In India, cilantro is known by many names, such as custard apple and custard apple. It is a very sweet and delicious fruit. Sitaphal (Sharifa) makes it a little special out of all the fruits because of its colour, appearance and taste.
Many types of products are also made from cilantro. The most popular of which is ice cream. Sitaphal is also considered good in terms of nutrition. By the way, you can easily buy Sitaphal from the market. But you can also plant it in your garden. Shirish Sharma, who has been doing horticulture in Bhopal for the last several years, is telling how Sitaphal can be planted at home only from the seeds of Sitaphal brought from the market.
Shirish explains, “You can plant cilantro plant from seed or you can also buy grafted plant from nursery. This is a very good fruit tree to plant at home. This will give you fresh and tasty fruits. You can sow the seeds of this fruit between October and December.”
how to plant cilantro plant
Shirish says that first of all you should select some good seeds of Sitaphal. Soak them in water for three to four days. Keep in mind that you have to change the water every day. Now fold the seeds soaked in water in a tissue paper and spray water on top. Now keep this tissue in an airtight jar or zip-lock polythene. Remove it from polythene after 10-12 days and you will see that some seeds have started sprouting. You can prepare the plant by planting the germinated seeds in small pots.
For planting seeds, you mix 50% vermicompost and 50% cocopete. Now fill this potting mix in a small pot and then plant these sprouted seeds. Sprinkle water from above. In about 10 days the plants become so big that you can transplant them into larger pots.
Shirish says that you can also take a 12 to 18 inch pot or any bucket-drum for the Sitaphal tree. This pot or grow bag should have good drainage system so that water does not stagnate. For potting mix, mix 20% sand/coco peat and 30% vermicompost in normal soil. Also add two handfuls of neemkhali from above. Fill this potting mix in the pot.
- After planting the plant in a pot, keep it in a semi-shed area for three to four days and water it.
- After four days you can keep it in the sun and keep watering regularly.
Shirish says that in the first six months, the growth of the Sitaphal plant will be gradual. So be patient and take full care of the plant. In about a year and a half, your cilantro tree starts flowering. But in the beginning try to remove all the flowers so that the plant can grow well. At the age of about two years, the cilantro tree begins to bear fruit. But you have to give it three-four years time to get lot of fruits.
take care this way
- The cilantro tree should get good sunlight for six to eight hours a day.
- Water the tree as needed. It does not need water everyday.
- It can be planted in most areas except cold areas.
- In the cilantro plant, people often face the problem of its flowers falling or the small fruits turning black and drying up. You can repot cilantro in a better potting mix and larger pot to prevent flower drop.
- An insect is the cause of darkening of small fruits. To save it, you can tie polybags on them only when the fruit starts to form. Before tying the polybag, make small holes in it.
- Every month, you put two to three handfuls of cow dung manure or vermicompost in the pot so that it gets good nutrition.
For nutrition, make a mixture by mixing cow dung, neemkhali powder and banana peel powder. You can give this mixture to your cilantro plant every month. With this the plant will get all the micronutrients. In addition, once a month biozyme granules can also be added to the potting soil. Keep weeding and hoeing in between to loosen the soil. Shirish says that you can also plant Sitaphal plant in the courtyard, terrace or balcony of your house. After about two years, you will have to keep pruning it so that it does not grow too long.
The leaves of cilantro are also considered very beneficial for health. Its leaves are rich in fiber. Diabetic patients especially can use it to control their problem. Its consumption is also considered helpful in getting relief from your stomach related disorders.
So what is the delay, you should also plant this fruit plant in your garden so that you do not have to buy cilantro from the market.
You can watch this video to know how to grow cilantro in pot.
Editing – G N Jha
Cover Photo
Also read: For 30 years, fruits and vegetables are grown on the roof of the society, they bring plants by traveling around the country and abroad
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