How to Grow Akhrot Plant in India

Learn How to Grow Akhrot Plant in India in this article and have an organic supply of this nutritious and tasty dry fruit from your garden!

What is Akhrot

Akhrot is a seed of a drupe that is often eaten like a nut. People consume these nuts widely in India as a dry fruit.  They are round stonefruits, having their kernels enclosed in the hard, wrinkled, and woody shell. These fruits are a potent source of proteins, fats, and fibers. Walnuts are available in markets, both in raw and roasted forms. Apart from being eaten as dry fruit, they’re also used in the preparation of a variety of sweets. Let’s see how to grow Akhrot Plant in India!

Botanical Name: Juglans

Common Indian Names: Persian walnut, Akhrot, Akrotu, Akroda, Sano, Akarottu, Akhoda

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Akhrot Plant in India

This is one of the most important nuts of India. These are fast-growing deciduous trees that start producing fruits in about four-five years of plantations. They can grow up to a height of 25-30 meters and mostly grown in the Himalayan regions of the northwest. The states that commercially cultivate Akhrot include Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh,  Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, of which Jammu and Kashmir is the major Akhrot producing state in India.

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Variety of Akhrots Grown in India

Akhrot in India comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they are mainly divided into four categories, namely, hard-shelled, medium-shelled, thin-shelled, and paper-shelled.  There is a range of walnut varieties cultivated in Indian states. Some of these varieties include Lake English, Opex caulchry, Eureka, Placentia, Kashmir budded, Drainovsky, Chakrata, Franquuetfe, Gobind, etc.

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How to Grow Akhrot Plant in India

It is possible to grow Akhrot in India as it has a variety of climatic zones. The north Indian states are suitable for growing walnuts.

Propagating Akhrot Plant

You can propagate akhrot plant in many ways, by seeds, grafting or budding. Although it is advisable to buy a healthy plant from a nursery. It is also possible to grow akhrot from seeds in your pantry. It is easier to propagate akhrot from a paper towel. All you have to do is follow the given steps.

• Take some akhrot from your kitchen and break a small part of the hard upper coat. Make just a tiny space for the seed inside to germinate; do not remove the whole cover.
• Put the broken akhrot into a damp paper towel and put it in an airtight box or polybag and keep it in the sun until the seed sprouts.
• Once the seed sprouts, transplant it into a pot with compost-rich, and fertile soil.

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Requirements for Growing Akhrot

Sun

Plant it in a spot where it gets full sun. This is the reason why the commercial cultivation of akhrot happens in the Himalayan states, as they have a suitable climate for growing akhrot. But if you are growing it in the subtropical parts of India, plant them in a place where they get partial sun, as the temperature can go above 35°C in such places. High temperatures can cause damage to your plants.

Soil

Akhrots require a well-draining clay or loamy soil, rich in compost. Use slightly acidic soil to see optimum growth in your plants. A soil that is 6.0-7.5 in pH is ideal for the growth of Akhrots.

Water

Water your plants on the basis of the moisture-holding capacity of your soil. Do not over irrigate, as that can rot the plant. No need to water in the monsoon season.

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Akhrot Plant Care

Fertilizers

You can keep the soil nutrient-rich and organic by providing the plant with doses of cow manure. You can also provide your plant with 15-15-15 fertilizer according to the need of your plant.

Pruning

Pruning your plants, especially during the spring season, keeps them safe from weeds. Make sure that the plant is free from weeds, as they can attract various kinds of insects and pests, for example, aphids, spider mites, caterpillars.