Gooseberry (Indian)

Tamil Name: Nellikai; Scientific Name: Phyllanthus emblica;

Intermediate Level

G T

Planting/Sowing

May – Jun;

Harvesting

Feb (2 years later)

First Harvest

~730 Days

General Info

Crop category	Fruit
Life span	Perennial
Type of crop	Tree
Part(s) of the crop to harvest	Fruit
Avg. Height	Around 1–8 m

Climate & Humidity

Indian Gooseberry grows best in tropical conditions.

Planting / Sowing

When to plant / sow seeds (ideal season):
May – Jun;

How to plant:
Amla can can be started from seeds. But the better option is to buy a grafted tree from a nursery.

Soil Depth & Spacing Requirements

Dig pits of 1×1 m at a distance of 4.5 m x 4.5 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

Young plants require watering during summer months at 15 days interval till they are fully established. Watering of bearing plants is advised during summer months at biweekly interval. Responds well to drip irrigation.

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.

Pruning

Leave only 4-5 well shaped branches with wide angle at about 0.75 m from the ground level. Dead, diseased, or crisscrossing branches and suckers should be pruned off at the end of December.

NOTE: See the Pruning guide for general info.

Harvesting

When to harvest
Amla tree starts bearing after 2 years of planting. The fruits are harvested during February when they become dull greenish yellow from light green and their ascorbic acid content (Vitamin C) is at the highest.

How to harvest
Vigorous shaking is required as mature fruits don’t fall on gentle touch.

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

Pests & Diseases

Pests	Stem borers, beetles, leaf defoliators, scale insects, fig flies
Common Diseases/ Problems	Rust and leaf spot
Pest and Disease prevention measure(s)	You can protect the plant from pests by spraying a jet of water. Spread wood ash at the base to stop ants from climbing the tree; use Neem oil spray, but don’t use it if the temperature is too hot, as it can damage the leaves.

NOTE: Read Pests & Diseases for more information.

Did you know?

The Indian Gooseberry is an important ingredient in a variety of ayurvedic preparations, notably Chyavanprash. Aside from having very high levels of Vitamin C, Amla extract has been clinically proven to reduce LDL Cholesterol and can also help reduce persistent heartburn. [Source]