COLEUS

Cultivation

Coleus is usually cultivated as a monocrop but may sometimes be intercropped with yam, okra, maize, rice, sorghum, cowpea and groundnut. It is usually grown on ridges and sometimes on mounds but not on the flat. Tubers are mostly used for propagation but softwood stem cuttings can also be used. Plant the cuttings in the main field between July and October.

Variety: Nidhi

Nursery

Raise the nursery approximately one month before planting. An area of 500 to 600 m2 is sufficient to produce cuttings required for one ha of main field. Apply 125 to 150 kg FYM in the nursery area. Plant the seed tubers at a spacing of 15 cm on the ridges taken 30 cm apart. About 170 to 200 kg of tubers is required to raise the nursery. Take the vine cutting to a length of 10-15 cm from the top portion after three weeks from planting.


Planting

Plough or dig the land to a depth of 15-20 cm and form ridges at 30 cm apart or raised beds of 60-90 cm width. Plant the vine cutting collected from the nursery on ridges at a spacing of 30 cm or on raised beds at 30 x 15 cm spacing.

Last updated: 10-06-2008