Burmese grape aka Latkan Cultivation Method

Latkan is a very popular fruit in Bangladesh. The fruit is round and turns yellow when ripe. The skin is soft and thick. Each fruit typically contains three seeds. Although the production is not very high, it is cultivated in almost all regions of the country. The main areas of cultivation are Narsingdi, Manikganj, Gazipur, Netrokona, and Sylhet.

Latkan has a Medicinal Properties. It has a sweet and sour taste. It is also rich in nutritional value.

Eating the fruit helps relieve nausea and prevents vomiting.

Dried and powdered leaves help reduce diarrhea and mental stress.

Cultivation Process of Burmese Grape aka Latkon

Soil

• Latkan can be grown in almost all well-drained soils.
• However, sandy loam soil is most suitable.

High or moderately high lands with open or partially shaded areas are ideal.

Planting Time of burmese grape

The best time to plant is during the Baisakh-Jaishtha months (April-June).

It can also be planted in late monsoon, i.e., Bhadra-Ashwin months (August-October).

Spacing

• Distance between rows: 6 meters
• Distance between plants: 6 meters

Pit Preparation

• Each pit should be 90 cm in size (length, width, depth).
• 10-15 days after digging, apply the following fertilizers and mix them well with the soil before filling the pits:

Fertilizer per pit

Cow dung/Organic manure         15–20 kg

TSP         500 grams

MOP (Muriate of Potash)             250 grams

If the soil is dry during pit filling, water should be added to moisten the soil.

Planting & Care

• Latkan is usually propagated from seeds.
• On flat land, square or rectangular planting methods can be followed.
• 10–15 days after filling the pits, plant the selected sapling upright at the center and press soil around it firmly.
• Water immediately after planting.
• Water every 1–2 days initially.
• Use bamboo sticks or fencing if necessary for support and protection.

Fertilizer Application

Apply the following fertilizers annually for mature trees:

Fertilizer              Amount per tree

Cow dung/Organic manure         15–20 kg

Urea      1 kg

TSP         0.5 kg

MOP      0.5 kg

Or, apply the following mixed fertilizer instead:

Fertilizer per tree

Cow dung/Organic manure         15–20 kg

NPKS Mixed Fertilizer (12-15-20-6)           1 kg

Apply the fertilizers around 1 meter away from the tree base, in the area covered by the tree’s midday shadow. Loosen the soil with a spade and mix the fertilizers well into the soil.

Irrigation

Frequent watering is essential in the early stages after planting.

One or two rounds of irrigation during the fruiting period is also beneficial.

Pruning

Dead, diseased, and insect-infested branches should be pruned regularly.

Harvesting

• Flowers appear at the end of winter.
• Fruits ripen during Ashar-Shravan months (June-August).