Which areas are suitable for growing honeysuckle?

I believe everyone is familiar with honeysuckle. In daily life, people often drink honeysuckle tea to clear away heat and detoxify. As early as in Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica", there were relevant records of honeysuckle. So, in which areas is honeysuckle suitable for planting? Let’s take a look below.

1. Which areas are suitable for growing honeysuckle?

Since ancient times, honeysuckle has been famous for its extensive medicinal value and is distributed in all provinces of China. The planting areas of honeysuckle are mainly concentrated in Shaanxi, Shandong, Hebei, Henan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Chongqing, Guizhou and other places. There are three main production areas of honeysuckle, namely Henan Xinxiang honeysuckle, Shandong Pingyi honeysuckle, and Julu honeysuckle.

2. Honeysuckle planting methods and precautions

1. Seed planting

Select mature honeysuckle fruits, dry them, take out the seeds, soak them in warm water for 24 hours, then place them in moist sand to germinate, cover with a thin layer of soil, spray water every two days to keep the soil moist, and seedlings will emerge in about 10 days. Transplant the seedlings into fertile and loose soil with a plant spacing of 120 cm and a row spacing of 150 cm. Water thoroughly and cover with black mulch.

2. Branch cuttings

Choose healthy honeysuckle branches and cut them into 15 cm long cuttings, leaving 2-3 leaves on the top and removing the leaves on the bottom. Insert the cuttings into a substrate mixed with vermiculite and peat soil at a depth of 5-6 cm, shade and ventilate, and keep the substrate moist. It will take about 30 days for the roots to grow and then be transplanted into suitable soil.

3. Lighting management

Honeysuckle likes plenty of sunlight, but also needs to avoid strong direct sunlight. During the high temperatures of summer, you can prevent the leaves from drying out by providing appropriate shade and cooling. During the low temperature period in winter, it can promote plant growth and increase the light time appropriately.

4. Water and fertilizer management

Honeysuckle is not tolerant to waterlogging, but likes a humid environment. During the growing period, water every 3-5 days, do not accumulate water but keep the soil moist. In the three months before flowering, apply diluted liquid fertilizer every 10 days, mainly phosphorus and potassium. During dormancy and after flowering, reduce the supply of water and fertilizer.

5. Pruning and shaping

Honeysuckle needs support to guide its growth direction, it is a climbing plant. Honeysuckle should be pruned and shaped every spring and autumn, removing weak, diseased, insect-infested, and dead branches, while retaining strong side branches and main branches. Spread out the side branches and secure the main branches to the support so that they form an umbrella shape.

6. Pest and disease control

Common diseases and pests of honeysuckle include brown spot disease, powdery mildew, red spider mites, aphids, etc. Powdery mildew can be controlled with 1% osthole or Bacillus. Brown spot disease can be prevented and controlled with amino oligosaccharides or Bordeaux mixture. Red spider mites and aphids can be controlled with pesticides or laundry detergent water.

That’s it