Cultivation Techniques and Harvesting Methods for the Chinese Medicinal Herb Trichosanthes kirilowii

Alternative names: Yaogua, Tiangua, Dugua, Tianyuanzi, etc.

Overview:Trichosanthes kirilowiiThe entire plant can be used as medicine. Its fruit is known in Chinese medicine as Quangualou, the fruit rind as Gualoupi, the seeds as Gualouren, and the root as Tianhuafen, all of which are commonly used Chinese medicinal materials. Market demand for these medicinal materials is high. They are mainly produced in Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Sichuan, Jiangsu and other provinces, and are cultivated in most parts of China.

Morphology: Trichosanthes kirilowii is a perennial herbaceous vine, with stems reaching up to 10 m in length. The root tuber is thick and fleshy, long cylindrical in shape, and the stems are much branched. The fruit is a pepo, broadly elliptical or nearly spherical. Seeds are numerous, flat, and dark brown. The flowering period is July-August, and the fruiting period is September-October.

1. Site selection and land preparation: Trichosanthes kirilowii prefers a warm and humid climate and is relatively cold-tolerant. It has no strict requirements for soil, but as a deep-rooted crop whose roots can penetrate 1-1.5 m into the soil, it is best to choose sandy loam with deep soil, loose and fertile texture, and good drainage. Low-lying land is not suitable for planting.

In the selected plot, dig planting holes of 30×30 cm at a spacing of 1 m×1 m, apply about 0.1-0.2 kg of compound fertilizer per hole, and deep-plow to mix the base fertilizer evenly with the soil.

2. Planting: In mid-to-late April, when the temperature stabilizes above 18 degrees, begin planting. The method is to cut the mother roots of Trichosanthes kirilowii into 7-8 cm segments and plant them at a spacing of 1 m×1 m, with holes 6-8 cm deep. Place the cut root segments in the holes, cover with soil, and water thoroughly.

3. Field management:

Seedling stage management: When the Trichosanthes kirilowii seedlings grow to about 20 cm, promote seedling growth by increasing watering and topdressing. The focus is on applying nitrogen fertilizer to boost nutrients. Apply 30 g of urea per plant in the hole. The method is to open a ring-shaped trench 5-8 cm deep at a distance of 20-25 cm from the seedling, scatter the fertilizer in the trench or apply it in holes, then fill and firm the soil, which gives the best results. Water according to soil moisture conditions.

Thinning of tillers and final singling: When the seedlings grow to 20-25 cm, promptly remove the weaker shoots, keeping only 2 shoots per plant.

Intertillage and weeding: During the seedling stage, carry out intertillage and weeding to keep the soil loose, so that weeds do not compete with the Trichosanthes kirilowii seedlings for nutrients.

4. Flowering stage management:

Fertilization: After Trichosanthes kirilowii enters the flowering stage, the focus should be on supplementing phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, preferably by applying a three-element compound fertilizer in holes. The ring-shaped trench fertilization method can also be used, applying 30-50 g per plant.

Tip pruning: During the flowering stage, when the stems and vines grow to about 1.5 m, promptly remove the growing tips of the stems and vines, which can fully improve the fruit-setting rate.

Watering: Generally, water according to soil moisture conditions.

Hand pollination: To improve the fruit-setting rate, hand pollination can be used. On a windless morning between 8 and 9 o'clock, use a brush to collect pollen from male flowers and apply it one by one to the stigmas of female flowers. This increases the fruit-setting rate.

Fruiting stage management: The focus of fruiting stage management is to prevent fruit drop and fruit rot.

Preventing fruit drop: Inadequate nutrients in the later stage of Trichosanthes kirilowii can easily cause fruit drop, so timely topdressing is needed during this period. Increase phosphorus, supplement potassium, and control nitrogen. It is advisable to apply an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in holes. If the stems and vines are too dense and too thin, this not only affects ventilation and light penetration but also results in poor fruit-setting ability. The management method is: promptly remove excessively dense and weak branches and axillary buds, and remove all growing tips of the stems and vines.

Preventing waterlogging: The fruiting stage of Trichosanthes kirilowii falls in the rainy season, so attention should be paid to draining excess water from the field to prevent the fruits from becoming waterlogged.

5. Harvesting;

Trichosanthes kirilowii generally matures around Frost's Descent. It can be harvested when the fruit rind begins to turn yellow and a white bloom appears. Because the fruits do not mature at the same time, a staged and batch-by-batch harvesting method should be adopted.