Propagation: Mother rhizome & finger rhizomes
Nutmeg: Myristica fragrans Houtt:
Propagation: Seeds /grafts/ budded plants
Seed Propagation
- Seeds are collected from regular bearing and high yielding trees (more than 10,000 fruits per tree per year) and having 30 g weight/fruit, 1 g wet mace /fruit and 10 g wet weight of nuts / fruit.
- Seeds are harvested during June – July. Sown immediately after extraction in beds at a spacing of 30 cm and 2.5 – 5.0 cm deep.
- Germination commences from 40 days and extends up to 90 days after sowing. Transplanted to poly bags (35 x 15 cm) one year old seedlings are transplanted to bigger poly bags (35 x 20 cm).
- Seedlings transplanted to main field from 18-24 months.
Vegetative propagation:
- Grafting (approach method) or budding (Patch method) is recommended to perpetuate high yielding nutmeg types
- Best season is from October to January. Use only orthotropic shoots as scion materials.
Propagation from suckers:
- Suckers from high yielding plants are planted in clonal gardens.
- Spacing 1.8 m x 0.6 m (6800 plants/ha of clonal nursery).
- Shade and Irrigation is provided, 32 – 42 suckers obtained from each planting unit in 12 months
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