Method of cultivating piper methysticum plants

A method of cultivating kava plants comprising the steps of:

• providing a mounded row having a height between about 12 and 40 inches and comprising predominantly (a) clay soil which is low in organic content and (b) cinder;
• the mounded row having a ratio of cinder material to clay with respect to volume of about 80% to 100% cinder at a base portion of the mounded row and a ratio of between about 5% to 15% at a top portion of the mounded row;
• and
• planting a plurality of kava seedling in the mounded row.

A method of producing kava seedlings from a kava plant having at least one stalk having a plurality of knuckles thereon, the method comprising the steps of:

• removing a tip from the stalk;
• waiting for a first period of time during which time buds develop on the stalk;
• cutting at least one section containing a bud from the stalk, each section having at least one knuckle;
• potting sections having a bud thereon in soil such that a first end of the stalk and the bud are above the soil and a second end of the stalk is below the soil;
• waiting for a second period of time to permit leaf shoot development on the seedling.

A method of producing kava seedlings from a parent kava plant having at least one stalk having a plurality of knuckles thereon and a root mass, the method comprising the steps of:

• removing a tip from the stalk;
• waiting for a first period of time during which time buds develop on the stalk;
• cutting the stalk from the plant at substantially ground level;
• preparing seedlings from the cut stalk;
• waiting a second period of time;
• and
• harvesting the root mass of the parent kava plant.

A method of cultivating kava comprising the steps of:

• providing a parent kava plant having at least one stalk having a plurality of knuckles thereon and a root mass;
• removing a tip from the stalk;
• waiting for a first period of time during which time buds develop on the stalk;
• cutting at least one section of the stalk containing a bud;
• using the section to prepare a kava seedling;
• providing a generally leveled bed of porous material substantially free from organic matter;
• forming a mound over the bed of a combination of filler material and organic matter, the organic matter comprising in the range of approximately 5% to 80% by mass of the combination;
• and
• planting the kava seedling in the mound.

A method of cultivating kava comprising the steps of:

• providing a parent kava plant having at least one stalk having a plurality of knuckles thereon and a root mass;
• removing a tip from the stalk;
• waiting for a first period of time during which time a plurality of buds develop on the stalk;
• cutting a plurality of sections from the stalk, each containing a bud;
• using the sections to prepare a plurality of kava seedlings;
• providing a mounded row having a height between about 12 and 40 inches and comprising predominantly (a) clay soil which is low in organic content and (b) cinder, the mounded row having a ratio of cinder material to clay with respect to volume of about 80% to 100% cinder at a base portion of the mounded row and a ratio of between about 5% to 15% at a top portion of the mounded row;
• and
• planting the plurality of kava seedling in the mounded row between about 12 to 18 inches apart.

A method of cultivating kava plants comprising the steps of:

• providing a parent kava plant having at least one stalk having a plurality of knuckles thereon and a root mass;
• removing a tip from the stalk;
• waiting for a first period of time during which time a plurality of buds develop on the stalk;
• cutting a plurality of sections from the stalk, each containing a bud;
• using the sections to prepare a plurality of kava seedlings;
• providing a mounded row having a height between about 12 and 24 inches and comprising predominantly soft powdery clay;
• planting the plurality of kava seedling in the mounded row about 15 to 30 inches apart;