Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for High-Yield Cultivation of Common Selfheal

Common SelfhealAlso known as Maisui Xiakucao, Mai Xiaku, Tiexian Xiaku, Tiese Cao, Bangzhutou Hua, Datou Hua, Denglongtou, Yangchangcai, etc. It is an annual to biennial herbaceous plant of the genus Prunella in the family Lamiaceae. It is cold in nature and bitter and pungent in taste. It has the effects of clearing the liver, dissipating nodules, and promoting diuresis; clinically it is mainly used to treat pestilential diseases, acute mastitis, eye pain, jaundice, gonorrhea, hypertension, and other conditions; it is mainly produced in Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Henan, and other places, and is also produced in other provinces.

Plant morphology: Plant height 13—40 cm. Stems upright, often with a purplish tint, with fine hairs. Leaves ovate or elliptic-lanceolate, 1.5—5 cm long, 1—2.5 cm wide, entire or sparsely serrate. Verticillasters terminal, spike-like; bracts kidney-shaped, base truncate or slightly heart-shaped, apex abruptly tapering into a long tail-like acuminate form, with coarse hairs on the back; calyx bilabiate, with coarse hairs on the front and smooth on the back, upper lip oblong, 3-lobed, the two sides extending into a semi-lanceolate shape, lower lip 2-lobed, lobes triangular, apex acuminate; corolla purple or white, bilabiate, lower part tubular, upper lip helmet-shaped, 2-lobed, lower lip spreading, 3-lobed; stamens 4, didynamous, filaments forked at the apex, with an anther borne on one branch; ovary 4-lobed, style filiform. Nutlets brown, oblong, with 3 ridges. Flowering period May to June. Fruiting period June to July.

1. Land preparation and fertilization: This variety has low requirements for soil texture; sandy loam, loess, white sandy soil, and wheat-field soil are all acceptable, but sandy loam humus soil is best. Before land preparation, according to the fertility level of the plot, generally apply 50 kg of phosphate fertilizer, 20-25 kg of urea, or 50 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, then plow and harrow normally, and make flat beds 2-3 m wide.

2. Sowing: Seed propagation is the main method, and direct sowing is generally used in production. Planting time is generally divided into early spring and early autumn, and the best season is from the Beginning of Autumn to White Dew each year, that is, from early August to early-to-mid September of the lunar calendar. Sow with sufficient soil moisture, seedlings emerge in about 15 days, roots are established for overwintering within the year, and the next year the growth is vigorous, maturity is early, and yield is high. Sowing is generally divided into drilling and broadcasting; for drilling, use the back of a hoe to open furrows at a row spacing of 5-7 cun, and scatter the seeds evenly in the furrows; for broadcasting, scatter the seeds evenly on the bed surface, then lightly sweep with a broom after sowing so that the seeds are just covered. If the soil moisture is poor, irrigate once after sowing to keep the bed surface moist; the seeding rate is about 2 kg per mu. Seedlings can also be raised first and then transplanted in October of the lunar calendar or before Qingming Festival the next year. Common selfheal seeds are small; at a temperature of 25-30°C and with sufficient moisture, seedlings emerge about 15 days after sowing.

3. Field management: Common selfheal has strong adaptability, and there are rarely pests or diseases throughout its growth process. After the seedlings emerge completely and grow to 6-8 leaves, thin the seedlings at a row spacing of 5-7 cun and a plant spacing of 4-6 cun, and weed once. When the seedlings grow to 10 leaves, apply human and livestock manure water once or apply 5 kg of urea per mu. In the next year, each plant can generally tiller into 50-120 plants, about 50 cm tall, with many spikes and high yield.

4. Harvesting and processing: Common selfheal spikes mature in stages and should be harvested in stages. Generally, those with a length of more than 8 cm (with more than 13 layers in the spike) can be exported and can be packed separately by grade. When most spikes show a yellow-brown color, the stems together with the spikes can be cut, sun-dried, and stacked for storage. When farm work is slack, grade and pack the spikes and stems for sale. After harvesting, the old root crowns can be retained and can continue to grow. Common selfheal is planted once and yields for many years; generally, the yield per mu is 150-200 kg of spikes and 200-250 kg of herb.