Myristica fragrans, more commonly known as nutmeg, is an attractive evergreen tree native to the Spice Islands. Nutmeg trees are prized for the yellow-skinned oval fruits they produce. When ripe, the fruit splits to reveal a hard brown kernel covered in lacy red aril, which is dried and used to make the spices nutmeg and mace, respectively. Nutmeg trees can be cultivated from seed in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness Zones 10 and 11.
Instructions
1. Collect two to three healthy nutmeg seeds that have recently fallen from their parent tree. Avoid choosing old, lightweight seeds that rattle when you shake them; these seeds are too dried out to germinate successfully.
2. Cover your planting area with 3 inches of equal parts peat moss, perlite and well-rotted compost. Work the amendments into the soil to a depth of at least 4 inches using a garden tiller, shovel or hand trowel. Push the collected fresh nutmeg seeds into the amended soil to a depth of no more than 2 inches. Allow 1 foot of space between each seed.
3. Erect a 50 percent shade cloth over the planted nutmeg seeds to prevent them from receiving too much direct sunlight. Position the shade cloth 2 feet above the ground. Reposition the cloth as the nutmeg grows, keeping it approximately 2 feet above the top of the plant. Shade your tree for the first six to seven years of growth, after which the tree can receive unfiltered sunlight.
4. Water the newly planted nutmeg seeds to encourage them to germinate. Continue to provide your nutmeg with supplemental irrigation as often as needed to keep the soil evenly moist.
5. Begin a regular fertilization schedule for the nutmeg tree in the spring of its second year of growth. Fertilize the tree with a granular, slow-release 16-16-16 fertilizer, applied according to package directions. Add a second application of fertilizer in late July. Repeat the twice-yearly fertilizer applications annually to stimulate healthy, hardy growth.
6. Prune damaged, diseased or dead branches from the tree in the spring, if needed. Remove the tree's lower branches during spring pruning for a more attractive growing form and easier access to seeds and fruit. Remove shoots growing from the base of the trunk as soon as they're noticed, regardless of the season.
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