Tropical and subtropical vegetables (2+1)

Harvesting and yield

• The annual drumstick types come to harvest in six months after sowing while the perennials types propagated through limb cuttings take 8-9 months for bearing. Fruits of sufficient edible maturity are harvested. The fruits are ready for harvest in 60 days after flowering. The period of harvest extends for 2-3 months and each plant bears 200-250 fruits in annual types.
• In perennial types, the yield will be generally low (80-90 fruits/plant/year) in the first two year of bearing. Then it increases to about 500-600fruits/plant/year in 4th and 5th year and the pods are harvested mainly in march-June. A second crop can be harvested in September to October. The ratooned crops will develop new shoots and will start bearing after six months. At each and every ratoon the plants are to be supplied with manures and fertilizers. The trees of perennial types are retained for about 12-15 years.