Honeysuckle planting technology and key points of cultivation management

Honeysuckle, scientifically known as Lonicera japonica, is a plant with great economic and medicinal value. It is known for its exceptional tolerance to cold and drought and can continue to grow for up to 30 years once planted, requiring only regular pruning. Not only do the flowers have economic value, its leaves and vines are also rich in medicinal ingredients, and the whole body is a treasure. Let’s learn about the key points of honeysuckle planting techniques and cultivation management.

1. Site selection and land preparation

Although honeysuckle is highly adaptable, it prefers fertile soil with plenty of sunlight. After choosing a good location, apply sufficient base fertilizer and till the soil until it is loose and fine.

2. Planting of seedlings

Initial planting: Seedlings do not need to occupy too much land. A higher planting density can be used, with transplanting done in the second or third year to determine the final plant position. The recommended planting pattern for new seedlings is: 45 cm plant spacing and 90 cm row spacing. Such high density not only saves land but also makes management easier.

Later adjustments: In the second year, remove three plants next to each seedling and one row from each row, until the final plant and row spacing is 180 to 200 cm.

3. Field management

Intertillage and weeding: After the transplants are established, intertillage and weeding should be carried out 3 to 4 times a year. After three years, as the vines grow, the frequency of weeding can be reduced depending on the weed situation.

Top dressing: Top dressing should be done in spring and autumn every year in combination with weeding. You can use farmyard manure or chemical fertilizer. Apply 10 to 20 kg of urea per acre and build up soil around the plants to protect the roots.

4. Pruning and shaping

Pruning period: Honeysuckle pruning is divided into winter and summer pruning. Winter pruning is usually done before winter or in early spring, while summer pruning is done during the growing season.

Pruning method: Conventional shaping pruning: Usually carried out after budding in the second year after transplantation, the goal is to cultivate it into an umbrella-shaped upright small shrub . The specific method includes cutting off the top of the trunk when it reaches a height of 30 to 40 cm to promote the germination of side buds. In the spring of the second year, select 4 to 5 thick branches as main branches, and retain 5 to 6 pairs of buds from the primary branches that grew from the main branches in winter, and cut off the upper parts.

Poles to assist shaping: Let the stems and vines climb on poles 1.3 to 1.6 meters high, cut off the above-ground parts, and only retain 1 to 3 vigorous branches growing from the roots, wrap around the poles to form an upright central pole.

5. Pruning method

Winter pruning: follow the principle of "light pruning of vigorous branches, heavy pruning of weak branches, and complete pruning of dead branches", cut off inner branches, overcrowded branches, etc., retain strong branches, and shorten them to form a round-headed or umbrella-shaped shrub.

Summer pruning: Summer pruning should be light, mainly removing dense branches and thin branches, and appropriately pruning strong branches to control excessive growth and improve light conditions.

6. Disease and pest control

The main diseases of honeysuckle include powdery mildew and leaf spot, and the main insect pests include coffee beetle , aphids, sawflies and honeysuckle ruler hardness. The prevention and control method should select appropriate pesticides according to the region and efficacy.

Powdery mildew: It harms leaves and tender stems. White velvety mildew spots appear at the beginning and then expand into patches. The drugs used for prevention and control include colloidal sulfur, dichlorvos, and malathion.

Aphids: They begin to occur around Qingming Festival and become seriously harmful around the Beginning of Summer. Generally, spraying 800 to 1000 times diluted 40% dimethoate emulsion once during Qingming and Guyu can control the disease.

7. Harvesting and processing

Harvesting: The harvesting of honeysuckle should take into account the development patterns of flower buds and the best time to harvest. Those planted in spring will bloom in the same year, while those planted in autumn and winter will bloom the following year. The best time to harvest is early morning and morning, when the flower buds are not easy to open, the nutrients are sufficient, the smell is strong, and the color is good.

Processing:

Construction of curing room and drying rack: The scale of the curing room is determined according to the planting area. Generally, a curing room of about 3 square meters is required for every acre of honeysuckle. The inner wall of the baking room should be smooth and airtight.

Placement of stoves: There should be one stove for every 2 to 3 square meters, and an exhaust pipe should be installed on the stove to avoid pollution from harmful gases.

Temperature control: When starting to dry, the temperature is controlled at 30 to 35°C, and gradually increased to 55 to 58°C. The total drying time is 24 hours.

Operation method: Spread the collected flower buds on the baking tray, pay attention to check the dryness during drying, and store them in time after reaching the dryness standard.

The above is an introduction to the cultivation techniques and management points of honeysuckle. As a Chinese medicinal plant with high demand, honeysuckle is grown by quite a lot of people, but one should not blindly follow the trend.