InBonsai

Culinary Herb

KINH GIOI

Elsholtzia ciliata

Kinh Gioi (Vietnamese Balm) is a culinary herb grown in many countries. It is eaten fresh alone or mixed with other raw herbs, and is essential for dishes like tofu with shrimp paste and jellyfish salad.

Conditions

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Warm Heat tolerant
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Moist No waterlogging
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Loose Light, rich soil

Preparation

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Seeds Or cuttings
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Light Soil pH 5.5 - 7
Density: 3-4g seeds/m² or 30x20cm

Water Needs

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Moist, water every 2-3 days
Kinh Gioi

Kinh Gioi

Elsholtzia ciliata

25-30
Kg seeds/1000m²
35-40
Harvest Days
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1. Characteristics

Herbaceous, 40-50cm tall. Leaves are yellow-green, aromatic, spicy. Light purple flowers.

Adaptability: 85%
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2. Uses

Culinary spice (raw, with tofu/jellyfish) and medicinal (headache, flu).

Value: 90%
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3. Cultivation

Spring (Mar-Apr). Seeds or cuttings. Balanced fertilization needed.

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Watering
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Weeding
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Density

favorite I. Uses

Kinh Gioi is a culinary herb cultivated in many countries and Vietnam. It is consumed fresh, either alone or mixed with other herbs. It is indispensable for dishes like shrimp paste tofu and jellyfish salad.

"Essential for shrimp paste tofu"

Medicinal Value: Kinh Gioi is also a potential medicinal herb used to treat headaches, colds, aches, dizziness, etc.

spa II. Biological Characteristics

  • Stem & Leaves: Herbaceous, square stems, about 40-50cm high. Strong branching ability, yellow-green leaves with serrated edges, aromatic, spicy taste.
  • Flowers: Small, light purple flowers growing in clusters at the branch tips.
  • Climate: Prefers warm, mild climates, heat tolerant.
  • Soil: Grows well on various soils but best on light, loose, rich soil with pH 5.5 - 7. Moisture-loving but intolerant to waterlogging.
  • Nutrition: To enhance aroma, limit nitrogen and increase potassium fertilizers.

agriculture III. Cultivation Techniques

1. Season

Mainly planted in warm spring. Best time is March, latest early April.

2. Soil and Fertilizer

Land preparation: Plowed thoroughly, weed-free. Beds 1.1 - 1.2m wide, 0.15 - 0.20m high, furrow 0.25m - 0.30m.

Fertilizer per 1,000m²:

  • check_circle Decomposed Manure: 1.5 - 2.0 tons
  • check_circle Superphosphate: 25 - 30kg
  • check_circle Potassium Chloride: 15 - 17kg
  • check_circle NPK: 50kg (avoid inorganic nitrogen abuse)

* Basal application: All organic manure, superphosphate, and 1/3 potassium. Mix well with soil before planting.
* Top dressing: Can use 50kg oil cake and 15-20kg DAP for top dressing.

3. Propagation

Can be grown from seeds (nursery or direct sowing) or cuttings.

  • Nursery sowing: Basal fertilizer (2-3kg/m²). Soak seeds in hot water (35-40°C) for 10-12h. Rate 3-4g/m². Transplant after 25-30 days (12-15cm tall).
  • Direct sowing: Thin plants when 12-15cm tall, spacing 20-30cm.
  • Cuttings: Select semi-hardwood branches, cut into 12-15cm cuttings (3-4 nodes). Spacing 30x20cm, plant obliquely, cover 2/3 of cutting.

4. Care

  • Watering: Keep moist after planting. Water every 2-3 days once established. Avoid drying out, drain after heavy rain.
  • Weeding: Lightly cultivate and weed regularly once plants recover.
  • Top dressing: 12-15 days after germination. After each harvest, apply 15-20kg NPK. Can be dissolved in water (1-2%). No fresh manure.
  • Pests: Few pests. Fungi may appear in late July-Aug. Use biological or herbal remedies.

inventory_2 IV. Harvest & Seed Saving

Harvesting:

  • Direct sown: Harvest after 45-50 days.
  • Transplanted: Harvest after 50-55 days.
  • Cuttings: Harvest after 35-40 days.
  • Interval: 25-30 days between harvests.

Seed Saving:

Select vigorous, pest-free plants with many branches/flowers. Flowering Oct-Nov, seed harvest in Dec. Cut whole plant, dry, thresh seeds, store in cool dry place. Seed yield approx 25-30kg/1,000m².

Fertilizer (per 1,000m²)
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1.5-2 Tons Organic Manure
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50 kg NPK
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25-30 kg Superphosphate
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15-17 kg Potassium

Growth Process

Planting

Mar-Apr (Spring).

Care

Water every 2-3 days.

First Harvest

After 50-55 days (seedlings).

Next Harvests

Interval 25-30 days.