I recently barked upon a project to grow South Asian Indian Curry plant. I did not know much about how to grow it, so I started searching web for information. I could not find any one place that provided this information.

Anyway, after searching for many email threads on this site and others, I found some information. I've decided to complile my findings and share with others. Feel free to add other tips if you think they may be useful to others.

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Few things I noted during my research:

+ if you try to grow plant from curry plant seed, it helps if you have seed first put in moist paper towel for several days before putting them in soil.
+ Remove hard shell to expose the seed before planting, it may help germinate quicker.

+ Do not saw seeds too deep in soil. SuperSoil soil (sold at home depot) works very well.

+ I read that it works if seeds are picked and then saw'ed as soon as possible. The seeds should not be too old.

+ Curry plants florishes well in temperature around/above 65 degree temp.

+ Small curry plants do not do well in direct sun light during hot summer weather and don't do well if soil is too wet. Th soil needs to be well-drained soil. Also, let soil dry a bit between watering cycles.

+ During cold winter nights, bring [young] plants inside house and at least cover the pot with shade to avoid night frost which definitely kills them.

+ Leave small curry plants in the same pot for about an year (or about 4-5" tall) before transplanting it into a bigger pot.

+ It's very critical that curry plant roots are not disturbed. The best way to transplant is to move the plant with root around soil into a new/bigger pot.

+ Potted plant requires regular fertilizer, at least during spring/summer time. MicacleGrow fertilizer works fine as well. Do not give strong doze of fertilizer to young plant.

+ Plants can be grown either seeds or from suckers around an adult tree.

+ Have a look at this URl which provide some more information: http://askagent.ammas.com/topics/Gardening/a93170.html
+ Lastly, I heard that there are 3 varaiety of curry plants. Have a look at this website: http://www.bhatia-nurseries.com/curry.htm

Hope this helps.

Does anyone have curry plant/seeds for "Gamthi" variety to share?

Regards,
nkt38238

Curiuos about the region of US you live in.

Sorry, I can't offer any suggestion as I have not seen this problem w/ my few curry plants. How big is your plant (size, age-wise)? Make sure you don't overwater/overfertilize the plant.

The fertilizer-wise, I've found that general purpose Miracle Grow works fine. Lately, I've switched over to highly recommended Eleanor's VF-11 Plant Food (look up the site on the web). It's organic and seems to provide better balance of nutrients. Good luck.

There is no such thing as "curry plant".
Curry actually is a blended seasoning made up of about half a dozen spices. AS I have also learned from my internet search, curry , in Indian language means "sauce". Just as a salad can be made of various ingridients, curry also can be made up from vaious spices. The main ingredients in Curry (powder, seasoning) are turmeric, ginger, anise, pepper, Coriander and few other.

ONE MORE NOTE:
What is called and sold as "Curry Plant" is not even edible and it is used mainly in potpories and wreaths just for its smell.
To sum up, the so-called "curry plant" has no colinary use and it is not edible. It is also proned to various diseases. I am so sorry that I learned all these after I paying $4.00 for one and planted it in my herb garden. Tomorrow, I am going to dig it up , put it back in the pot and return it to the nursery that sold it to me, among other herbs, with the impression that it is an herb. A herb has to have some colinary usage.
Curry plant has no culinary use..

Cyrus