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INDIAN
GOOSEBERRY (Phyllanthus emblica)
Gooseberry
(nelli) is quite hardy and can be grown with little
care in all types of soil except very sandy type. It
prefers a warm dry climate and is found in the dry deciduous
forests of Kerala.
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Much
genetic variability exists in this species. However,
a high yielding larger fruited variety was located from
the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats and popularized
as "Chambakad Large". Other varieties are
Banarasi, Krishna and Kanchan.
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Cultivation
Nelli
is usually propagated by seeds and vegetatively by
wedge grafting. The seeds are enclosed in a hard seed
coat, which renders the germination difficult. The
seeds can be extracted by keeping fully ripe fruits
in the sun on a flat rock for about 2-3 days till
they split open releasing the seeds. The seeds can
be directly sown. Gooseberry can be vegetatively propagated
through root suckers.
One
year old seedlings can be planted in the field during
rainy season at a spacing of 8 x 8 m. It can be planted
as windbreak around the orchard.
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No
serious pests or diseases are generally found in this
crop.
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Planted
seedlings will commence bearing from the 10th year.
The vegetative growth of the tree continues from April
to July. Along with the new growth in the spring, flowering
also commences. Fruits will mature by January-February.
Yield ranges between 30-50 kg per tree per year when
full grown.
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