When is the best time to harvest wild Gastrodia elata?

Wild Gastrodia elata harvest time

If wild Gastrodia elata is planted in winter, it must be harvested in the winter of the following year or the spring of the third year. If it is planted in spring, it must be harvested in the winter of the current year or the spring of the second year. The natural maturity time is around July-August, which is the season when Gastrodia elata sprouts and blooms. Only at this time can wild Gastrodia elata be harvested.

Wild Gastrodia elata origin

The production areas of wild Gastrodia elata in my country are Sichuan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Gansu and other places. They are usually harvested in July and August. However, with the decrease in the number of wild Gastrodia elata, the Gastrodia elata on the market is now mainly artificially cultivated. Although the medicinal effect is not as good as that of wild Gastrodia elata, it can also meet the market demand.

Time and key points for planting wild Gastrodia elata

1. Gastrodia elata is suitable for planting from late October to April of the following year. The temperature and humidity at this time are suitable for the growth of Gastrodia elata. If it is sown in areas with higher altitudes, the time can be postponed to May. Gastrodia elata can be planted in any land field such as in front of and behind houses, wilderness slopes, orchards and forests, and sandy loam with good drainage is the best.

2. Gastrodia elata has a certain degree of cold resistance, but you still need to take measures to keep warm. You can cover the soil with a thin layer of dry leaves, then cover it with plastic film, and then cover it with a layer of miscellaneous branches and weeds on the film. This can help it survive the winter smoothly. When the spring temperature is stable at above 10 degrees, remove the film.

3. Wild Gastrodia elata has a certain degree of drought resistance, but if it does not rain for 20 days, protection work needs to be strengthened. In June, July and August, Gastrodia elata enters the physiological maturity stage and must have sufficient water. If it is dry, it must be replenished with water in time to achieve high yields.