Planting technology and cultivation management of Gastrodia elata

Gastrodia elata, also known as red arrow, wind-fixing grass, and fairy foot, is a perennial herbaceous parasitic plant belonging to the orchid family. It is not only cherished as a precious medicinal ingredient in traditional medicine, but also a popular health product. The medicinal parts of Gastrodia elata mainly come from its underground tubers. With the significant increase in the export volume of Gastrodia elata in the international market in recent years, coupled with the continued growth in demand for it in the domestic pharmaceutical and health care products industries, the market potential and development prospects of Gastrodia elata appear particularly broad and optimistic. Let’s learn about Gastrodia elata planting techniques and cultivation management together.

1. Preparation of strains

In the cultivation of Gastrodia elata, the sources of honey fungus species used for direct cultivation of fungi are diverse, mainly including the following:

Natural wild mushroom strains: mushroom strains collected directly from the natural environment.

Indoor pure strains: pure strains cultivated under laboratory conditions.

New outdoor strains: strains newly cultured under specific outdoor conditions.

Effective old mushroom materials that have been used for companion planting: mushroom materials that have been used for Gastrodia elata cultivation and are still active.

At present, outdoor cultivation of Armillaria branches is widely used in production practice.

2. Mushroom material cultivation period

There are two ways to cultivate Gastrodia elata: winter planting and spring planting, and the corresponding mushroom material cultivation time is also different:

Winter planting of Gastrodia elata: It is suitable to cultivate mushroom materials from June to August every year.

Spring planting of Gastrodia elata: It is suitable to cultivate mushroom materials from September to October every year.

The cultivation time of mushroom materials is very critical. If the cultivation is too early, the mushroom materials may rot due to consumption and the fungus strains will easily age. If the cultivation is too late, the growth rate of Honey Fungus will slow down due to the drop in temperature, resulting in the mushroom materials being unable to be used in the same year.

3. Selection and treatment of mushroom species

Honey fungus has excellent affinity with Fagaceae species, which are the first choice due to their hard material and strong corrosion resistance. In addition, the Cornaceae family's lamp tree , the Rosaceae family's wild cherry, and the Betulaceae family's birch are also good choices. They are easily infected with Armillaria melleaf and grow rapidly, which shortens the cultivation time. When selecting tree species, local tree resources should be considered. Trees with a diameter of 6 to 8 cm should be selected and processed into wood segments with a length of 60 to 80 cm. Fish scale openings should be cut on the wood segments at appropriate intervals to facilitate the invasion of honey fungus. To ensure the moisture required for the growth of honey fungus, fresh wood should be used and the possibility of infection by other fungi should be minimized. In areas where wood is scarce, materials such as rice straw, thatch, and corn silk can be used as substitutes and directly used in Gastrodia elata cultivation after being mixed with the fungus.

4. Selection of training site

The cultivation site should be close to the Gastrodia elata planting area to reduce the transportation work . Choose a sunny mountain with a slope of less than 20°. The soil should be deep, loose, breathable, and well-drained sandy loam, and ensure there is irrigation water.

5. Preparation of culture medium

The culture medium is used to fill the gaps between wood and provide nutrients for the honey fungus. It is usually made by mixing semi-decomposed fallen leaves or sawdust with sand in a certain proportion.

6. Mushroom culture method

The main method is pit cultivation, digging a pit with a width of 1m and a depth of 30 to 60cm. The length depends on the needs. After loosening the bottom of the cellar, cover it with 6 cm thick leaves, and then lay the logs flat. If the logs are dry, they need to be soaked in advance. Place 4 to 5 mushroom branches between logs, sprinkle water to moisten them, and fill the gaps with humus. Use this method to stack layer by layer, finally covering with 6 to 10 cm thick soil, and cover with grass or fallen leaves to keep warm and moist.

