Curry leaf plant is also known as Murraya koenigii, which is native to India. It used to prepare delicious south Indian food. Curry leaves have a great aroma, which will always be a special ingredient for your food.
Growing Curry leaves from seed is one of the ways to propagate curry leaves plant, which includes a selection of seeds, preparation, germination, proper soil, watering, Fertilizing, winter dormacy. If you take care of all these there are more chances your seed will germinate and grow as a plant.
Earlier stage I faced many problems to germinate curry leaf plants from seed. Then I followed many procedures, watched many youtube videos, and tried many things. Later I found these things matter and followed the same as below procedure to germinate curry leaves plant seed.
I am sharing these steps so that you don’t need to go through all the pain to figure out to germinate curry leaves plant from seed.
Finally Here are the steps I followed to get my curry leaves plant germinated.
1. Selection Of Seeds For Growing Curry Leaf Plant
Selection of seeds refers to mainly how well the seeds are ripened while harvesting.
Ripened seeds are black in color, puffy and if you choose these, there will be more chances of germination, compared to unripened seeds, which are usually hard and green in color.
Selecting newly harvested seeds is better to choose than selecting older or greener seeds in order to get a high yield of curry leaf plant or better germination.
To get better results the seed taken within three to four days should be pulped soaked and sown in polybags.
2. Squeezing Seeds vs Sowing whole Fruit
The best and fastest way to generate the growth of the seed is to squeeze the seed out of the pulp and later it has to be sowed in the seed raising mixture (Usually mixture of cocopeat and potting mix).
In case, if you sow the whole ripe berry then the time taken for germination is more and very slow, the success rate is also limited.
3. Soaking Seeds To Get Good Success Rate For Germination
Time taken for Germinating freshly harvested seed and fresh seed is faster. If you choose old and dried seed it will take more time and the success rate for each seed will be reduced (depends on how old the seed is ).
Old curry leaf seed takes more time to germinate than fresh curry leaf seed and in some cases, the seed does not even germinate.
So in order to improve the rate of germination the seed has to be soaked in water for at least one day before sowing.
4. Paper Towel or Dirt for Speedy Germination
For fast Germination, the seed has to be placed in a moist paper towel before sowing. This method usually worked for me for the fastest germination.
The alternative way is to cover the seed with dirt and it has to be placed in a warm place.
If the seed is kept at a low temperature then it takes more time for curry leaf seed to start germination.
5. Supporting Temperature For Quicker Germination And Increased Success Rate
The curry leaf plant can be grown with the help of fresh curry leaf seed at the temperature of 21 degrees Celsius(70 degrees Fahrenheit).
In case if the temperature is not around 21 degrees Celsius(70 degrees Fahrenheit) then it can be layered with the help of polyethylene.
An alternate way is to keep it in the greenhouse has it can provide a warm temperature to germinate the curry leaf seed.
6. Time Duration to get Seeds Germinated
The curry leaf seed takes around ten to fifteen days to start germinating if the seed is placed in a warm place.
Make sure the curry leaf plant is not kept in extreme heat has its very sensitive plant and the growth of the curry leaf plant may be affected.
7. Best Season For Sowing Curry Leaf Plant Seeds
The curry leaf plant can be grown in any month of the year. But the best month is it sow it before monsoon season or winter season.
The proper month for the sowing of the curry leaf plant is between July to August.
8. Transplanting Curry Leaf Plant To Container
After seeds are germinated from the paper towel method, it needs to be transplanted to a small container to care further.
Use well drainable soil, potting mix, or cocopeat to grow it big, if possible keep in greenhouse. otherwise, cover it with a water bottle which acts as a greenhouse for the plant.
Which always help the soil to keep moist and plant grow better if it is moist.
9. Dirt / Soil Preparation For Better Growth
Use well-drainable acidic soil, potting mix, or cocopeat for the selection of soil for the container.
This will surely help the germinated small plant to grow well.
Use cocopeat instead of soil for small plants to grow better.
10. Watering Care For Newly Germinated Curry Leaf Plant
The water is to be completely dried before watering it again. The water supply should be less during the winter season as the plant becomes very dormacy.
If the curry leaf plant is overwatered then it may die.
In the summer season make sure you water the plant every two to three days.
