Module 4
Nursery Management and Propagation
Establishing a clove nursery, seed selection, sowing techniques, and seedling care.
Learning Objectives
- Establish and manage a clove nursery.
- Apply proper seed selection and sowing techniques.
Theory
Cloves are propagated mainly by seeds. Seeds must be fresh, viable, and sourced from healthy mother trees, as they lose viability quickly.
Sow seeds lightly on a well-draining, moist soil surface — do not bury them. Germination takes 6–8 weeks.
Nursery care: partial shade (shade net), high humidity, temperatures of 21–30°C, and damp but never waterlogged soil.
Seedlings are ready for transplanting after 18–24 months. Vegetative propagation through cuttings, grafting, or layering is less common and mostly used for commercial clones.
Practical Session
- Selection of viable clove seeds.
- Nursery bed or polybag preparation.
- Seed sowing and watering techniques.
- Seedling care and grading.