HOW TO GROW GOOSEBERRY FROM SEEDS

HOW TO GROW GOOSEBERRY FROM SEEDS

Indian gooseberry, amla and malacca tree are all common names for Emblica officinalis, a deciduous tropical tree noted for its edible fruit and the ornamental qualities of its pale gray bark and feathery foliage. It grows best above U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 9B, where it will reach a mature height of roughly 60 feet. Indian gooseberry is most commonly propagated from seeds, which will germinate reliably and quickly put on growth. Seed-grown Indian gooseberry trees, however, often take up to 10 years to bear fruit.

1.Soak the seeds in a bowl of water overnight to determine which seeds are viable. Sow the seeds that sink to the bottom and discard those that float to the top.

2.Soak the Indian gooseberry seeds for five minutes in a bowl of hot water, which can improve the chance of germination. Cover the bowl with a dish towel to help hold in the heat. Drain the seeds and sow them immediately.

3.Fill 4-inch pots with a mixture of half potting soil and half compost. Pour water onto the soil mixture until it feels moderately moist throughout. Sow one Indian gooseberry seed in each pot at a depth of roughly 1/4 inch.

4.Place the pots indoors near a large window or outdoors inside an unventilated, lightly shaded cold frame. Warm the pots to 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a propagation mat if temperatures drop below 70 F.

5.Check the soil mixture twice daily to ensure it never fully dries out. Water to a 2-inch depth if the soil feels barely moist just beneath the surface. Avoid letting the soil dry out, but also try to avoid making it soggy.

6.Watch for the first seedlings in roughly three weeks. Remove the propagation mat once the seeds germinate. Grow the seedlings under bright, sheltered conditions until after the last spring frost.

7.Grow the Indian gooseberry seedlings under dappled shade for their first summer with one to two inches of water each week. Slowly acclimate them to stronger sunlight in late summer. Transplant them into a permanent bed or planter in autumn.