growing tip.

4. Shading: The seedling stage avoids direct strong light. Corn can be interplanted at sowing time, or bamboo poles can be used to build a 1-1.5 m high frame, covered with corn, reeds or other shading materials.

5. Trellising: Jiaogulan has poor climbing ability on its own and needs manual assistance to climb the trellis in the field. Generally, when the stems and vines grow to about 50 cm, wind them around the trellis poles, and tie them with thin string if necessary. Trellising is an important measure in Jiaogulan production.

6. Drainage and irrigation: Jiaogulan likes moisture, so it should be watered frequently. During the rainy season, pay attention to drainage to avoid waterlogging.

7. Harvesting: When the stems and vines reach 2-3 m in length, choose a sunny day for harvesting. When harvesting, leave 10-15 cm of the aboveground stems of the original plant to facilitate regrowth. In the south, 3-4 harvests can be made a year, while in the north, 2 harvests are made, and the last harvest can be cut level with the ground. After harvesting, dry in the sun until dry, and store deeply in a cool, airtight place to maintain the color of the dried product.

8. Seed saving: Jiaogulan fruits are mostly found in well-ventilated places. Generally, when more than 30% of the berries in the inflorescence turn blue-black, seeds can be collected. After collection, place the fruit spikes in a cool, ventilated place for after-ripening. After 1 week, take down the fruits, place them on bamboo mats or bamboo trays to dry in the sun and air, rub off the fruit shells, and then store them in cloth bags or paper bags in a ventilated, dry place. When propagating by rhizome, in the south, after the aboveground parts are harvested, the rhizomes can overwinter naturally in the soil. In the north, if the temperature is relatively low, the ground surface needs to be covered for protection or stored in cellars.

Pest and Disease Control of Jiaogulan

1. Powdery mildew

[Damage] Mostly occurs in the late growth period and damages leaves.

[Control] Clean the field and spray with 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 500-800 times dilution.

2. Damping-off

[Damage] Prone to occur from May to October in the rainy season.

[Control] Use chlorothalonil at 100 times dilution or Bordeaux mixture at 200 times dilution to irrigate the diseased area, pull out diseased plants, and then scatter lime powder around them.

3. Three-star yellow flea beetle

[Damage] Begins in late April, with larvae and adults damaging leaves.

[Control] Clean the field. At the seedling stage, use 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution or 90% trichlorfon crystal at 1000 times dilution for ground spraying.

4. Gray garden snail

[Damage] Damages leaves, buds and tender stems.

[Control] Can be controlled by spreading lime water or lime powder.

5. White grubs

[Damage] Mainly the larvae of the copper-green chafer. They bite off tender stems at the seedling stage, and feed on the roots during the plant growth period, causing plants to gradually turn yellow and wilt, and in severe cases to die.

[Control] 1. Remove weeds in winter and spring, carry out cultivation and turn over the soil to eliminate overwintering insects. 2. Apply decomposed soil fertilizer, cover with soil after application to reduce egg-laying opportunities. 3. During the peak emergence period of adults from July to August, set up lights at night for trapping and killing. 4. If damage occurs, irrigate with 50% phoxim at 1500 times dilution.

6. Black cutworm

[Damage] Larvae bite and feed on plants, causing missing plants and gaps in rows.

[Control] 1. Remove weeds, dead branches and fallen leaves from the ground in winter and spring to eliminate overwintering larvae and pupae. 2. Manual capture and killing. 3. If larvae occur at the seedling stage, spray or irrigate holes with 50% phoxim at 1000-1500 times dilution.