Detailed Explanation of Key Cultivation and Pruning Techniques for Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle, also known as double flower or silver flower, has a long history of cultivation in the Linyi area of Shandong. Honeysuckle has a wide range of uses, possessing functions such as clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing inflammation and relieving cough, and is widely used in clinical practice and the pharmaceutical industry. It is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal material, and in Southeast Asian countries it is used as a tea substitute in summer to relieve heat, with very large market demand. In recent years, people have discovered that its branches and leaves have high medicinal value, and many new products have been developed. In particular, it has been found that honeysuckle has a preventive and inhibitory effect on epidemic and infectious viruses, and the price has consequently soared, from the original 40 yuan per kilogram to 450-500 yuan, making the economic income very considerable.

Honeysuckle not only has relatively high medicinal value and economic value, but also has ornamental value. Its stems and leaves are fresh and green, and its floral fragrance is captivating, so it can be used for making bonsai and for courtyard landscaping. Because it grows rapidly, has luxuriant branches and leaves, and develops a root network due to its well-developed root system, it has a very strong effect in reinforcing embankments and protecting banks, and plays a role in conserving soil and water and preventing soil erosion. In addition, honeysuckle is rich in nutrients and is a feed that livestock enjoy eating, and its vines are long, slender and soft, so they can be used for weaving various handicrafts. With the continuous deepening of resource development, utilization and research, health beverages and daily necessities made from honeysuckle as a raw material are constantly increasing, such as silver flower tea, silver flower cola, silver flower wine, silver flower toothpaste, etc., making it an economic plant with great development potential.

1. Cultivation management. Honeysuckle has very strong adaptability and does not require high cultivation management. It can be planted in saline-alkali land, sandy beaches and other places. In places with irrigation conditions, it can be planted throughout the year. In mountainous, hilly and desert areas without irrigation conditions, it can be planted during the rainy season. When planting, first cut 1-2 year old branches into 30-35 cm lengths, remove the lower leaves, and bury them in the soil. The aboveground part should expose 1-2 pairs of leaf buds, then cover with soil and firm it. When planting in mountain plots, plant 3-5 plants per hole. The hole spacing should be determined according to the terrain. Generally, the row spacing is 1.5-2 m, and in plain areas the row spacing for planting is generally 2 m. Another cultivation method is cutting propagation for raising seedlings, propagated in a nursery. After planting, water once, and new roots will grow after half a month. Transplant in early spring of the second year, and the survival rate can reach more than 95%. In spring, apply a flower-promoting fertilizer once. In autumn, prune away aged branches, loosen the soil, and apply organic fertilizer or superphosphate around the planting holes. In mountain plots, after harvesting the first crop of flowers, timely topdressing should be carried out to increase the yield of the next crop of flowers. Because honeysuckle has a long cultivation history, different cultivated varieties have formed in different places. Different varieties have different growth characteristics and disease resistance, and the quality and yield of the medicinal material also differ significantly. Under natural conditions, varieties that perform relatively well include Damaohua, Jizhuahua, Baiguanhua and others. Their advantages are high yield, strong disease resistance, rich nutrition and relatively good quality of the medicinal material. When planting, appropriate selection should be made according to local actual conditions.

2. Shaping and pruning. Pruning is carried out after leaf fall in autumn and before sprouting in spring. Generally, vigorous branches are pruned lightly and weak branches are pruned heavily, and every branch is pruned. When pruning, attention should be paid to ensuring that after new branches grow, ventilation and light penetration are favorable. Thin and weak branches, dead and old branches, and basal branches should all be pruned off. For plots with poor fertilizer and water conditions, pruning should be heavier. For plants of advanced age, old branches should be pruned to promote new branches. Young plants should mainly focus on developing plant shape and should be pruned lightly. For planting in mountain plots, generally 4-5 main trunk branches are retained, while in plain plots 1-2 main trunk branches should be retained. The tops of the main trunks should be pruned off to make them thicker and upright.

Shaping is carried out in combination with pruning. In principle, it is based on fertilizer and water management, promotes overall growth, makes full use of space, increases the amount of branches and leaves, makes the plant shape more reasonable, and can significantly increase flowers and yield. After pruning, the flowering time is relatively concentrated, which facilitates harvesting and processing. Generally, after pruning, the branches can be made upright, and removing thin and weak branches and basal branches is beneficial to the formation of new flowers. After picking flowers, prune again. After pruning, apply a quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer once and water once to promote early development of the next crop of flowers. In this way, 4 crops of flowers can be harvested in one year, with an average yield of 150-200 kg of dried flowers per 667 sq m.

3. Pest and disease control. During the growth period, honeysuckle is mainly harmed by aphids, red spider mites, tiger longhorn beetles and brown spot disease. Aphid damage lasts for a relatively long time, mainly harming the plant's tender leaves, tender tips and the undersides of leaves. Spraying should be uniform and thorough. To control aphids, 20% menazon wettable powder at 2000-2500 times dilution, or 10% chudanjing emulsifiable concentrate at 5000-6000 times dilution can be used. To control red spider mites, 73% propargite emulsifiable concentrate at 1500 times dilution or 35% phosalone emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution can be used, spraying once every 5-6 d, twice in succession. The tiger longhorn beetle is a pest that bores into stems and causes damage, and control is relatively difficult. It should be eliminated by combining manual capture with chemical control. Because the adults of the tiger longhorn beetle have poor mobility, they can be captured manually and eliminated in a concentrated manner. For larvae that bore into stems and cause damage, 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate can be applied to the stem-boring holes, or absorbent cotton dipped in dichlorvos can be inserted into the bore holes with wire for fumigation control. Brown spot disease occurs relatively severely in some years, generally occurring in July-August. In the early stage of the disease, spray with 75% Daconil wettable powder at 700-800 times dilution, or use 25% Ridomil at 1500 times dilution or 25% Amistar at 1000-1500 times dilution for control. Spraying twice in succession can effectively control the disease.

4. Harvesting and processing. Harvest at the appropriate time and dry promptly. Generally, flowers appear in the second year after planting, and picking begins in the third year. The picking time starts in late May. When the upper part of the flower buds begins to protrude and the color is greenish-white or yellowish-white, picking is optimal. Flower buds picked in the morning are of the best quality. Picking should be done gently, handled gently and placed gently. Because picking is a busy and meticulous task with strong timing requirements, in places with relatively large cultivation areas, manpower should be concentrated for rush picking. If picking is not timely and the flower buds open, not only is the quality poor, but the yield is also low. After picking, dry promptly. On a clean site, spread the flowers on dry ground to dry, with a thickness of 1.5-2 cm, and they can be dried in 2 d. If cloudy or rainy weather is encountered, the method of indoor drying and dehydration can be used. Generally, dried flowers are of good quality. At the beginning of drying, the temperature should be controlled at 40°C. After most of the water in the flower buds has been discharged, raise the temperature to 55°C to make the flower buds dry quickly, then lower the temperature to 35°C to discharge excess water. Drying can increase production by about 3% compared with sun-drying. When drying, it is best to fumigate with sulfur. Fumigated flowers can retain more active ingredients and have good color and high quality. Use 2 kg of sulfur per 100 kg of flower buds. After processing, store the flower buds in a dry place.