How to grow healthy curry leaves in pots Curry leaves are an unavoidable ingredient in Indian cooking as they add oodles of flavour and aroma in dishes. However, many complain that they cannot grow fresh curry leaves due to space constraints, especially in flats.
Experts say that it is actually easy to grow curry leaves in pots. You could fill the pots with a mixture of soil, sand, and cow dung or use store-bought organic soil mix. Plant the curry leaves sapling and do not forget to water them every day. The pot should be placed in a spot that receives enough sunlight.
Make sure not to pluck the leaves for at least ten months. There are two types of curry leaf saplings. One type grows from the fruit and the other one grows from the root. The best variety of sapling to grow in pots is the one that grows from the fruit.
- However, the ones that grow from the root, too, may grow as healthy plants.
- Used tea leaves and eggshells could be used as fertilizers.
- Sprinkling buttermilk occasionally on the curry leaves plants also works wonders.
- Dilute rice water and pour on the curry leaves plants instead of chemical pesticides.
While watering the plants, make sure to sprinkle water on the leaves as well. To grow curry leaves properly, it is important to trim the stems and branches during the spring season at the place where you are staying. Instead of plucking leaves separately, cut the sprigs from the top using a scissor.
In case you are living in a cold country, you must understand that cold weather is not suited to grow curry leaves. During the winter season, the pots must be kept inside where there is enough warmth. In case the temperature drops only at the nights, cover the curry leaves plants using a blanket or a plastic sheet.
Do not forget to remove the sheets in the morning to allow the plants to receive sunlight. : How to grow healthy curry leaves in pots
Contents
How to grow curry leaf plant?
Download Article Download Article Curry leaves are a main ingredient in Indian cuisine, known for their unique flavor that’s similar to cumin, menthol, and herbs. The leaves are also said to have antioxidants and help stabilize blood sugar. While you can always buy curry leaves online or from Indian grocery stores, you can also grow the plants in your own yard to harvest yourself.
- 1 Fill a small pot with a mix of potting soil and compost, Look for a small pot that’s about 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) tall and 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) wide for starting your curry leaf plant. Make a potting mix that’s 60% potting soil and 40% compost so your plant gets enough nutrients while it’s growing. Combine the soil and compost thoroughly until it’s thoroughly mixed together.
- Use store-bought potting soil rather than soil from your yard to ensure that it doesn’t have any harmful bacteria.
- If you live in an area with climate zones 9-12 or the temperature doesn’t fall below 32 °F (0 °C), you can put your curry leaf plant directly in the ground. Make sure to amend the soil so it has the proper nutrients.
- If you want to grow more than 1 curry leaf plant, then prepare multiple pots for each additional plant you want.
- 2 Push a curry leaf plant seed 1 ⁄ 2 in (1.3 cm) into the potting mix. Push your thumb into the center of the soil so it makes a hole that’s 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) deep. Take a single seed for a curry leaf plant and drop it into the hole you just made. Push some of the potting mix back into the hole to cover the seed, and compact it slightly so it’s pressed against the seed.
- You can get curry leaf plant seeds online or from Indian food markets. Get the freshest seeds available for the best chances of them sprout.
Tip: You can also grow a curry leaf plant from a fresh cutting off of a larger plant. Push the stem so it’s 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) deep in the potting mix. Make sure the cutting has at least 2-3 leaves on it so it can grow easily. Advertisement
- 3 Water the soil thoroughly until you see it come out of the drainage holes. After you’ve placed the seed in the soil, use a watering can to wet the soil so the roots can start growing. If there’s standing water on top of the soil, wait for it to absorb deeper before adding more water.
- Keep the pot inside a shallow container so the soil can absorb any water that drains out from the bottom.
- Be careful not to overwater the seeds since they may not sprout or grow well if there’s too much.
- 4 Put the pot in an area that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. After you’ve watered your seeds, set them near a south-facing window so they can get sunlight throughout the day. If you have weather that’s above 32 °F (0 °C), you can also keep the pot outside for the plant to grow.
- After about 7 days, you may see your curry leaf plants sprouting out from the soil.
- If the temperature doesn’t drop below 32 °F (0 °C) until the evening, then keep your plant outside during the day and bring it inside at night so it doesn’t freeze or die.
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- 1 Water your curry plant when the soil is dry 1 ⁄ 2 in (1.3 cm) down. Check the soil in your curry leaf plant’s pot every other day to see if it feels dry to the touch. If it doesn’t feel moist when you put your finger 1 ⁄ 2 in (1.3 cm) into the soil, then use your watering can until the water comes out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
- Be careful not to overwater your plants since it could make them weaker and they may not produce as many leaves.
