What are the precautions for growing honeysuckle? Learn all about it in one article

Honeysuckle is a very common traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, and is often used to treat symptoms such as wind-heat colds and fever. Honeysuckle can be grown in most regions of China, which is enough to show that it has strong adaptability to the environment. Secondly, honeysuckle cultivation in many places in China is quite famous. Although growing honeysuckle is relatively simple, there are still some points we need to pay attention to. Let us take a look below at its cultivation precautions.

1. Variety

There are now many varieties of honeysuckle. Some honeysuckle itself is not meant for flower production, so its yield is very low, and varieties like this are not suitable for planting. Although honeysuckle does not have high environmental requirements, it still has conditions suitable for different varieties to live in. That is to say, the same variety planted in different places will also have different yields. Therefore, when planting, we need to choose high-yield and high-quality varieties according to the specific situation. Do not be fooled by seed sellers.

2. Time

For honeysuckle cultivation, there are mainly two most suitable planting times, namely from February to June each year and from September to December each year. Honeysuckle planted in these two time periods has the highest survival rate, and the growth condition as well as the yield and quality of honeysuckle are relatively less affected by the environment and climate. Most importantly, planting honeysuckle in these two time periods can avoid high temperatures and the peak period of pests and diseases, so that the yield and quality of honeysuckle can be improved to a certain extent.

3. Light

Honeysuckle is a light-loving plant, so its demand for light is relatively large. However, in certain specific time periods, we still need to provide shade management for it. First, in spring and autumn, conditions are generally quite normal, and there is no need to worry too much about light. But when summer comes and the sun is very strong, we need to prune the honeysuckle in the planting area or set up structures that can provide shade. Secondly, in winter, appropriate heat preservation management can be carried out. Basically, maintaining at least six to eight hours of light per day is enough.

4. Fertilizer and water

Honeysuckle also requires scientific fertilization and watering. When fertilizing honeysuckle, the main thing to note is to fertilize in spring and autumn each year, and to reasonably use organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer according to the living habits of honeysuckle. Arrange watering reasonably according to the growth conditions of honeysuckle at different stages. It is best to water after each fertilization, as this can dilute the fertilizer concentration and make it less likely to damage the roots. Finally, water according to changes in climate and temperature, so as to maintain the normal growth of honeysuckle.

5. Temperature

The optimal temperature suitable for honeysuckle growth is around 18 to 28 degrees. However, the temperature differences across the four seasons in China are relatively large, so in order to make honeysuckle grow better, field temperature management should be strengthened in daily management. Usually, the effect of lowering field temperature can be achieved by watering and building shade structures. At the same time, the effect of heat preservation can also be achieved by wrapping with plastic or building greenhouses.

6. Pruning

During the growth process of honeysuckle, we should pay attention to reasonably pruning its branches and leaves. This is usually done after the annual harvest of honeysuckle. Generally, the side branches of honeysuckle are basically removed, and then an appropriate amount of main branches are retained, and then they are allowed to form a trend of horizontal growth. In this way, when spring comes the next year, new branches and leaves will grow from the places that were cut, which can improve the yield of honeysuckle and also reduce pests and diseases on honeysuckle.