Into The Bloom: How To Grow Curry Leaves At Home

Curry leaves or kadi patta is a common ingredient used in the preparation of Indian cuisines. Imagine getting fresh curry leaves every morning from your balcony garden instead of buying packed leaves from the grocery store. Your dishes will get a delicious, fresh flavour when you saute a handful of leaves right from your kadi patta plant at home. Other than adding curry leaves to your meals for that beautiful aroma and flavour, you can chew some fresh leaves every day, they are said to have multiple health benefits.

How To Grow Curry Leaf Plant?

The curry leaf plant can be grown from both seeds and plant cuttings. If growing from seeds, get some curry leaf seeds from the market, and place them on a moist paper napkin. Place this paper inside a ziplock bag. Keep this bag near a window for 15-20 days. You will see germinated seeds after a few days. Take them out and sow them in moist soil. Keep watering them frequently and you will see the plant growing in a few weeks.

You can also use a cutting to grow a curry leaf plant at home. If someone you know has a curry leaf plant, get a healthy cutting from their plant. Ideally, look for a stem that's in the middle. Place the stem in your pot, and press it firmly. Cover the plant with a plastic bag for two days. Make sure you place the plant in the shade for two weeks. During this time, you will find the cutting sprouting into a new bud, roots will begin to grow.

How To Take Care Of A Curry Leaf Plant?

• Never overwater the soil. A curry leaf plant doesn't need a lot of water, the soil should be just damp.
• Curry plants need sunlight but in moderation. Never leave the plant in direct sunlight or it is at the risk of burning.
• It is a good idea to move your plant into a new pot every year. This promotes healthy growth.

• Avoid pulling off the leaves individually and look for the stem with multiple leaves and pull it from the plant.
• You can also store your curry leaves and freeze them for up to 1 month for usage later. Fresh curry leaves can also be dried and sprinkled on the food later.

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How To Increase Curry Leaf Plant Growth?

• Curry leaf plants might need iron to grow quickly. You can get an iron supplement for your plant, these are easily available online and offline at nurseries. You can use it once every two months for quick growth.

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• Keep cutting off dead leaves and branches from the plant.

• Some pests can hinder the growth of the plant. Ask your gardener to use a pest killer if required.
• Every day, your curry leaf plant should get full sun for 6-8 hours, or else the plant won't produce strong leaves. If you follow this regularly, you will see new curry leaf plants sprouting out from the soil.