Amla & Amla Berry Germination ,Growing ,Care, Use and its Surprising Health Benefits.

Embelica Officinalis, known as Amla or Indian Gooseberry or Nelli is an important fruit with high medicinal value. The fruits have the richest source of vitamin-C and are considered to be a good liver tonic.


POSITION:

Plant Amla tree in a location that is less windy and sunny. The well-draining and sloppy position are good for its growth.
SOIL:

Well-drained, loamy to light heavy soil that is deep and rich in organic matter is required for growing amla tree. A pH level can be between slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. The waterlogged and clay-rich soil is detrimental and must be avoided, same is the case with too sandy soils.

CLIMATE:
It is a tropical plant. The annual rainfall of 630-800 mm is ideal for its growth. The young plant up to the age of 3 years should be protected from hot wind during May-June and from frost during winter months. The mature plants can tolerate freezing temperature as well as a high temperature up to 46OC.
WATERING:

Regular and abundant watering is essential at the young age. Once the tree gets established it doesn’t require regular and frequent watering. However, you can water the plant during the period of active growth or in a drought like conditions in summer. Watering 2-3 times in a month in summer is sufficient for a mature tree. In any case, water stagnation must be avoided.
TEMPERATURE:

Amla tree is tough and resistant to exploits of climate. It bears mild snowfall during winter months in the forest of Western Himalayas and tolerates extreme heat and dry atmosphere in tropical India. It is sensitive to prolonged freezing temperatures and grows best when it is not exposed to frost.




GROWING

1. Spread amla berries in sunlight to dry until they are shrivelled if you don't begin with amla seeds. Peel off the pulp to uncover the berries' hexagonal stones. Locate the small seeds inside the stones, and pry them out, cutting the stones if necessary.

2. Drop the amla seeds into a container of water. Discard all seeds that don't sink into the water. Let the seeds soak in the water for 12 hours.

3. Fill seedling pots with a potting soil containing equal portions of sand, compost, and garden loam. Plant one amla seed in each pot, placing each seed at a depth three times its diameter in the potting soil. Moisten the potting soil, and cover the pots with plastic wrap. Remove the plastic wrap as needed to moisten the soil, ensuring it stays damp. Germination should occur in two weeks to one month. Continue to grow the seedlings in pots for eight to 10 months, until they reach 10 to 12 inches in height.

4. Choose a planting location with deep, rich, well-drained loam and full sun exposure. Although amla does best in deep, rich soil, it grows in almost any ground that isn't extremely alkaline or soggy. Dig planting holes 30 feet apart, and mix a few shovelfuls of composted manure into the soil of each hole. Plant the seedlings at the same soil depth in the holes that they were in their pots. Place composted manure on top of the soil around the seedlings, keeping it several inches from their trunks. Water the planting sites.

5. Snip back the tips of your saplings when the trees reach 3 feet tall. Doing so forces them to branch out. Allow a few of the strongest branches evenly spaced around the trunk to remain, but remove all weak growth.

6. Give each tree about 5 ounces of granular, fruit tree fertilizer twice during the first year, scratching the fertilizer into the ground around each tree's trunk and watering that ground afterwards. Double the amount of fertilizer the second year, and gradually increase it so each tree receives about 3 pounds of the fertilizer per application when it is 10 years old. After the trees begin to produce fruits, schedule the feedings so that one feeding occurs just after the blossoms fall and the other feeding occurs four months afterwards.

7. Water the trees at least once every two weeks during summer. Expect the trees to flower during summer and to produce fruits during winter to early spring.


8. Pick the fruits after they turn from green to greenish yellow or greenish white, but check the seeds inside one berry before picking all of the berries. Seeds that turned from white to black indicate the fruit is ripe.

How to make Lawn Grass or Carpet Grass

Seeding your lawn is an economical and satisfying way to introduce healthy turf to your yard. In order to enjoy successful lawn establishment and a yard full of lush, inviting green grass, follow these eight steps:
1. Choose the right time of year: Early fall is the ideal time to plant grass seed because the ground is still warm to hasten germination. And the days are cool and sometimes rainy ensuring the seeds are moist. In early fall there is sufficient sunlight to allow new grass to thrive. this helps the grass to establish before winter.

2. Prepare the site: Grading of the site before planting is important as it will help in water retention and allow easy mowing. Choose steep slopes and make sure the area is level to avoid diseases.

3. Prepare the soil: It's important that your soil is loamy.

4. Plant the Seed: Rake the soil surface smooth and then sow the seed evenly.  Again use a rake to lightly work it into the soil at a depth of about 1/4 inch. Don't bury the seeds any deeper, as they require adequate light to germinate quickly.

5. Water: Water once a day with a light spray to keep the seeds moist. Sometimes skip watering for 1-2 days and water the next day. Once the seeds germinate and the seedlings begin to grow, water them regularly to keep them moist.

6. Inspect establishment: It will take two months for the grass to establish. At this time, start heavy watering regularly.

7. Mow and Maintain: Once the grass reaches three inches high, mow off one inch.

Simarouba Glauca , Lakshmitaru , Paradise Tree

THE PARADISE TREE 

Simarouba Glauca or LAKSHMI TARU commonly known as Simarouba, Oil tree, Paradise Tree or Aceituno is a crucial tree whose bark and leaves have medicinal purposes.

Botanical Name : Simarouba Glauca
Family : Simaroubaceae
Common Names : Simarouba, Aceituno, Paradise Tree, Dysentery bark.
Hindi Names: Aainta, Bilchuli, Hartho, Shinwi
Height: 40 to 50 feet
Spread: 25 to 30 feet
Seed Pre-Treatment: Soak Seeds for 24 hours before germination; partial breaking of seed coat gives good result
Germination Rate: 75-80%

Simarouba Glauca is an evergreen tree, grows up to 15 meters height with tap root system and cylindrical stem. It is a species of flowering tree that is native to Florida in the United States, southern Florida, South America, and the Lesser Antilles. Common names include Paradise Tree, Aceituno, and Bitterwood.

Any well-drained soil is suitable for its growth but good loamy soil, red loams and red laterites are preferred for better growth and productivity. The plant comes to the friuting stage at about 6-8 years of age. All the parts of Simarouba are useful. The seeds are economically very important as seed kernels contain 60% edible oil. Leaf litter makes a good manure, improving the fertility status of the soil. The leaf and bark contain simarubin, a chemical used in curing amoebiasis, diarrhoea and malaria. Wood is light and generally insect resistant, hence useful in making light furniture, toys, packing material, pulp and matches. It makes a good Bio-fuel too.

The tree is well suited for warm, humid, tropical regions. Its cultivation depends on rainfall distribution, water holding capacity of the soil and sub-soil moisture. It is suited for a temperature range of 10 to 50 °C. It grows 40 to 50 ft tall and has a span of 25 to 30 ft. It bears yellow flowers and oval elongated purple coloured fleshy fruits.