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| Hello,
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. --------------------
+ 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.
+ Do not saw seeds too deep in soil. SuperSoil soil (sold at home depot) works very well.
+ 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.
+ 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
Hope this helps. Does anyone have curry plant/seeds for "Gamthi" variety to share? Regards,
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Follow-Up Postings:
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| thanks for the info. I have mine planted directly in the ground, oddly enough I have never seen any suckers maybe due to the reason that it was started from seed. I think it may be a regular one, just due to its size and bronze leaf color. it seems quite hardy in my zone, much neglected by me. |
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| Did you see anything about what to do when the middle part of the plant starts to turn brown and shrivel? I have one in a pot and two in the ground by it. The potted one is fine, one in the ground is okay, but the other seems to have new dark green shoots deep inside the plant, brown shriveled on the stem, and normal-looking leaves at the tip. ?????? |
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| Hi Lhbham, 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.
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- Posted by cyrus_gardner (My Page) on Mon, May 18, 09 at 22:24
| Very interesting but: There is no such thing as "curry plant". ONE MORE NOTE: |
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- Posted by sosreptile 7 (My Page) on Sat, May 30, 09 at 23:38
| You are mistaken, cyrus_gardner. It is true that the Curry plant a.k.a. helichrysum cannot be used for cooking. nkt38238 is referring to Murraya koenigii, which is also often referring to as the Curry-plant but more often referred to as the Curry-leaf plant or Curry-leaf tree. |
Here is a link that might be useful: What nkt38238 is talking about
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- Posted by cyrus_gardner (My Page) on Tue, Jun 2, 09 at 0:41
| OK! "curry plant" and "curry leaf plant" are two different things. I know that "curry leaf plant" is edible and the word "leaf" should not be omitted. The whole name of "curry" is confusing if not misleading. As I said, "curry" is a spice mix that can be made many different ways, and not from a single plant or source. Cyrus |
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- Posted by Bruce Canada(bhfine2@telus.net) onTue, Apr 13, 10 at 18:10
| The Curry Tree (Murraya koenigii) is a tropical to sub-tropical tree in the family Rutaceae, which is native to India. It produces the leaves known as Curry leaves or Sweet Neem leaves. Karivepillai in Tamil means black neem as the appearance of the leaves look similar to the neem leaves. The leaves are highly valued as seasoning in South Indian and Sri Lankan cooking, much like bay leaves and especially in curries with fish or coconut milk. Although most commonly used in curries, leaves from the Curry Tree can be used in many other dishes to add spice. |
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- Posted by Rachelle Hartman Oregon(hartmanzj@gmail.com) onFri, Jul 16, 10 at 17:36
| I have a 2 1/2 foot tall regular curry tree (Murraya Koenigii) that a generous Indian friend of mine gave to me 3 years ago. When she gave it to me it was a 5 inch seedling when she gave it to me. She mentioned that I would have to chop off the main trunk at some point but I've been afraid to do that as I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do and also don't know where to cut it. It now seems too tall and spindly as it doesn't have any secondary branches other than the trunk. Can anyone give advice on how to prune so that it will form branches with bark. |
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- Posted by Ketki Patel(ketki09@yahoo.com) onWed, Mar 23, 11 at 14:30
| Hello I like in PA USA, currently weather is cold, I have my curry plant pot inside, in fall it lots all leaves. Now it has main trunk. Its all brown, looks like its dried! I have been watering it regularly. Do you think it will have brances or leaves in spring/summer when weather gets better. And if some has seeds or baby plant, are you willing to send it to me. I would really appreciate it. Thank You |
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| Hi Ketiki, I am in Northern CA. Even here, the most of the leaves of curry plant are shed during winter and it has to be put under the shade (to avoid frost). So, I would expect your plant to shade all leaves during winter. No worries, the leaves start coming back as soon as spring hits the road (just about now here!). Do not over water curry plant, but keep watering at regular schedule even during winter (although not as much as during summer and don't let soil completely dry up). If your curry plant's branches are completely brown (and dry to bend), it might have died. You will just have to wait for summer/spring and watch. Even during winter, try to give it as much as sun as possible (e.g. keep near the window,etc.). If you can get Alfalfa pallet (for Nitrogen) in your area, buy them (pet store usually carry them) and mix them up in soil. They are good organic option for fertilizer (actually, w/ it miracle grow will work better too). If you enjoy listening to garden show on radio, google "Bob Tanem" to listen to his past shows (mp3) or show on Saturdays. HTH. |
