Can I store nutmeg seeds and sow them later?

No. Nutmeg seed is recalcitrant and dies when it dries out; an Indonesian trial kept only about half of seeds viable after 12 days even in the best packaging. Sow on arrival.

Will a nutmeg seedling give nutmegs?

Only if it is female, and you will not know until it first flowers at about 7-9 years. About half of seedlings are male, so grow several plants or use grafted females for a crop.

Can I grow nutmeg from a kitchen nutmeg?

No. Shop nutmegs are dried kernels, and drying kills the seed.

How long do nutmeg seeds take to sprout?

Usually 50-80 days, sometimes up to 90. Keep them warm, shaded and moist.

How to Grow Nutmeg from Seed (Myristica fragrans)

Seed preparation

Nutmeg seed is recalcitrant: it is killed by drying and cannot be stored like ordinary seed (ICFRE Institute of Wood Science and Technology). In an Indonesian storage trial the best packaging still held only about 56% germination after 12 days, and the authors advise sowing soon after harvest. Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) recommends sowing immediately after collection; if sowing must wait a few days, keep the seed in damp soil, not in a dry packet. Remove the fleshy rind and the red mace before sowing.

Scarification

Not needed. Sow the nut in its shell; cracking it damages the kernel.

Stratification

Not needed. Nutmeg is a tropical tree; cold kills the seed.

Soaking

Not needed when the seed is fresh. Keep it moist from harvest to sowing instead of soaking a seed that has already dried, which will not revive it.

Germination temperature

Warm. No precise germination temperature is published for nutmeg, but the tree grows in hot, humid climates with mean temperatures of about 25-30 °C (77-86 °F). Outside the tropics use a heated propagator or a warm greenhouse.

Sowing depth

About 2 cm (0.8 in) deep and roughly 12 cm (5 in) apart in the bed (KAU). In pots, sow one seed per deep pot.

Growing medium

KAU uses raised beds 100-120 cm (40-48 in) wide and 15 cm (6 in) high of garden soil and sand mixed 3:1, topped with 2-3 cm (1 in) of sand. Any free-draining, sandy mix works in pots.

Moisture

Water regularly so the bed never dries, but do not let it waterlog; the seed rots in stagnant water.

Light

Choose a cool, shaded place. Young nutmeg plants are grown under about 50% shade (World Agroforestry).

Germination time

Patience is essential. KAU gives 50-80 days in seedling beds; in rootstock beds germination starts around day 30 and can take up to 90 days.

Choose a humid site

KAU recommends a hot, humid climate with no pronounced dry season and at least 1,500 mm of rain, from sea level to about 1,300 m. Dry climates and waterlogged soil are unsuitable; the humid south-west of India suits it well.

Plan for a long wait

Seed-grown trees flower and fruit from about 7-9 years, and in less favourable areas only after 15-20 years (World Agroforestry). Grafted trees bear earlier and are female by choice.

Do not over-shade mature trees

Thread blight is worse under heavy shade. Thin the shade trees as nutmeg grows.

Indoor growing

Outside the tropics nutmeg needs a warm, humid greenhouse year round; it will not tolerate cold.

How to grow nutmeg from seedMyristica fragrans

At a glance

Seed preparation

Seed preparation

Scarification

Stratification

Soaking

Germination conditions

Germination temperature

Sowing depth

Growing medium

Moisture

Light

Germination time

Transplanting and first growth

Transplanting

Planting out

Male or female?

Common problems

Practical growing tips

Choose a humid site

Plan for a long wait

Do not over-shade mature trees

Indoor growing

Nutmeg seeds from Deodar

Seeds for this guide

Frequently asked questions