Curry Leaf

Tamil Name: Karuveppilai; Scientific Name: Murraya koenigii;

Beginner Level

B G T

Planting/Sowing

Jul – Aug;

Harvesting

Jul – Aug (following year);

First Harvest

~365 Days

General Info

Crop category	Herb
Life span	Perennial
Type of crop	Tree
Part(s) of the crop to harvest	Leaves
Avg. Height	4–6 m (13–20 feet)

Climate & Humidity

The Curry Leaf Tree does well in tropical to sub-tropical climate.

Planting / Sowing

When to plant / sow seeds (ideal season):
The main season of availability of Curry leaf fruits is July – August. Within 3 – 4 days of collection of fruits, the seeds should be pulped and sown in nursery beds or poly bags.

How to plant:
Using Seeds: Sow seeds in potting soil and keep damp but not wet. One year old seedlings are suitable for planting. One seedling is planted at the centre of the pit.

Using Cuttings: Take a piece of stem from the tree that is about 3 inches (7.5 cm) long and has several leaves. Remove the bottom 1 inch (2.5 cm) of leaves. Immerse the bare stem into the medium and mist thoroughly. It will root in about three weeks if you keep it warm and moist.

Soil Depth & Spacing Requirements

Pit size of 30x30x30 cm is dug one to two months before planting at a spacing of 1.2 to 1.5 m.

NOTE: Please go through the Guides in the Knowledge Base for more details on topics ranging from Spacing & Lighting to Soil and Nutrients.

Irrigation

Immediately after planting the pits are irrigated. On the third day, the second irrigation is given and subsequent irrigation can take place once weekly.

NOTE: Irrigation should depend on how moist / wet the soil is. Check your plants everyday to see if they require irrigation or not. Check the Watering & Irrigation guide for more info.

Harvesting

When to harvest
10 – 12 months after planting. Curry leaves can be harvested four times a year.

How to harvest
Shear branches as required.

NOTE: Harvest periods can vary depending on the environmental, climatic, soil conditions.

Pruning

Pruning and topping is also part of the harvesting of leaves. The leaf quality declines if the plant is allowed to flower and fruit. So unless seed production is intended, pruning and harvesting of leaves should be done before flowering.

NOTE: See the Pruning guide for general info.

Pests & Diseases

Pests	Aphids, scale, mealybugs, citrus butterfly, psyllid bug
Common Diseases/ Problems	Leaf spots
Pest and Disease prevention measure(s)	Use insecticidal soap to combat the pests. Application of 1-2 kg of neem cake per plant per year is recommended.

NOTE: Read Pest & Disease Control for more information.

Did you know?

Native to India, the curry leaf is not only a versatile culinary herb, it has powerful medicinal properties ranging from potent anti-cancer actions, reducing risk of heart disease and neurological problems. [Source]