Local Indian Clove (Seedling)
India has no formally released clove variety. The planting material in use is local seedlings raised from seed of good, heavy-bearing mother trees in the Kanyakumari–Western Ghats belt, sold by state and university nurseries and private nurseries.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Clove (Laung)
- Type
- Seedling (local seed source)
- Season
- All seasons
- Maturity period
- First buds about year 4–6; full bearing by about year 15
- Seed rate
- Two-year-old nursery seedlings, roughly 80–110 per acre at 6–7 m spacing, plus a few extra for gap-filling
- Expected yield
- About 2–4 kg dried buds per mature tree
- Suitable soil
- Deep, humus-rich, well-drained loam or laterite
- Release
- No formal release — local seed source (Kanyakumari / Western Ghats)
About this variety
This is the clove that Indian farmers actually plant: seedlings raised from seed of good, heavy-bearing local trees, not a named, released variety. Indian clove plantations are reported to have started from a small number of introduced trees, and because the tree is largely self-pollinating the genetic base is narrow — which is why there is so little visible difference between trees and why no variety has been formally released. Surveys in Tamil Nadu and Kerala have collected superior-yielding accessions for the research gene bank at ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode, and bold-bud "king" types and a dwarf type from the Maramalai and Keeriparai areas of Kanyakumari have been reported as under evaluation at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University research stations. Those are research selections, not something a farmer can order today. What you can buy is a healthy two-year-old seedling from a state horticulture or university nursery — Kerala Agricultural University lists clove seedlings — and the choice that really matters is the site, the shade plan and, where you can, the mother trees the seed came from.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timeRainy season planting (June–December); shade plants established 6–12 months earlier
- Seed rateTwo-year-old nursery seedlings, roughly 80–110 per acre at 6–7 m spacing, plus a few extra for gap-filling
- SpacingAbout 6–7 m in both directions
- Sowing methodOne seedling per prepared pit, filled with topsoil and compost, then shaded and watered in
- IrrigationAbout 8 litres per tree through drip or a basin in the dry months (January–May)
- FertilizerYoung plant about 20:18:50 g N:P:K with about 15 kg compost per year; mature tree about 300:250:750 g with about 50 kg compost (Kerala Agricultural University schedule); TNAU gives about 300:300:960 g at seven years
- HarvestingBuds are hand-picked while fully grown but still closed, in several rounds, then sun-dried for about 4–7 days
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Deep, humus-rich loam and laterite; deep red loam also suitable
- Irrigation
- Free drainage essential; waterlogging is harmful
Climate
- Maturity
- About 20–30°C mean
- Irrigation
- About 1,500–2,500 mm a year, well distributed
- Climate
- Warm, humid, sheltered hill and island sites up to about 1,000 m; young plants need shade.
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First buds about year 4–6; full bearing by about year 15
Expected yield
About 2–4 kg dried buds per mature tree
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major pests
Management notes
- Plant shade first and keep young trees shaded and watered through the dry months.
- Mulch the basin and keep drainage free to avoid the drought–waterlogging swings linked to sudden wilting.
- Keep the nursery uncrowded and spray as advised against leaf rot.
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Locally adapted planting material that fits the Western Ghats clove belt
- Available as seedlings from state, university and private nurseries
- Long-lived tree that keeps bearing for decades once established
Things to consider
- Not a named or released variety — quality varies with the mother tree the seed came from
- First buds only after about four to six years, with full bearing much later
- Young trees need shade and regular water; drought and waterlogging are both risky
- Bold-bud king types and a dwarf type are still under evaluation and are not yet available as released varieties
Suitable regions
Clove grows only in warm, humid hill and island belts. The states listed are where it is commercially grown today, not an official recommendation for every district.
- Tamil Nadu
- Kerala
- Karnataka
Frequently asked questions
Is there a named clove variety I can buy?
No formally released clove variety exists in India. Farmers plant local seedlings raised from good mother trees. Bold-bud "king" and dwarf types from Kanyakumari have been reported as under evaluation at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University research stations, but they are not yet available as released varieties. Be careful with anyone selling a "special variety" at a premium.
Where do I get healthy clove seedlings?
From a state horticulture or agricultural-university nursery (Kerala Agricultural University lists clove seedlings) or a reliable private nursery. Choose dark-green seedlings without leaf-edge spots, and check availability for the planting season before you dig pits.
Sourced from: TNAU Agritech Portal — Clove, ICAR-IISR Kozhikode — Tree spices, Karnataka State Spices Development Board — Clove, Kerala Agricultural University — Clove seedlings. editorial policy.