Honeysuckle Storage and Preservation Methods and Key Technical Points

[Scientific name] Lonicera japonica Thunb.

[Other Chinese names] Erbaohua, Erhua, Jinchaigu, Jinyinteng, Laowengxu, Mitongteng, Rendong, Tonglingcao, Yuanyangteng, Zuochanteng [Family and genus] Caprifoliaceae, Lonicera

[Place of origin] China [Horticultural characteristics] Honeysuckle has strong adaptability and produces an excellent vertical greening effect. It grows well in both full sun and light shade, and can overwinter successfully in most areas of northern China.

[Pre-harvest management] Planting density is 1-3 plants per sq m. Honeysuckle prefers a slightly moist, somewhat dry soil environment and is relatively drought-tolerant. In addition to applying an appropriate amount of barnyard manure as a base fertilizer at planting time, a dilute liquid fertilizer should be applied once every 10 days during the vigorous growth stage. It prefers an environment with sufficient sunlight and is also slightly shade-tolerant. Keep the environment well ventilated. Honeysuckle prefers a warm environment; its optimum growth temperature is 16-28°C, and it is relatively tolerant of cold, with the overwintering temperature not to fall below -15°C. Because honeysuckle is a climbing plant, a support must be set up for it to ensure it has enough space to grow normally. After the plants are trained onto the support, be careful to train the side branches separately; otherwise, as they grow, the branches tend to become tangled together, which makes harvesting the cuttings difficult.

[Post-harvest management] Honeysuckle cuttings are generally harvested after the plants have dropped their leaves; because they bear no leaves, handling is relatively easy. Usually the selected branches are cut directly into 30-40 cm long sections, then graded, and then tied in bundles of 20 and packed into boxes. Immediately place the prepared cuttings in an environment with a relative humidity of 85%-90% and a temperature of -1-1°C for storage. Honeysuckle cuttings can usually be stored under the above conditions for 40-60 days without affecting their performance.

[Packaging materials] Usually a 60 cm x 45 cm x 30 cm film-lined corrugated cardboard box is used for packaging. Note that ventilation holes must be made in the film lining and the corrugated cardboard box.