Land preperation and planting

Production of quality planting materials

• Fully ripe tree-burst fruits are selected for raising seedlings.
• The fleshy rind and the mace are removed before sowing.
• The seeds should be sown immediately after collection.
• If there is any delay in sowing, the seeds should be kept in baskets filled with damp soil.
• The seedbeds of 100-120 cm width, 15 cm height and of convenient length may be prepared in cool and shady places.
• A mixture of garden soil and sand in the ratio 3:1 may be used for preparing nursery beds.
• Over this, sand is spread to a thickness of 2-3 cm and the seeds dibbled 2 cm below the surface at a spacing of about 12 cm on either side.
• Seeds germinate within 50-80 days after sowing.
• When the plumule produces two elongated opposite leaves, the seedlings are to be transferred from beds to polybags.
• Vegetative propagation of nutmeg through epicotyl grafting is recommended for all nutmeg nurseries.

Epicotyl grafting

• For raising rootstocks, naturally split healthy fruits are harvested during June-July.
• The seeds are extracted from the pericarp and sown immediately in sand beds of convenient length, 1 to 1.5 m width and 15 cm height.
• Regular watering is necessary for good germination.
• Germination may commence from about 30th day and last up to 90 days after sowing.
• About 20 days old sprouts are transplanted to polythene bags containing a mixture of soil, sand and cow dung (3:3:1).
• The selected rootstock at the first leaf stage should have a thick stem (diameter of 0.5 cm or more) with sufficient length so as to enable to give a cut of 3 cm length.
• Scions from upright growing shoots with 2-3 leaves, collected from high yielding trees can be used for grafting.
• A “V” shaped cut is made in the stock and a tapered scion is fitted carefully into the cut.
• They are then planted in polythene bags of 25 cm x 15 cm size containing potting mixture.
• The scion is covered with a polythene bag and kept in a cool shaded place protected from direct sunlight.
• After 1 month, the bags can be opened and those grafts showing sprouting of scions may be transplanted into polythene bags, containing a mixture of soil, sand and cow dung (3:3:1) and kept in shade for development.
• The polythene bandage covering the grafted portion can be removed after 3 months.
• The grafts can be planted in the field after 12 months.

Planting

• Since the nutmeg trees require shade, suitable fast growing shade trees like Albizia, Erythrina etc. are planted in advance.
• Banana can also be grown as a shade crop in the early stages.
• Pits of 90 cm x 90 cm x 90 cm are dug at a spacing of 8 m x 8 m with the onset of southwest monsoon.
• The pits are filled with topsoil and compost or well decomposed cattle manure and seedlings are planted.