In the spring season watering the plant once a week is more sufficient.
11. Fertilizer For Newly Germinated Curry Leaf Plant
Home fertilizers like diluted curd or buttermilk can be used as fertilizers to germinate the seed properly.
Buttermilk is rich in Nitrogen which acts as a major role in the growth of the curry leaf plant.
If the fertilizer is used more often then it may burn the roots of a young plant.
Epsom salt which contains magnesium sulfate can also be used by mixing it with one liter of water when the roots of the plant are dried.
Epsom salt helps in the fastest growth of the curry leaf plant hence it can be given every three months once.
12. Winter Dormacy Affects More For Weak And Newly Germinated Plants
The curry leaves plant affects very badly for winter dormacy, we need to go extra mile for taking care of the curry leaves the plant.
we need to move the curry leaves the plant to indoor if it is freezing or the very cold temperature outside.
The growth rate of the plant will be reduced in this winter dormacy.
It will resume its growth in summer again.
Reduce the watering frequency and quantity in winter
Don’t Fertilize the plant in winter.
Try to keep curry leaves plant near windows to give more sunlight.
Tips:
- Feed Curry leaf plant with a tablespoon of Epsom salt (which contains magnesium)/ baked salt into yogurt or 1 gallon of water twice a month (every 15 days) to improve the plant growth. If you overdose you will burn the plant. (My grandmother taught this.)
- Feed buttermilk to plant during warmer months to improve growth ( when there is no mold).
- cut the seed-bearing part to get new shoots and leaves grow healthily.
FAQ:
How To Grow Curry Leaves At Home?
Growing the Curry leaves plant at home is an easy way to take care of the plant, we can start growing by seed method, stem cutting, air layering, or can buy a small plant from the nursery. we can take care of plants by giving enough sunlight, proper soil, enough watering, fertilizing, winter dormacy.
How To Propagate Curry Leaf Plant From Seed?
Propagating Curry leaves from seed is one of the ways to grow curry leaves the plant, which includes a selection of seeds, preparation, germination, proper soil, watering, Fertilizing, winter dormacy. If you take care of all these there are more chances your seed will germinate and grow as a plant.
How To Grow Curry Leaves Plant From Seed?
Growing Curry leaves from seed is one of the ways to propagate curry leaves plant, which includes a selection of seeds, preparation, germination, proper soil, watering, Fertilizing, winter dormacy. If you take care of all these there are more chances your seed will germinate and grow as a plant.
How To Grow Curry Leaf Plant From Dry Seed?
Growing Curry leaves from dried seed is very difficult to germinate, try to soak seed and grow in the greenhouse and which includes preparation, germination of seeds, proper soil, watering, Fertilizing, winter dormacy. If you take care of all these there are more chances your seed will germinate and grow as a plant.
How To Grow Curry Leaves Plant From Dried Seeds?
Growing Curry leaves from dried seed is very difficult to germinate, try to soak seed and grow in the greenhouse and which includes preparation, germination of seeds, proper soil, watering, Fertilizing, winter dormacy. If you take care of all these there are more chances your seed will germinate and grow as a plant.
How To Grow Curry Leaf Plant Without Seeds?
Growing curry leaves plant without seeds is possible by stem cut method or air layering method, In both cases, we use the stem to propagate from existing curry leaves plant or tree. In the stem cutting method we cut stems and try to propagate from them, In air layering, we remove the outer layer of the stem and make a root ball and try to grow roots from there.
Can Curry Leaves Grow From Seeds?
Growing Curry leaves from seed is one of the ways to propagate curry leaves plant, which includes a selection of seeds, preparation, germination, proper soil, watering, Fertilizing, winter dormacy. If you take care of all these there are more chances your seed will germinate and grow as a plant.
Final Thoughts:
Let me know in the comments, Are you able to grow curry leaf plants from seeds? Happy Reading!
Growing Curry leaves from seed is one of the ways to propagate curry leaves plant, which includes a selection of seeds, preparation, germination, proper soil, watering, Fertilizing, winter dormacy. If you take care of all these there are more chances your seed will germinate and grow as a plant.
I live in Lawrenceville Georgia USA and would like to grow curry leaves basil but don’t have seeds nor the stem so how do I grow it please help thank you