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| Rachelle, If you're still looking for answer....if the plant is mature enough (4-5 years at least and tall (4-5 feet), you can cut off the shoot(s) coming out from very top. The best time to do would be just when spring is around the corner. I'd beg to differ with Bruce's following statement: "The leaves are highly valued as seasoning in South Indian and Sri Lankan cooking, much like bay leaves..." Actually, it's used throughout India (North to South) and Sri Lanka in many forms of curries. |
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| To cyrus_gardner "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing!" In your internet searches you will find many experts who do not know what they are talking about. I always verify from several sources. It is totally wrong to suggest that the Curry plant, "Helichrysum italicum", is inedible. It loses its strong flavour when cooked, so, it is best used RAW and very finely chopped, to add it's wonderful sweet curry aroma as a seasoning to salads, eggs dishes, meat dishes, yoghurt, fish dishes, or flavouring vinegar, cream cheeses, etc etc. It is also a handy plant in keeping cats and deer away (so plant it near your roses, deer hate it!), and of course it looks really nice in the garden and in floral arrangements. *** Do not dig it up and take it back to the shop! Rather go back to the shop and educate them a little. They will then sell loads more Curry plants, why?, because, the Curry plant attracts butterflies and other very useful insects (including wasps) which help you get rid of the other "pest" insects. Wasps, for example eat, aphids and caterpillars etc. (Note If wasps disturb your summer BBQs you can keep them away from your outside dining area very simply, as follows: Take a large 1.5 litre plastic coke bottle. Cut the top 1/3rd off and place it cap end down inside the bottle, but, smear a little jam around the neck first. Make a hole in each side and tie it in place with kitchen string. Make sure there are not gaps. Your bottle trap will be filled with the enticing sweet smell of jam. Now smear a little jam way down inside the opening, or drop some pieces of apple inside. Now half fill the bottle with water and a very little vinegar. Make a loop with string and then hang it up about head high in a tree a few meters away from your BBQ area. It might take a day or two, but it will soon start to fill up with wasps, flies, mosquitoes, hornets etc which are attracted by the jam, crawl down inside and then are unable to get out again. Just make sure that the water level comes to within 2 or 3 inches of the inverted bottle neck. This limits the space in which they can fly. You'll be amazed how effective this is and you'll be able to eat outside in relative peace and quiet.) I was worried that it might trap bees as well, but happily this has not been an issue. Back to the Curry plant, which should not be confused with "Murraya koenigii", the Curry tree and it's spicy citrus flavoured leaves, which are widely used for cooking in the Far East. As you correctly pointed out Curry is in fact the Tamil word for sauce. There are many different blends used for various dishes in the many regions of India. It is easy and fun, to obtain all the herbs and spices necessary to make up your own batch of curry powders, or Red or Green chilli pastes used in Thailand and all around the Far East. Don't trust what you read on the net. Always triple check with other sources and then you reduce the chances of getting bad information. Happy gardening |
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- Posted by tropicalgardener1212 11 (My Page) on Sun, Feb 24, 13 at 20:19
| I am shocked at the ignorance of the non-Asians about whether a curry tree is edible or not, or whether it is real! How embarrassing? I have been growing this bush-tree for over fifteen years, in Texas and Puerto Rico. Once established, it is a very hardy tree; but it needs warmth! If you are lucky enough to get a tree started, and it's really not very hard from seed, you will have one of the best kept culinary miracles of the world, on the same level as basil and oregano! My wife is from Sri Lanka, and we use the leaves on and in everything: rice, eggs, curry...if you have any questions about this tree, I guess I am really kind of of an expert; I have three really big ones in the yard, and yes, I do get lots of seeds from time-to-time. Frank :) |
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| Hi Frank, I purchased my Curry plant at a garden show, really just because of it's wonderful smell. On doing a little research I discovered that it works very nicely in various dishes such as salads, or eggs, or fish, but loses it's powerful aroma if cooked. The recommendation is to chop it up finely, as you would with parsley and add it to the dish like you would add salt or pepper. It is very nice indeed! I also have a ready supply of frozen Curry leaves (from the other tree!!!), which I use regularly in my Asian preparations. It's strong lemony scent is superb! Like yourself, I find it quite amazing and frustrating that some people present themselves as experts on a given subject and then proceed to write utter rubbish, demonstrating that they know nothing at all. The Internet can be a valuable resource for researching all sorts of things, BUT, check and re-check because there are plenty of so called experts out there! Thank you for your post anyway and Happy Gardening! |
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