- 2 Keep the plant in a sunny area throughout the day, Put the plant in an area that gets full sun throughout the day, which should be around 6-8 hours daily. You can either put the pot outside if the temperature is above 32 °F (0 °C), or you can keep it near a south-facing window so it can continue to grow. Let the plant get direct sunlight so it can create healthy growth and leaves.
- If your plant doesn’t get full sun throughout the day, it may drop some of its leaves and grow weak. As long as you keep watering the plant, the leaves may grow back during the next season.
- 3 Prune the top 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) off of the plant yearly. Check your plant in the spring after you planted it, and note any tall vertical growths that don’t have many leaves growing off of them. Use a pair of gardening snips to remove the top 3 inches (7.6 cm) just below one of the nodes where the leaves connect.
- Pruning your plant not only keeps it at a reasonable size, but it also helps promote health leaf growth on the stems that you leave attached.
- If you notice any weak, broken, or wilted stems, then also remove them so your plant can put its energy toward growing healthy leaves.
- 4 Move the plant into a new pot each year to promote healthy growth. Curry leaf plants continuously grow to fit the size of their container, so they need to switch pots every year. Grab the base of the plant’s stem and carefully pull it out of the pot.
- Wear gardening gloves while working with your plant in case you have any allergic reactions to the sap.
- If the plant is stuck in the pot, use a shovel or trowel around the edge of the pot to help loosen it.
Warning: Don’t use too large of a pot right away since the plant will put most of its energy into growing the roots.
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- 1 Wait until your plant is at least 1-2 years old before taking any leaves. New curry leaf plants don’t have enough leaves to harvest and continue growing while they’re young, so wait until your plant is at least 1 year old. If you plant is still thin or only has a few stems with leaves on them after a year, let it keep growing until it’s filled out.
- If you planted your curry leaf plant from a cutting, then it may be full enough after a few months to harvest some of the leaves.
- 2 Pull the base of the leaf stem from the plant when you’re ready to harvest. Don’t pull off the leaves individually since it leaves a lot of empty growth on the plant. Instead, look where the long stem that connects multiple leaves attaches to the main body of the plant. Grip the stem by its base and lightly pull it off the plant to collect all of the leaves attached to it.
- Only harvest what you immediately need so the plant can continue growing.
- You can harvest up to 30% of the plant’s leaves. If you harvest more, the plant may not grow as well the following year.
- 3 Fry fresh curry leaves within 2-3 days to use in your dishes. Warm vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat so it starts bubbling. Lay your fresh curry leaves in the oil and let them pan-fry for 1-2 minutes to enhance their flavor. Add the leaves to your dish and cook them until they have a light crisp.
- Use your curry leaves in dishes like Indian curry, masala, and coconut rice.
- Unlike bay leaves, you can leave curry leaves in your dish and eat them when they’re finished cooking.
Tip: Curry leaves have a different flavor than curry powder, so don’t use them as a substitute ingredient.
- 4 Freeze your fresh curry leaves for up to 1 month to preserve them. Put the curry leaves inside of a resealable plastic bag and press as much air out of the bag as you can before sealing it. Use a marker to write the date so you know when you froze them. Set the curry leaves in your freezer and keep them there for up to 1 month so you can use them later.
- When you want to use your frozen leaves, put them directly in a pan with vegetable oil to heat them.
- 5 Dry the leaves if you want to sprinkle them on your food later on. If you have a lot of leaves and you aren’t able to use them all immediately, lay them flat on a baking sheet and preheat your oven to the lowest temperature setting it has. Let the herbs cook for 30 minutes before flipping them over with a pair of tongs.
- Dried curry leaves don’t have as strong of a flavor as fresh leaves, so use more in your recipe until you’re happy with the flavor.
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Add New Question
- Question Where should curry leaves be planted? Olivia Choong is a Plant and Gardening Specialist and the Owner of The Tender Gardener. With more than six years of experience, she specializes in gardening, permaculture, and self-sufficient and low-impact living practices. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as The Straits Times and Channel NewsAsia (CNA). Plant & Gardening Specialist Expert Answer The curry leaf does well in tropical and subtropical climates since it needs plenty of sunlight each day.
- Question Can I grow a curry plant where the winters are cold? This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer A curry plant could only survive where winters are cold if the plant is in a container and is kept indoors during winter. As a tropical plant, it needs a warm environment to thrive and needs a frost-free environment. Frost and cold weather will easily kill the tree.
- Question How high does a curry tree grow? This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer The curry tree can grow up to 5 meters (16 feet) in height. Despite being able to grow to this height, it can also be grown in a container and kept much smaller, making it suitable for a kitchen garden or patio area.
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Curry leaf plants can grow upwards of 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, but you can control the size by regularly pruning and cutting the plant back. As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!
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- Pots
- Potting soil
- Compost
- Curry leaf plant seeds
- Watering can
- Garden snips
- Gardening gloves
- Frying pan
- Vegetable oil
- Resealable plastic bags
- Freezer
- Cooking tray
- Oven
- Tongs
- Sealable jar
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 95,659 times.
