SALUYOT approx 200 SEEDS FOR PLANTING High quality

Origin

Jute is native to Africa where it is widely cultivated in both wet regions of the Sub-Sahara and drier areas of North Africa. This crop is also grown in the Middle East and Asia. In Australia and Egypt, it has become a weed.

Uses

Considered a fiber crop by many, Jute is a valuable food crop. The leaves and growing tips are most commonly used as a leafy green vegetable. They are particularly valuable in hot, rainy months when brassicas such as collard, kale, and cabbage cannot grow. Leaves are shredded and made into a paste or the pods of the plant are eaten when immature. Jute can also be dried, ground into powder, and stored for use during the dry season. It also has many benefits in folk medicine.

Cultivation

Jute is propagated by seed. The seed typically requires scarification to begin germination or seeds may be soaked in boiling water for ten seconds, then planted into raised beds 1 m. wide. If the plant is to be harvested by uprooting, seeds should be planted with a 30-50 cm row spacing. If leaves will be harvested by pruning, seedlings that have reached a height of 10 cm should be transplanted into rows and spaced 30-50 cm apart. Cow dung, wood ashes, rotted water hyacinth or its ashes may be used to enrich the soil. Leaf production improves with increases in water availability. Under cultivation, Jute is grown as an annual, though it may act as a perennial in some locations. It can be planted at the beginning of the rainy season and will withstand the hot, humid months. It can also withstand some drought conditions.

Harvesting and Seed Production