Description

Cloves are the flower buds of the clove tree, an evergreen also known as Syzygium aromaticum. They belong to Myrtaceae family and are native to India and Indonesia. Cloves found in both whole and ground forms, this versatile spice can be used to season pot roasts, add flavour to hot beverages, and bring spicy warmth to cookies and cakes. You may know cloves as one of the main ingredients in gingerbread baked goods or a  staple spice in Indian cuisine. Cloves are best known as a sweet and aromatic spice, but they have also been used in traditional medicine.

Health Benefits of cloves:

Animal studies have found that the compounds in cloves may have several health benefits:

1. May help protect against cancer.
2. Can kill bacteria
3. May improve liver health.
4. May help regulate blood sugar.
5. May promote bone health
6. May reduce stomach ulcers
7. Contain important nutrients
8. High in antioxidants
9. Cloves may temporarily treat tooth pain and you can temporarily reduce the pain by dabbing a little clove oil on a cotton ball and placing it or on your gums or on the sore tooth.
10. Cloves may relieve upper respiratory infections.

Cloves Plant’s Care Instructions:

Soil: Soil should be rich and loamy with good drainage and a lot of organic matter.

Water: Clove tree grows in wet tropics. It requires regular watering, especially when the plant is young (first 3-4 years). Overwatering must be avoided.

Fertilizer: Apply 50 kg aged manure or compost and bone meal or fish meal 2-4 kg per year around the plants. Usually, organic fertilizer is applied at the beginning of the rainy season in the regions where cloves are cultivated. Once the plant starts to grow, apply 40-gram urea, 110-gram superphosphate, and 80-gram MOP, instead of MOP, you can also use potassium sulfate.
The dosage must be increased and for the tree that is mature and older than 15 years, apply 600 gm urea, 1560 gm superphosphate and 1250 gm MOP per year. The fertilizer must be applied in equal split doses in shallow trenches dug around the plant after the end of summer.

Position: For healthy and strong growth, it needs a tropical climate. The Clove prefers a semi-shaded exposure similar to black pepper. It can not withstand winter temperatures below 32 F (0 C). So do not plant it outside in an area with cold and harsh winters. However, it can tolerate occasional brief frosts.