InBonsai

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).

Culinary Herb

wb_sunnyWarm
waterHigh Water
landscapePaddy Soil

Care Notes

content_cutCuttings

Water Needs

Requires aquatic/wetland environment
Rice Paddy Herb (Ngo)

RICE PADDY HERB

NGO / OM

High
Economic
25-30
Days to Harvest

1. Characteristics

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

Aquatic: 95%

2. Uses

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

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.

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)

  • Organic Manure: 1.0 - 1.5 tons
  • NPK: 30 - 40 kg
  • Superphosphate: 15 - 20 kg
  • 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.

Conditions

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.