Kadi Patta/Curry Leaves - The Essential Kitchen Herb
Kadi Patta/Curry leaves, being a native to India, is the essential ingredient in Indian food especially South Indian food. They are incredibly aromatic with unique flavour. It is available as Curry powder as well.
Kadi Patta/Curry leaves are being used as a spice ingredient and usually used in curries, gravies, dals, Sambhar, breakfast items etc. Without Kadi Patta/Curry Leaves spice mix doesn’t get completed and if you are thinking of having your own kitchen garden then along with coriander and mint Kadi patta/ curry leaves is a must to grow plants.
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Besides aroma and flavour what are the other salient features of Kadi Patta/Curry Leaves, Let’s see,
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Kadi Patta/Curry Leaf is the rich source of calcium that's why in Ayurveda it is said that Kadi Patta/Curry Leaf can be the best remedy on calcium deficiency in the human body and help strengthening your bones
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It contains many compounds that work as antioxidants to charge the immune system.
3. Curry Leaves oil is one of the best remedies to improve hair growth and reduce hair greying.
4. Helps maintaining eye health and improves eyesight
5. Promotes weight loss and reduces anemic conditions away
6. Boosts digestion and safeguards liver
7. Maintains heart health by lowering down cholesterol level
8. Fights against the chronic disease like cancer
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(Know how to grow coriander - full guide)
Pot Selection: Even a normal bucket can be used to plant and grow Kadi patta/curry leaves or a 12 inches terracotta pot can also be okay with the drainage hole at the bottom.
Soil: A mixture of well-aerated, well-drained sandy and loamy soil with organic compost/manure mixed in it in 60-40 proportion.
You can add vermicompost as well. (Soil pH: 5.6 to 6)
Fill the pot with the soil keeling at least ½ inch distance between the soil surface and the edge of the pot.
Keep shuffling the soil at regular intervals.
Sunlight: Choose a place/direction where the plant will get mild sunlight during initial days for 3 to 4 hours.to grow the roots.
Later it would need 4 to 6 hours of full sunlight without any obstacle.
In the winter season the plant will need more sunlight to maintain its warm health.
Temperature: Kadi patta/Curry leaves don’t grow well in cold or winter. So the temperature has to be in between 40° to 65° F.
Sowing Kadi patta/curry leaves using cutting
Kadi patta/curry leaves can be sown using cuttings and seeds but using cuttings is more convenient than that of seeds.
Once your pot is ready with the soil/potting mixture in the pot make a 2.5 to 3 inches hole in the middle of it. Get the healthy Kadi patta/curry leaves stem which is not too matured/old. Cut it from the parent plant 2 inches below the leaf node (where the leaf is connected to the stem) make sure the cutting shears or scissors whatever you are using are well sterilized.
Remove the leaves from the bottom part and peel off the outer layer of the stem at the bottom from where the root growth will take place. Dip the stem in the rooting hormone (natural rooting hormone like honey or chemical rooting hormone available at market). Make sure your pot is ready to plant the stem immediately in it before it dries off.
Add enough water in the soil before planting the stem but don’t make it soggy. Place the stem in the hole made at the center and press the soil around it to support well. Place the plant in the mild sunlight for at least 4 hours once done with sowing.
Water needs: Make sure the soil is not holding excess water, if you find the soil surface dried out then only add it. Check with your finger if the ½ inches of upper soil is dried out then you can add water in it. The soil should not be too wet or too dry.
During winter, you will need to restrict watering and check for soil’s dryness. Excess of moisture might destroy the plant. You can spray some water instead of pouring it in the soil but not everyday.
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Fertilizers: Spraying Rice water every 15 days and organic compost or vermicompost or even onion skin each month will help the soil raise and hold the nutrition. Add some water after adding the fertilizers.
Pests and Cure:
Due to the strong smell pests and diseases stay away from the plant but climate changes might invite them near to it.
Aphids, powdery mildew, black spots, white fungus, leaves stickiness, ants etc. are some common issues for the plant. Spraying some neem oil twice in a month will help to keep them away.
It is said that the mixture of buttermilk and water is used to avoid black spots.
Lack of potassium can be a different and unknown issue which can be recognized if you see the yellow leaf tops. Mulching the soil with wood chips or adding crushed banana leaves might help in this case.
Pruning: Pruning the plant always always helps to maintain the plant health and give a heavy amount of leaves. If your plant has become 6 to 7 meters tall then you should surely prune it every year on its tips.
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Harvesting: The plant will be ready to harvest in 6 to 8 months or 1 year. Pluck out the entire branch with the leaves instead of ripping just leaves.
The harvested curry leaves can be used in the food directly or you can dry them in the sun and prepare curry powder to sprinkle over several dishes.
Repotting: Usually the need for repotting will occur every 2-3 years. If you see the root-bound then repot the plant gently in a pot which
is double in size.
So this is all about Kadi Patta/Curry Leaf. Hope this will be helpful for you.Please check our other articles too to grow your kitchen gardens and don’t forget to share your word with us. Happy gardening! :)