Resource Book on Horticulture Nursery Management

important that the nurseries produce fruit plants and grafts as per demand of the crop
in a particular region. For example, farmers demand cashew grafts in Konkan area.
However, the demand for cashew grafts would be limited in other areas which do not
grow cashew traditionally.
� Ornamental Plant Nursery
The ornamental nursery provides various indoor and outdoor, flowering and nonflowering,
plants of aesthetic value. These nurseries generally provide to the needs of
the urban dwellers, Institutes, and various establishments. These nurseries produce
various plants like, indoor and outdoor plants, flowering trees seedlings, shrubs,
creepers. They supply their products for bungalows, establishments, and institutes in
urban centers. The ornamental plant nursery also supplies planting material for terrain
landscaping including lawns and grasses, hedge plants, etc. Most of these plants are
provided polybags only if the plant is large it is supplied in a pot. The cost of potted
plants is more than those sold in polybags as the plants in pot are large in size, more
in age, and the cost of the container is also higher than polybags.
� Forest Tree Nursery
Various flowering forest trees are produced in nursery. The forest nurseries have a
mandate of production of various forest trees for afforestation program in reserve
areas. Most of these plants are not available for sale to lay man. However some
flowering tree plants are in demand in urban areas and townships. These flowering
trees are used for plantation in these areas for avenue plantation on the sides of roads
and pathways.
� Vegetable Nursery
There is huge demand of vegetable seedlings during kharif, rabbi and summer
seasons. Most of the farmers prefer planting readymade seedlings prepared in
commercial nurseries. The nurseries prepare hybrid seedlings of the various crops like
tomato, chilies, marigold, capsicum, brinjal, etc. The use of these seedlings for
transplanting saves time and labour for the vegetable growers. The vegetables
seedlings are made available to farmers during the growing season. The seedlings are
grown in propagation trays. The vegetable seedlings are 18 to 40 days old when they
are supplied to the farmers. Coco peat is often used for growing vegetable seedlings
as it is one of the most congenial media for propagation of seedlings. It is also the
fastest and easiest method of raising the seedlings. The cost of production of
vegetable seedlings in propagation trays varies from Rs 0.60 to Rs 2.00 per plant
depending upon the variety and type of crop. The seedlings are raised in shade net
house or polyhouse or polytunnels. Annually, one acre vegetable nursery can produce
1 to 4 lakhs seedlings depending upon the demand and marketing strategy.
� Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Nursery
There is increasing awareness of farmers and urban dwellers on use and advantages
of various medicinal and aromatic plants. These plants are demanded by growers who
produce medicinal or aromatic plants for different pharmaceutical industries. Aloe
vera, sarpagandha, ashwagandha, Asparagus racemosus, adulsa, Vinca rosea, senna,
Bacopa monnieri, aonla, hirda, behda, safed musali, mint, basil, citronella,
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