<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section does not cite any sources . Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (September 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This section does not cite any sources . Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (September 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> To grow jute, farmers scatter the seeds on cultivated soil . When the plants are about 15--20 cm tall, they are thinned out . About four months after planting, harvesting begins . The plants are usually harvested after they flower, before the flowers go to seed . The stalks are cut off close to the ground . The stalks are tied into bundles and soaked in water for about 20 days . This process softens the tissues and breaks the hard pectin bond between the bast and Jute hurd (inner woody fiber stick) and the process permits the fibres to be separated . The fibres are then stripped from the stalks in long strands and washed in clear, running water . Then they are hung up or spread on thatched roofs to dry . After 2--3 days of drying, the fibres are tied into bundles . The suitable climate for growing jute is a warm and wet climate, which is offered by the monsoon climate during the fall season, immediately followed by summer . Temperatures ranging from 25 - 30 ° C and relative humidity of 70%--90% are favorable for successful cultivation . Jute requires 160 - 200 cm of rainfall weekly with extra needed during the sowing period . River basins or alluvial or loamy soils are best for jute cultivation. Jute cultivation in red soils may require high dose of manure and PH range between 4.8 - 5.8 is best for its cultivation . Plain land or gentle slope or low land is ideal for jute cultivation. Since the jute seeds are small in size, land should be prepared to fine tilth. Couple of ploughing will make the soil to fine tilth . </P> <P> Retting is the process of extracting fibers from the long lasting life stem or bast of the bast fiber plants . The available retting processes are: mechanical retting (hammering), chemical retting (boiling & applying chemicals), steam / vapor / dew retting, and water or microbial retting . Among them, the water or microbial retting is a century old but the most popular process in extracting fine bast fibers . However, selection of these retting processes depends on the availability of water and the cost of retting process . </P>

When is jute plant cut to obtain fibre