Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Harvesting and yield

 
• In about a year after planting, the plants grow 1 to 1.5 m in height, and they should be harvested at that stage. Though the crop is harvested at the end of the first year, economic yields are obtained from the 2nd year onwards. While harvesting, the new shoots produced above the final pruning cut are harvested with sharp knives at the dense green leaf stage, at tri-monthly intervals, four times a year. The yield of leaves per hectare is as follows;

• At the end of first year 250-400 kg of leaves/ha can be harvested.
II year : 1800 kg/ha once in 4 months, which works out to 5400 kg/ha per year
III year: Around 5400 kg/year.
IV year : 2500 kg/ha once in 3 months, which works out to 10,000 kg/ha/year
V year onwards: 5000 kg/ha once in 3 months, which works out to 20,000 kg/ha The plants can be maintained for 25 years.