What are the different types of curry leaves?
Types of Curry Leaf Plants – Curry Leaves plant is of three different varieties. Regular Curry Leaf Plant – It grows tall and fast and looks like the Curry Leaves available at the grocery store. Dwarf Curry Leaf Plant – Does not grow as tall the normal tree and the plant leaves are longer. Gamthi Curry Leaf Plant – The most fragrant, grows slowly and has thick but smaller leaves.
When should I re-pot my curry leaf plant?
Curry Leaf Plant Care Tips For Fall: – When the weather starts to cool down in Fall, it’s time to help the curry leaf plant prepare for the dormant time indoors during winter months.
Move the pot back into full sun location where it receives 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight.If needed, re-pot the curry leaf plant in early fall. Give the plant at least 4 weeks to adjust into the new pot before it’s time to bring the pot indoors.Cut back on the watering. In cooler weather, the plant does not need much watering. Deep watering once a week should be enough. Again, check to see if the plant is thirsty before watering.Do not apply any fertilizer to the curry leaf plant in Fall. Fertilizers force the plant to put out new leafy growth, which is very sensitive to cool air. Fertilizing the curry leaf plant late in the year will do the plant more damage than good.
Can you use dried curry leaves for cooking?
Download Article Download Article Curry leaves are a main ingredient in Indian cuisine, known for their unique flavor that’s similar to cumin, menthol, and herbs. The leaves are also said to have antioxidants and help stabilize blood sugar. While you can always buy curry leaves online or from Indian grocery stores, you can also grow the plants in your own yard to harvest yourself.
- 1 Fill a small pot with a mix of potting soil and compost, Look for a small pot that’s about 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) tall and 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) wide for starting your curry leaf plant. Make a potting mix that’s 60% potting soil and 40% compost so your plant gets enough nutrients while it’s growing. Combine the soil and compost thoroughly until it’s thoroughly mixed together.
- Use store-bought potting soil rather than soil from your yard to ensure that it doesn’t have any harmful bacteria.
- If you live in an area with climate zones 9-12 or the temperature doesn’t fall below 32 °F (0 °C), you can put your curry leaf plant directly in the ground. Make sure to amend the soil so it has the proper nutrients.
- If you want to grow more than 1 curry leaf plant, then prepare multiple pots for each additional plant you want.
- 2 Push a curry leaf plant seed 1 ⁄ 2 in (1.3 cm) into the potting mix. Push your thumb into the center of the soil so it makes a hole that’s 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) deep. Take a single seed for a curry leaf plant and drop it into the hole you just made. Push some of the potting mix back into the hole to cover the seed, and compact it slightly so it’s pressed against the seed.
- You can get curry leaf plant seeds online or from Indian food markets. Get the freshest seeds available for the best chances of them sprout.
Tip: You can also grow a curry leaf plant from a fresh cutting off of a larger plant. Push the stem so it’s 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) deep in the potting mix. Make sure the cutting has at least 2-3 leaves on it so it can grow easily. Advertisement
- 3 Water the soil thoroughly until you see it come out of the drainage holes. After you’ve placed the seed in the soil, use a watering can to wet the soil so the roots can start growing. If there’s standing water on top of the soil, wait for it to absorb deeper before adding more water.
- Keep the pot inside a shallow container so the soil can absorb any water that drains out from the bottom.
- Be careful not to overwater the seeds since they may not sprout or grow well if there’s too much.
- 4 Put the pot in an area that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight per day. After you’ve watered your seeds, set them near a south-facing window so they can get sunlight throughout the day. If you have weather that’s above 32 °F (0 °C), you can also keep the pot outside for the plant to grow.
- After about 7 days, you may see your curry leaf plants sprouting out from the soil.
- If the temperature doesn’t drop below 32 °F (0 °C) until the evening, then keep your plant outside during the day and bring it inside at night so it doesn’t freeze or die.
Advertisement
- 1 Water your curry plant when the soil is dry 1 ⁄ 2 in (1.3 cm) down. Check the soil in your curry leaf plant’s pot every other day to see if it feels dry to the touch. If it doesn’t feel moist when you put your finger 1 ⁄ 2 in (1.3 cm) into the soil, then use your watering can until the water comes out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
- Be careful not to overwater your plants since it could make them weaker and they may not produce as many leaves.
- 2 Keep the plant in a sunny area throughout the day, Put the plant in an area that gets full sun throughout the day, which should be around 6-8 hours daily. You can either put the pot outside if the temperature is above 32 °F (0 °C), or you can keep it near a south-facing window so it can continue to grow. Let the plant get direct sunlight so it can create healthy growth and leaves.
- If your plant doesn’t get full sun throughout the day, it may drop some of its leaves and grow weak. As long as you keep watering the plant, the leaves may grow back during the next season.
