Key Techniques for High-Yield Cultivation of the Medicinal Herb Honeysuckle
Honeysuckle, also known as silver flower, double flower, two flower, Japanese honeysuckle, Su flower, etc., is the flower bud of plants in the genus Lonicera of the family Caprifoliaceae. It is a commonly used medicinal material and has the functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, dispelling wind and reducing swelling. In recent years, in addition to its medicinal use, it is also an important raw material for producing toothpaste, beverages, and cosmetics, and its high-quality products are in short supply for export. The cultivation experience is introduced as follows:
I. Distribution and Habits
Honeysuckle is mainly produced in Shandong, Henan, and other provinces, and is now cultivated throughout the country. Among them, the "South Honeysuckle" produced in Henan is of good quality, and the "East Honeysuckle" produced in Shandong is famous nationwide for its large quantity.
Honeysuckle is a light-loving crop and prefers a warm and humid climate. It has strong adaptability and can tolerate cold, drought, and waterlogging. It has low requirements for soil and can be cultivated in mountainous areas, hills, and plains in both the north and south of the country, but loose, fertile, well-drained sandy loam is best.
II. Cultivation Techniques
Propagation methods include cuttings, seeds, root division, and layering. Cuttings are further divided into direct cuttings and cutting propagation for seedlings. Because direct cuttings occupy a large area, have a low survival rate, and are unfavorable for seedling-stage management; seed propagation is labor-intensive and slow to produce seedlings; and root division and layering are unfavorable for large-scale propagation and are time-consuming and labor-intensive. The above methods are not widely used, and at present cutting propagation for seedlings is mainly used.
Site selection and land preparation: Choose sandy loam with loose soil, fertility, and good drainage, as well as a place convenient for irrigation and with a water source, as the seedling-raising site. Deep plow more than 30 cm, level and harrow finely, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and make high beds 1.3 m wide for cutting propagation. For the cultivation site, scattered plots such as barren slopes, field edges, ditch sides, and areas in front of and behind houses can be used. Deep plow, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and plant on high beds or high ridges.
Selection and treatment of cuttings: Choose robust, well-developed 1-2-year-old branches and cut them into cuttings about 30 cm long, retaining about 3 nodes. Remove the lower leaves and keep 2-4 leaves at the upper part. Cut the lower end into a smooth slanted surface, tie into small bundles, quickly dip the lower slanted surface in a 500 mg/kg indolebutyric acid aqueous solution for 5-10 seconds, let it dry slightly, and then insert the cuttings immediately.
Cutting propagation for seedlings: In early spring, on the prepared cutting bed, draw lines at a row spacing of 15-20 cm. Every 3-5 cm, use a small wooden stick to make guide holes on the bed surface. Then insert the cuttings 1/2-2/3 into the holes, press firmly and compact, and water immediately. Build a plastic film arched shed to preserve heat and moisture. After about half a month, they can take root and sprout new buds. At this time, the arched shed can be removed and seedling-stage management carried out.
For spring cutting propagation, seedlings can be lifted and planted in the same winter or the following spring.
Transplanting is carried out before germination in early spring or during the dormant period in autumn and winter. On the prepared cultivation land, dig holes at a row spacing of 130 cm and a plant spacing of 100 cm, with a width and depth of 30-40 cm each. Mix sufficient base fertilizer thoroughly with the subsoil and apply it into the holes. Plant 1 strong seedling per hole, fill with fine soil, press firmly, tread solid, and water thoroughly to settle the roots.
III. Field Management
Weeding and fertilizing: After transplanting and survival, fertilize 3-4 times each year in combination with intertillage and weeding. During intertillage and weeding, note that the area around the plant rhizosphere should be shallow, while farther away it can be slightly deeper, to avoid damaging the roots and promote root growth. In spring and summer, fertilization should mainly use decomposed human and livestock manure water or ammonium sulfate, urea, etc., applied in shallow furrows. In winter, decomposed barnyard manure or compost, ammonium sulfate, superphosphate, and other mixed fertilizers should be applied in combination with earthing up around the rhizosphere.
Shaping and pruning: After transplanting and survival, through shaping and pruning, the creeping vine is trained into an upright small shrub with a single plant form, increasing branching, expanding the crown, with sparse and evenly distributed branches, ventilation and light penetration, increasing the flower-harvesting area and the number of harvests, and greatly increasing yield. Specific shaping and pruning methods: within 1-2 years after planting, the main task is to cultivate an upright, thick main trunk. When the main trunk height is 40-50 cm, cut off the top tip to promote lateral buds to sprout into branches. After germination in the second spring, select and retain 4-5 thick branches on the upper part of the main trunk as main branches, arranged in two layers. In winter, among the first-order branches growing from the main branches, retain 5-6 pairs of buds and cut off the upper part. Later, among the second-order branches growing from the first-order branches, retain 6-7 pairs of buds and cut off the upper part. Among the flowering branches growing from the second-order branches, if there are hooked tender tips, remove them promptly. In the second-order branches or on the original old flowering branches, short branches with dense nodes and fine leaves that sprout are all flowering branches and should be retained. Thereafter, prune once each summer after flower harvesting, and after each pruning, apply fertilizer once. Winter pruning should also be carried out once each year, from after Frost's Descent to before the soil freezes. Winter pruning mainly removes dead old branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, thin and weak branches, crossing branches, etc., so that nutrients are concentrated on producing new branches and forming flower buds.
IV. Harvesting and Processing
Harvesting: The flowering period of honeysuckle is relatively concentrated, about 15 days, and timely picking is the key to increasing yield and quality. The harvesting period must be before the flower buds open, when the flower buds turn from green to white, the upper part swells, and the lower part is still greenish (or when the flower buds have completely turned white), and harvesting should be done before 9 a.m. Harvesting at this time, first, does not damage immature flower buds, and second, the flower bud quality is best and the yield is high.
Processing: After harvesting, processing should be timely to prevent pile fermentation. Processing methods include air drying or oven drying. Note that the temperature during oven drying should not be too high. First control it at about 30°C and dry for 2 hours, then raise the temperature to 40-50°C and maintain it for several hours. When the honeysuckle is nearly dry, raise the room temperature to about 60°C so that the flowers dry thoroughly quickly. This drying method gives better quality and higher yield than air drying.