A deep light porous well drained soil, rich in organic matter and acidic in reaction
with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0 is suitable. An elevation ranging from 1,000 – 2,400 m with an annual
rainfall of 100 to 150 cm evenly distributed throughout the year is ideal. It thrives well in a
sub tropical climate with a temperature ranging from 5 to 23 O C. However, temperature
below 3O C kills the
plants
Geranium is propagated by stem cuttings. Cuttings of about 10 cm taken from
current season growth with 3 – 4 nodes are raised in polythene bags of 10 x 10 cm size.
Thorough field preparation leading to fine tilth is essential. Pits of 30 x 30 x 30 cm size are
dug at a spacing of 45 x 45 cm and cattle manure at 250 g/pit is applied and rooted cuttings
of 2 months age are planted during April – May.
FYM-25t/ha, 25:150:100 kg/ha in each of N, P and K is recommended. P and K are
applied every year at the time of first harvest while N is applied in equal splits depending
upon the number of harvests per year. Zinc Sulphate at 20 kg and Boron at 10 kg per ha
basally once in a year during June-July improves the yield of herbage. Geranium also
responds well to Copper and Molybdenum.
Weedings, uprooting and burning the diseased plants throughout the
life cycle of the plant. From the second year onwards, give a deep soil forking around the
plants to improve the growth of more suckers.
Diseases: Wilt Drench with carbendazim @1 g/l at monthly intervals. Nematode To control the nematodes (Meloidogyne hapla) in nursery, apply carbofuran at 2 kg a.i./ ha once in 6 months in June and December.
In the first year of planting, only one harvest can be done at 7 – 8 months and
thereafter 3 or 4 harvests can be done in a year. The tender tip portion with 6 – 12 nodes
constitutes the materials for harvest. The harvested material is withered in shade for two to
three hours and distilled.
