Karonda
Karonda (Carissa carandas ) is a hardy, evergreen, spiny and indigenous shrub. Widely grown in India, it is found wild in Bihar, West Bengal and south India. It is grown commonly as a hedge plant. Regular plantations of Karonda are very common in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh. Fruits, sour and astringent in taste, are the richest source of iron containing good amount of vitamin C. Very useful to cure anaemia, its fruits have antiscorbutic properties also.
Climate and soil
Since karonda is very hardy and drought tolerant, it thrives well throughout the tropical and subtropical climates. Heavy rainfall and waterlogged conditions are not desirable. It can be grown on a wide range of soils including saline and sodic soils.
Varieties
There are no well-established varieties of karonda. Cultivated types are classified on the basis of fruit colour—green-fruited, whitish fruits with pink blush and dark purple fruited. Maroon (a Narendra Selection) and nos. 13, 16, 12 and 3 have been identified as promising types. Natal plum, an African species (Carissa grandiflora), bearing large and dark red fruits is also grown in India.
Propagation
Karonda is commonly grown from seeds. Vegetative methods—air-layering and stem (hard wood) cuttings—are not very common. The fresh seeds are sown in nursery during August–September. One-year old seedlings are transplanted. Air-layering is very successful in karonda. It can be performed in the beginning of the monsoon. Rooted layers can be separated 3 months after layering.
Cultivation
Planting
Pits of 45cm × 45cm × 45cm and 60cm × 60cm × 60cm size are dug and filled with organic manure and soil, in a 1:2 ratio. The planting distance for fence/hedge should be 1–1.5m, requiring 300–400 plants for planting the boundary of one hectare land. In intercropping with fruit trees and with regular planting, 2m distance both ways is required. About 500 plants/ha for intercropping and 1,800 plants/ha for regular planting are needed. Beginning of monsoon is ideal time of planting.
Karonda (Carissa carandas ) is a hardy, evergreen, spiny and indigenous shrub. Widely grown in India, it is found wild in Bihar, West Bengal and south India. It is grown commonly as a hedge plant. Regular plantations of Karonda are very common in Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh. Fruits, sour and astringent in taste, are the richest source of iron containing good amount of vitamin C. Very useful to cure anaemia, its fruits have antiscorbutic properties also.
Climate and soil
Since karonda is very hardy and drought tolerant, it thrives well throughout the tropical and subtropical climates. Heavy rainfall and waterlogged conditions are not desirable. It can be grown on a wide range of soils including saline and sodic soils.
Varieties
There are no well-established varieties of karonda. Cultivated types are classified on the basis of fruit colour—green-fruited, whitish fruits with pink blush and dark purple fruited. Maroon (a Narendra Selection) and nos. 13, 16, 12 and 3 have been identified as promising types. Natal plum, an African species (Carissa grandiflora), bearing large and dark red fruits is also grown in India.
Propagation
Karonda is commonly grown from seeds. Vegetative methods—air-layering and stem (hard wood) cuttings—are not very common. The fresh seeds are sown in nursery during August–September. One-year old seedlings are transplanted. Air-layering is very successful in karonda. It can be performed in the beginning of the monsoon. Rooted layers can be separated 3 months after layering.
Cultivation
Planting
Pits of 45cm × 45cm × 45cm and 60cm × 60cm × 60cm size are dug and filled with organic manure and soil, in a 1:2 ratio. The planting distance for fence/hedge should be 1–1.5m, requiring 300–400 plants for planting the boundary of one hectare land. In intercropping with fruit trees and with regular planting, 2m distance both ways is required. About 500 plants/ha for intercropping and 1,800 plants/ha for regular planting are needed. Beginning of monsoon is ideal time of planting.
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