@kris2082 Bhatia Nursery @theBelvidere My seeds were shipped in a ziploc bag with coarse sphagnum to keep them damp. They were shipped already cleaned because of agricultural requirements - you can't ship Murraya Koenigii out of or into certain areas because of a citrus disease for which they are sometimes the carrier. At least not without a lot of expensive fumigation and what not. So since this was coming out of Hawaii, it could come as seed, but not as fruit, leaves, or a live plant. Even though the seeds are notoriously fragile and short-lived, and even though I mishandled the seed once I got it, I have had 88% successful germination. I believe I would have hit 100% if I hadn't soaked the seed when I got it, not realizing it had already been cleaned. Had they come covered with duct tape, I'm pretty sure I'd have fainted from the shock, LOL! I'm assuming they sent you fruit and not actual seeds that way .... The seeds are HUGE, btw - Some of them were about 3 times the size of a large garden pea. The seeds themselves, after being cleaned out of the berry. Maybe the size of a small grape. Its part of the reason (that and poor eyesight) that I thought I had been sent berries (actually very small citrus fruit) rather than the cleaned seeds that they were.

If you are referring to Murraya koenigii, then any quality potting soil/houseplant soil will be adequate. This plant needs to be protected from cold temperatures or freezing so is typically grown as a houseplant in colder climates. Keep at temps above 55F and provide as much direct light as possible - can be moved outside during the summer months. If you are referring to Helichrysum angustifolium (syn. H. italicum), this prefers a leaner, less moisture retentive soil common to herbs like rosemary, lavender or thyme. A cactus mix potting soil is ideal. This is typically grown as an annual or half hardy perennial and could overwinter under good conditions in zone 8.

No, lack of fertilizing is unlikely to be the cause of lack of taste. They are weeds where they grow native. Usually the main "fertilizing" concerns are getting enough iron to them or they go chlorotic from iron deficiency. I fertilize with some iron in the summer when I put them out but missed it this year. They mostly still look ok though. I can't really tell from the picture but that sort of looks like M. koenigii and sort of doesn't. If there's an issue with scent or flavor its more likely an issue of the variety than whether or not you fertilized. It actually still has a way to go before you could consider it productive. From whence cometh your plant? I'm wondering if it came from a tried and true mother plant or if it is of more anonymous provenance. Nearly all my seedlings did eventually sprout, plus I got some freebie "daughter" plants, and they all smelled like curry leaf plant from the time they sprouted. Just brush them and there is the aroma. I lost a few to container mix experimentation and then a few more to lack of watering when I had a long illness, but I still have 15 or 20 mostly good sized plants now (with some experimentation victims gradually trying to catch up with their more fortunate peers). It's still too small to flower or set fruit, neither of which are likely to happen if it doesn't get plenty of warm weather and proper lighting. Outside mine do better in light shade (I am in a desert region with fierce fierce sun); inside they do better in the strongest sunlight I can manage. You are correct in your assumption, now is not the time to fertilize. With what do you fertilize, btw, and what are you using for your container mix?

I have a few curry leaf plants for sale. Plants are a year old, 5-7 inches in height. These saplings were grown from the seeds of a large curry leaf plant in our backyard, without any pesticide or fertilizer. Email curryleafplantsbay@gmail.com if you are interested. Local pickup only from South Bay.