Culinary Herb

RICE PADDY HERB

(NGO / OM)

A staple aromatic herb for sour soups (Canh Chua) and curries. It is an indispensable ingredient in Vietnamese goat meat dishes (Tai De).

Conditions

wb_sunny

Warm Heat tolerant

water

High Water Aquatic/Mud

landscape

Paddy Soil Loam/Mud

Preparation

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Cuttings 18-20cm stems

waves

Flooding 4-5cm depth

Spacing: 10x10cm or 12x10cm

Water Needs

Absolute

Requires aquatic/wetland environment

Paddy Herb

Limnophila aromatica

(Ambulia aromatica)

High Value

Economic

25-30

Days to Harvest

spa

1. Characteristics

Soft hollow stems, hairy. Fibrous aquatic roots. Aromatic serrated leaves.

Aquatic: 95%

medical_services

2. Uses

Culinary spice (sour soups). Medicinal uses for kidney stones, diuretic properties.

agriculture

3. Technique

Cultivate like wet rice. Maintain water depth 4-5cm. Fast regeneration.

favorite I. Uses & Value

Culinary: The "soul" of sour soups (Canh Chua) and fish soups. Essential for goat meat dishes (Tai De) to provide the signature flavor.

Medicinal: Herbal remedy for urinary tract stones, kidney stones, diuretic, and common colds.

"High economic value: 1 hectare can yield revenue up to 280 million VND/year."

spa II. Biological Characteristics

Root System: Fibrous roots, short, growing from stem nodes. Highly adapted to aquatic environments.
Stem: Herbaceous, soft, hollow, white or purple. Leaves and stems have fine hairs that can trap dirt/bacteria, requiring thorough washing. Height 20-30cm.

Leaves & Flowers: Sessile leaves, serrated margins, light green, opposite or whorled. Flowers in leaf axils, pale purple.
Environment: Prefers warm climate, heat tolerant. Thrives in ditches, canals, ponds, and wet paddies. Grows well in light loam or pond mud.

agriculture III. Cultivation Techniques

1. Season & Soil

Season: Best planted in February-March. Early planting possible from late January.
Soil Prep: Prepare wet soil thoroughly like a rice seedling bed, free of weeds.
Bed Size: Width 1.1-1.5m; Furrows 0.25-0.30m wide.

2. Fertilizers (per 1,000m²)

check_circle Organic Manure: 1.0 - 1.5 tons
check_circle NPK: 30 - 40 kg
check_circle Superphosphate: 15 - 20 kg
check_circle Potassium Chloride: 10 - 15 kg

* Basal application: 100% Organic, Phosphate, 1/3 NPK, 1/3 Potassium. Mix into bed surface before planting.

3. Planting & Care

Propagation: Vegetative via stem cuttings. Choose healthy 18-20cm stems.
Planting: Bury at least 2 nodes into soil. Spacing: 10x10cm or 12x10cm.
Care:
- Watering: Maintain 4-5cm water level (flood irrigation). Use clean water.
- Top Dressing: After 12-15 days (new leaves appear). Apply 7-10kg mixed fertilizer/1000m². Broadcast evenly into water.
Pests: Generally pest-free. Use integrated pest management; biological controls if needed.

inventory_2 IV. Harvest

First Harvest: 25-30 days after planting.
Subsequent Harvests: Every 20-22 days.
Method: Cut stems leaving 5-6cm base above water/soil. Bundle, trim old leaves, wash effectively.
Note: Apply nitrogen and potassium after each harvest. Replant when yield declines significantly.

Fertilizers (1,000m²)

compost

1.0-1.5 Tons Organic

science

30-40 kg NPK

Growth Cycle

Planting

Feb-Mar. Cuttings.

Care

Water depth 4-5cm. Top dress day 12-15.

1st Harvest

Day 25-30.

Next Harvests

Every 20-22 days.