Honeysuckle Price Trends in December 2019 and a Detailed Guide to Its Cultivation Techniques

Honeysuckle, also known as Japanese honeysuckle, has been regarded since ancient times as an effective remedy for clearing heat and detoxifying the body. When the weather turns dry in autumn and winter, drinking honeysuckle tea has a very good effect on reducing internal heat. So what were the honeysuckle price trends in December 2019? And what are its cultivation techniques?

1. Honeysuckle Price Trends in December 2019

Recently, demand for honeysuckle on the market has decreased, supply has continued to move slowly, and prices have temporarily stabilized. At present, the price of Shandong premium-grade goods is around 180 yuan, first-grade goods are priced at 160-170 yuan, second-grade goods are around 150 yuan, and third-grade goods are around 130 yuan; Hebei green flower is priced at 170-180 yuan; Henan green flower is priced at around 180 yuan.

2. Honeysuckle Cultivation Techniques

1. Sowing

Sow in April. Soak the seeds in warm water at 35-40°C for 24h, take them out and mix with 2-3 times their volume of wet sand to promote germination. Sow when about 30% of the seeds have cracked open. Open furrows on the seedbed at a row spacing of 21-22cm and sow, covering with 1cm of soil. Spray water once every 2 days, and seedlings will emerge in just over 10 days. Transplant after autumn or in the spring of the 2nd year. Use about 15kg of seeds per 1h㎡.

2. Pruning

Pruning is carried out from after leaf fall in autumn to before bud break in spring. Generally, vigorous branches are pruned lightly, weak branches are pruned heavily, and every branch is pruned. When pruning, pay attention to ensuring good ventilation and light penetration after new branches grow. Thin and weak branches, dead and old branches, and basal branches should all be cut off. For plots with poor fertilizer and water conditions, pruning should be heavier; for plants of advanced age, old branches should be cut away to promote new branch growth. Young plants should mainly be trained for plant shape and pruned lightly. Plants grown on mountain and ridge plots generally retain 4-5 main trunk branches, while those on plain plots retain 1-2 main trunk branches. The tops of the main trunks should be cut off to make them thicker and more upright.

After pruning, flowering time is relatively concentrated, which facilitates harvesting and processing. Generally, pruning can make the branches upright, and removing thin and weak branches and basal branches helps the formation of new flowers. Prune again after picking the flowers, then apply a topdressing of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer and water once to promote early development of the next flush of flowers. In this way, 4 harvests of flowers can be obtained in a year, with an average yield of 150-200kg of dried flowers per 667 sq m.

3. Fertilization

In the first 1-2 years after planting honeysuckle, which is the period when the plant's development takes shape, apply more fertilizers such as human and animal manure, plant ash, urea, and potassium sulfate. After 2-3 years of planting, in early spring each year, apply more fertilizers such as livestock and poultry manure, barnyard manure, cake fertilizer, and superphosphate. After the first flush of flowers is harvested, an appropriate amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compound fertilizer should be applied as topdressing to provide sufficient nutrients for the next flush of flowers. Each year after bud break in early spring and when the first batch of flowers has been harvested, open ring-shaped furrows and apply human feces and urine, chemical fertilizers, etc. by irrigation. When each fertilizer is applied at 250g, the order of promoting effect of fertilization treatments on the vegetative growth of honeysuckle is: urea + ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium sulfate compound fertilizer, urea, ammonium bicarbonate. Among these, urea + ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium sulfate compound fertilizer, and urea can significantly increase honeysuckle yield. Considering vegetative growth, reproductive growth, and fertilization cost, topdressing with urea + ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (150g + 100g) or 250g potassium sulfate compound fertilizer is preferable.

4. Harvesting

The best time to harvest honeysuckle is in the early morning and forenoon. At this time, harvested flower buds are less likely to open, have sufficient nutrients, a strong fragrance, and good color. Harvesting in the afternoon should be finished before the sun sets, because the opening of honeysuckle is restricted by light, and after sunset mature flower buds will open, affecting quality. Do not include young buds or leaves. After picking, place them in wicker or bamboo baskets. When gathering them together, do not pile them into large heaps; spread them out instead, and do not leave them for longer than 4 hours.

For commercial honeysuckle, flower buds are preferred; those mixed with opened flowers or stem and leaf impurities are of lower quality. Buds that are plump, greenish-white in color, and clean when held are considered best. Harvest between May and June, picking the buds on a clear morning just after the dew has dried, and place them on reed mats, stone platforms, or in the yard, spread out to dry in the sun or dry in a ventilated shaded place. Drying within 1-2 days is best. When sun-drying the flowers, do not turn them, otherwise the flower color will turn black and quality will be reduced. When they are 90% dry, pick out branches, leaves, and impurities. Avoid exposure to the scorching sun. On cloudy days, they can be dried over a low fire, but the flower color will be darker, so sun-drying or shade-drying is better.

Honeysuckle has extensive medicinal value and health-care uses, which represents a business opportunity for growers. As long as its cultivation techniques are mastered well, it is not very difficult to rely on it to generate income.