September is exactly the right time to plant honeysuckle

Cutting propagation: Carry out cuttings in early spring before the new buds sprout, or in autumn from September to October. The seedbed should be close to a water source, with the soil deeply plowed and plenty of base fertilizer applied. Make raised beds 1.3 m wide. Select robust, pest- and disease-free 1- to 2-year-old branches, cut them into cuttings about 33 cm long, and remove the lower leaves. Then open horizontal trenches on the bed at a row spacing of 27-30 cm, with the trench depth depending on the length of the cuttings. Place 10-15 cuttings in each trench, bury 2/3 of each cutting in the soil, and firm the soil after filling.

Division propagation: Select robust 2- to 3-year-old perennial roots with even growth, a large root crown diameter, dark green wilted leaves, and no pests or diseases, and divide them directly for use as seedlings. Keep 2/3 of the old plant. Divide off 1/3 with roots and soil as seedlings. If transplanted before the plants sprout, from "Start of Winter" to "Awakening of Insects" the following year, the survival rate can reach more than 90%.

Seed propagation: Pick the fruit in November, rub and wash it in water, remove all the flesh and shriveled grains, and take the mature seeds and dry them for later use. In April of the following year, soak the seeds in warm water at 35-40°C for 24 hours, then mix them with 3 times their volume of moist sand to promote germination. When about 30% of the seeds have split open, they can be sown. Before sowing, choose sandy fertile soil and plow it 30 cm deep; level it into flat beds 70 cm wide. The length of the beds is not limited.

Planting out: Both autumn and early spring planting are acceptable. Plant on barren slopes, vacant land, or farmland in mountainous areas returned from cultivation to forest. Dig pits at a plant spacing of 1.3-1.7 m; each pit should be 33 cm wide and 33 cm deep, and apply 45 kg of farmyard manure to each pit. Plant 1-2 seedlings per pit, press firmly with fine soil, and water with rooting water.

Field management: Carry out intertillage and weeding 3 times each year: the first time when new leaves appear, the second time in July-August, and the third time in late autumn or early winter before frost. Combine this with intertillage and earthing up to prevent the flower roots from being exposed above the ground.

Fertilization: In the 1-2 years after planting, which is the stage when the plants grow and take shape, apply more fertilizers such as human and livestock manure, plant ash, urea, and potassium sulfate. After 2-3 years of planting, each year before winter or in early spring, apply more fertilizers such as livestock and poultry manure, barnyard manure, cake fertilizer, and superphosphate. After "Start of Summer", topdress with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizer after each harvest of flowers to provide nutrients for the next crop of flowers.

Pruning: Each year before sprouting in early spring, cut off the tips of the branches to encourage the lower parts of the branches to gradually thicken and grow upright. Larger flower clumps should have old dead branches and ineffective inner branches removed; vigorous ones should be pruned lightly, while weak old flower clumps should be pruned heavily. Through pruning, shape the flower clumps into an umbrella form, so that the middle is high and the surroundings are low, so that the clustered branches can be ventilated and receive light and produce more flowering branches.

Pest and disease control: The main disease of honeysuckle is brown spot, which can be controlled by spraying 65% zineb 500-fold solution or 1:1.5:300 Bordeaux mixture once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays. The main pest is aphids, which can be controlled by spraying omethoate emulsifiable concentrate diluted 2000-fold with water.