CARDI and IICA encourage the fair use of this document. Proper citation is requested. Published by Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago Email: [email protected]; Website: www.cardi.org; Fax: 1.868.645.1208; Tel: 1.868.645.1205/8120 Facebook: CARDIcaribbean YouTube: CARDIcaribbean CARDI PSC number: JA/014/13 This publication is also available in electronic (PDF) format from the Institute’s Web site: http://www.cardi.org and http://www.iica.int Table of Contents Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................................5 1. Nursery operations and plantlet/seedling production ..................................................................................8 1.1 Soil preparation ...................................................................................................................................................8 1.2 Propagation of the five herbal species in the nursery ......................................................................................9 1.2.1 Blackmint ......................................................................................................................................................9 1.2.2 Cerasee ........................................................................................................................................................10 1.2.3 Lemon grass ................................................................................................................................................11 1.2.4 Peppermint .................................................................................................................................................11 1.2.5 Sorrel ...........................................................................................................................................................12 2. BLACKMINT ................................................................................................................................................12 2.1 History ................................................................................................................................................................13 2.2 Origin and geographic distribution .................................................................................................................13 2.3 Botany ................................................................................................................................................................13 2.4 Nutrition content and uses ...............................................................................................................................13 2.5 Agronomy of blackmint ....................................................................................................................................14 2.5.1.......................................................................................................................................................................14 2.5.2 Land preparation .......................................................................................................................................14 2.5.3 In field planting ..........................................................................................................................................15 2.5.4 Growing habit ............................................................................................................................................15 2.5.5 Cultural practices .......................................................................................................................................17 Weed control .........................................................................................................................................................17 Nutrient management ............................................................................................................................................17 Irrigation ...............................................................................................................................................................17 Pest and disease management ...............................................................................................................................18 2.6 Harvesting ..........................................................................................................................................................18 2.7 Postharvest handling ........................................................................................................................................19 3. CERASEE ......................................................................................................................................................20 3.1 History ................................................................................................................................................................20 3.2 Origin and geographic distribution .................................................................................................................20 3.3 Botany ................................................................................................................................................................20 3.4 Nutrition content and uses ...............................................................................................................................20 3.5 Agronomy of cerasee .........................................................................................................................................22 3.5.1 Varieties ......................................................................................................................................................22 3.5.2 Land preparation .......................................................................................................................................23 3.5.3 In field planting ..........................................................................................................................................24 3.5.4 Growth habit ..............................................................................................................................................24 3.5.5 Cultural practices .......................................................................................................................................26 1 Weed control .........................................................................................................................................................26 Nutrient management ............................................................................................................................................26 Irrigation ...............................................................................................................................................................26 Pest and disease management ...............................................................................................................................26 3.6 Harvesting ..........................................................................................................................................................28 3.7 Postharvest handling ........................................................................................................................................28 4. LEMON GRASS ......................................................................................................................................................30 4.1 History ................................................................................................................................................................30 4.2 Origin and geographic distribution .................................................................................................................30 4.3 Botany ................................................................................................................................................................30 4.4 Nutrition content and uses ...............................................................................................................................30 4.5 Agronomy of lemon grass .................................................................................................................................31 4.5.1 Varieties ......................................................................................................................................................31 4.5.2 Land preparation .......................................................................................................................................32 4.5.3 In field planting ..........................................................................................................................................32 4.5.4 Growth habit ..............................................................................................................................................33 4.5.5 Cultural Practices ......................................................................................................................................34