- 3 Prune the top 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) off of the plant yearly. Check your plant in the spring after you planted it, and note any tall vertical growths that don’t have many leaves growing off of them. Use a pair of gardening snips to remove the top 3 inches (7.6 cm) just below one of the nodes where the leaves connect.
- Pruning your plant not only keeps it at a reasonable size, but it also helps promote health leaf growth on the stems that you leave attached.
- If you notice any weak, broken, or wilted stems, then also remove them so your plant can put its energy toward growing healthy leaves.
- 4 Move the plant into a new pot each year to promote healthy growth. Curry leaf plants continuously grow to fit the size of their container, so they need to switch pots every year. Grab the base of the plant’s stem and carefully pull it out of the pot.
- Wear gardening gloves while working with your plant in case you have any allergic reactions to the sap.
- If the plant is stuck in the pot, use a shovel or trowel around the edge of the pot to help loosen it.
Warning: Don’t use too large of a pot right away since the plant will put most of its energy into growing the roots.
Advertisement
- 1 Wait until your plant is at least 1-2 years old before taking any leaves. New curry leaf plants don’t have enough leaves to harvest and continue growing while they’re young, so wait until your plant is at least 1 year old. If you plant is still thin or only has a few stems with leaves on them after a year, let it keep growing until it’s filled out.
- If you planted your curry leaf plant from a cutting, then it may be full enough after a few months to harvest some of the leaves.
- 2 Pull the base of the leaf stem from the plant when you’re ready to harvest. Don’t pull off the leaves individually since it leaves a lot of empty growth on the plant. Instead, look where the long stem that connects multiple leaves attaches to the main body of the plant. Grip the stem by its base and lightly pull it off the plant to collect all of the leaves attached to it.
- Only harvest what you immediately need so the plant can continue growing.
- You can harvest up to 30% of the plant’s leaves. If you harvest more, the plant may not grow as well the following year.
- 3 Fry fresh curry leaves within 2-3 days to use in your dishes. Warm vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat so it starts bubbling. Lay your fresh curry leaves in the oil and let them pan-fry for 1-2 minutes to enhance their flavor. Add the leaves to your dish and cook them until they have a light crisp.
- Use your curry leaves in dishes like Indian curry, masala, and coconut rice.
- Unlike bay leaves, you can leave curry leaves in your dish and eat them when they’re finished cooking.
Tip: Curry leaves have a different flavor than curry powder, so don’t use them as a substitute ingredient.
- 4 Freeze your fresh curry leaves for up to 1 month to preserve them. Put the curry leaves inside of a resealable plastic bag and press as much air out of the bag as you can before sealing it. Use a marker to write the date so you know when you froze them. Set the curry leaves in your freezer and keep them there for up to 1 month so you can use them later.
- When you want to use your frozen leaves, put them directly in a pan with vegetable oil to heat them.
- 5 Dry the leaves if you want to sprinkle them on your food later on. If you have a lot of leaves and you aren’t able to use them all immediately, lay them flat on a baking sheet and preheat your oven to the lowest temperature setting it has. Let the herbs cook for 30 minutes before flipping them over with a pair of tongs.
- Dried curry leaves don’t have as strong of a flavor as fresh leaves, so use more in your recipe until you’re happy with the flavor.
Advertisement
Add New Question
- Question Where should curry leaves be planted? Olivia Choong is a Plant and Gardening Specialist and the Owner of The Tender Gardener. With more than six years of experience, she specializes in gardening, permaculture, and self-sufficient and low-impact living practices. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as The Straits Times and Channel NewsAsia (CNA). Plant & Gardening Specialist Expert Answer The curry leaf does well in tropical and subtropical climates since it needs plenty of sunlight each day.
- Question Can I grow a curry plant where the winters are cold? This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer A curry plant could only survive where winters are cold if the plant is in a container and is kept indoors during winter. As a tropical plant, it needs a warm environment to thrive and needs a frost-free environment. Frost and cold weather will easily kill the tree.
- Question How high does a curry tree grow? This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer The curry tree can grow up to 5 meters (16 feet) in height. Despite being able to grow to this height, it can also be grown in a container and kept much smaller, making it suitable for a kitchen garden or patio area.
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement
Curry leaf plants can grow upwards of 5 feet (1.5 m) tall, but you can control the size by regularly pruning and cutting the plant back. As a small thank you, we’d like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full price—wine, food delivery, clothing and more. Enjoy!
Advertisement
- Pots
- Potting soil
- Compost
- Curry leaf plant seeds
- Watering can
- Garden snips
- Gardening gloves
- Frying pan
- Vegetable oil
- Resealable plastic bags
- Freezer
- Cooking tray
- Oven
- Tongs
- Sealable jar
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 95,659 times.