Mushroom material cultivation is a key link in ensuring the quality and yield of Gastrodia elata, so it requires careful management. The following is a rewrite of the mushroom culture management:

7. Management of mushroom culture

In order to ensure the high yield and high quality of Gastrodia elata, the management of mushroom culture is crucial.

Humidity regulation: Maintain the moisture content of the filling materials and logs in the mushroom cellar within the appropriate range of 30% to 40%. Check the humidity in the cellar regularly, and water or drain in time according to the actual situation to maintain the optimal humidity.

Temperature control: The growth temperature range of Honey Fungus is 6 to 28°C. If the temperature exceeds 30°C, the growth will be restricted and it is easy to breed miscellaneous bacteria. The optimal growth temperature is 18-22℃, which provides the best growth conditions for Armillaria mellea. When the temperature is lower in spring and autumn, the temperature in the cellar can be raised by covering it with plastic film.

Heat preservation and moisture retention measures: Cover the culture cellar with dead branches and leaves or grass to enhance the heat preservation and moisture retention effect.

8. Field management

Mulching and no-tillage: After planting, use leaves and grass to cover the bed surface to keep warm and moisturize, prevent frost damage and weed growth, avoid soil compaction, and improve soil permeability.

Water regulation: Gastrodia elata and Armillaria mellea have different water requirements at different growth stages, and the overall demand tends to be high at the beginning and low at the end. Keep the soil slightly moist in early spring, and the water demand increases during the bud germination period in April. July to August is the peak growing season, with the highest water demand. From late September to early October, the plant takes shape and enters a dormant period, so water needs to be controlled. During the dormant period from November to March of the following year, very little water is required. During drought, water once every 3 to 4 days to avoid overwatering. Pay attention to drainage during the rainy season and cover with plastic film for waterproofing if necessary.

Temperature regulation: During the high temperature period from June to August, take shading measures such as building sheds or intercropping tall crops. Before wintering, cover the soil with thick soil and grass to keep warm. After the temperature rises in spring, remove the covering materials in time, reduce soil covering, and increase ground temperature.

Weeding and soil loosening: Generally, weeding is not performed. When harvesting in batches over many years, ground weeds are removed before sisal seedlings emerge. After heavy rain or irrigation, loosen the topsoil appropriately to promote air circulation, but not too deep to avoid damaging the young hemp.

Careful management: People and animals are strictly prohibited from trampling on it to avoid damaging the mushroom materials and mycelial cords, which will affect the growth and yield of Gastrodia elata.

9. Pests and diseases and their prevention and control

(1) Diseases

Infection by miscellaneous bacteria: Choose fresh wood, shorten the culture time, disinfect and dry the culture medium, choose high-quality pure strains, strictly select seeds, and plant in small beds.

Tuber rot: Choose a place with high terrain and loose soil for planting, strengthen cellar management, maintain stable humidity, and choose intact and undamaged primary tubers.

(2) Pests

Mealybugs: If found during harvest, the mushroom material should be burned. If it occurs on a large scale, it is not advisable to plant again.

White grubs: Use 90% chlorpyrifos or phoxim emulsifiable concentrate to water the insect holes.

Termites: Use pine branches to attract them, kill them with ant poison such as mitraz, or use meat skin to attract them and then kill them with hot water. Dig trenches around the cellar and spread lime.

Mole crickets: Use 90% methamidophos mixed with fried wheat bran or bean cake to lure and kill them.

Aphids: Use 40% dimethoate EC or 80% DDT EC for spray control.

10. Harvest

Gastrodia elata is usually harvested after the beginning of winter and before Qingming Festival of the following year, when the new tubers enter a dormant period. When harvesting, handle it with care, select strong sisal as seed hemp, and process the rest into products. The fresh weight yield per mu is about 1200kg.

The above are the key points of Gastrodia elata planting and management techniques. Currently, there are many methods for Gastrodia elata planting. You can adopt the one that suits you best. If you have any other questions, you can also leave a message.