Nigella or black cumin — how to grow in the garden

1. Features of nigella
2. Growing from seeds
   • Sowing
   • Seedling
3. Planting in open ground
   • What time to plant
   • How to plant
4. Nigella care in the garden
5. Reproduction
6. Diseases and pests

Nigella, also known as black cumin (Nigella sativa) is an annual herbaceous plant of the buttercup family. It is valued not only for its beautiful flowers, but also for its useful seeds. The seeds are used in cooking and medicine, so growing them in the garden can be not only decorative but also practical. In the natural environment, black cumin grows in Western Europe, Transcaucasia, Western Asia, and North Africa. As a spice, the annual is grown in India and Egypt.

Features of nigella

Nigella reaches 60 cm (24 inches) in height. The herb has branched shoots with pinnately dissected leaves. Depending on the subspecies, the flowers can be white, blue, or yellow. Sepals are arranged in several rows, creating the illusion of lace. Black cumin seeds are formed in fruits that have the shape of a flattened capsule.

Nigella is a frequent guest in landscape design. The annual is planted along fences and borders. As a decoration, caraway is planted in flower beds and alpine hills. The flower reproduces by seeds for seedlings, then by self-seeding on the site, so it is better to leave it until the frost.

Cumin seeds are used in confectionery, often as an alternative to sesame and poppy seeds for sprinkling on baked goods. The seeds have a bright peppery taste with a nutmeg aroma. In India, they are used as a spice for salads and vegetable dishes. Nigella is suitable for flavoring ice cream and baked goods. Black cumin is added to pilaf, meat and fish dishes.

Growing from seeds

Sowing

Black cumin is grown only by seeds. The plant is sensitive to transplantation, so it is recommended to plant the seeds directly in open ground. Sowing can be done both in the fall before winter and in the spring, deepening the seeds by 2 cm (0.8 inches). Despite the fact that the seedlings tolerate cold well, it is better to initially cover them with film or agrotextile.

Seedling

If you plan to grow black cumin in Russia in a cold region, you can plant seeds for seedlings in peat pots. At home, the optimal sowing time is March-April. You can store seedlings in a greenhouse or on the veranda. The first seedlings will hatch in 3 weeks. As soon as a couple of leaves form, and the outside temperature is stable above zero, the seedlings in pots can be planted in open ground.

Planting in open ground

Black cumin prefers sunny areas in the garden. Make sure the chosen location receives enough sunlight – 6 to 8 hours a day. The plant has no special soil requirements, but prefers light, well-drained soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. Avoid heavy, clayey and overly wet soils. Nigella does not need abundant watering. Moderate rainfall or regular watering during dry periods will be sufficient. Excessive moisture can lead to root rot.

What time to plant

Black cumin seedlings should be planted in May, when the threat of spring frosts has passed. Avoid areas where groundcover plants grow, as they suppress nigella. As a rule, seedlings are sown 2 months before planting in the ground. Seeds planted in open ground in the fall begin to germinate at a temperature of +6 °C (42.8 °F).

How to plant

Black cumin seeds need to be prepared in advance. Select large specimens, try to choose seeds of the same size so that the shoots are at the same level. Soak the seed in water and leave in the refrigerator for 3 days.

The soil should be moderately fertile. Experts recommend preparing it in advance. In the fall, dig it up, add compost, cow dung or horse manure. In the spring, dig up the soil again to ensure good moisture capacity and aeration. Add phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

For black cumin, furrows should be made on the bed at a distance of 45-50 cm (18–20 inches) from each other. Seeds should be planted at intervals of 15-20 cm (6–8 inches). The greenery grows quite lush, and plants should not be allowed to interfere with each other. Otherwise, the seeds will not be able to ripen in time in a depressed state. After planting the seeds at a depth of 2 cm (0.8 inches), sprinkle them with soil and water them generously. Nigella does not like mulching, so there is no need to sprinkle anything on top. Flowering begins one and a half months after the emergence of seedlings and lasts 2 months.

You can grow black cumin for greens at home. To do this, you will need a nutrient substrate with fine-grained peat. Furrows can be made at a distance of 5 cm (2 inches) from each other. After planting the seeds, cover the container with film and send it to a dark place. When the first shoots appear, remove the film and expose the seedlings to the light. Watering should be done once a day so that the soil is moderately moist. When the seedlings grow to 5 cm (2 inches), and the soil on the site warms up to +6 °C (42.8 °F), you can transplant them into open ground.

Nigella care in the garden

Nigella does not tolerate drought, but it also reacts poorly to excessive watering. To maintain the required moisture level, the soil must be constantly loosened. Agricultural technology includes regular weeding, the plant is very sensitive to weeds.

Caraway is quite picky in care and does not like overfeeding. Make sure to apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in a timely manner in the appropriate dosage strictly according to the instructions. Nigella grows well in places where legumes were grown in previous years.

If you grow caraway in an apartment, ventilate the room daily, but do not allow the plant to be exposed to a draft. For hardening in spring and autumn, you can put the pot on the balcony. The annual requires 8-9 hours of daylight. Insufficient lighting deprives the spice of its aroma. In winter, additional lighting with lamps should be provided at home. During the active growth phase in spring and summer, pinch off the growth points so that the caraway does not grow too lushly.

If you want the flowers to bloom all year round, remove the dried inflorescences. If you plan to collect the seeds, wait until the second half of August, when they reach maturity. Nigella seeds ripen 3-4 months after sowing. When the flowers fade and the pods begin to dry out and turn brown, this is a signal to collect. Carefully pick off the pods and let them dry for a few more days in the shade. When the grass dries, collect and dry the seeds.

Reproduction

Black cumin reproduces only by seeds, there are no other ways. If the annual has taken root in open ground, by autumn it will reproduce by self-seeding.

Diseases and pests

In a humid climate, nigella is vulnerable to gray mold and powdery mildew. For treatment and prevention, treat the soil and green mass with fungicides. In drought, the flower is vulnerable to spider mites, umbrella moths and bugs. Use insectecides for treatment.

Growing black cumin in your garden is not only an opportunity to decorate your plot, but also a way to provide yourself with valuable seeds with many useful properties. Following simple care recommendations, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful flowers and tasty seeds of this amazing plant.