Caraway

Caraway: variety and characteristics

Caraway (Carum carvi) is a biennial herb of the Carrot family (Apiaceae). Caraway is a tasty, aromatic herb, and the seeds are the most widely used part of the plant, suitable for baking, soups, stews and other dishes.

All parts of the plant are edible.

Growing caraway from seed takes some patience, as the caraway plant is a biennial and does little more than grow vegetatively in its first season.

The plant resembles a carrot and sets seed in its second year.

Caraway is an aromatic spice for bread, cabbage, cheeses and spirits. A biennial plant — it flowers and sets seed in the second year.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 99%
• Pack size: 2 g
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: April and May; direct
• Flowering: June – September
• Harvest: July and August
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Caraway

Caraway seeds are sown in April and May. The plants flower from June to September. The crop is harvested in July and August. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Caraway

• Sowing method: direct
• Depth: 0.5–1 cm
• Spacing: 20–30 cm
• Germination: 10–20 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

In spring, caraway is sown in April, as soon as the ground has dried out a little after the snow melts. In the early stages of growth, take good care of the delicate caraway seedlings: keep the soil moderately moist and free of weeds, and hoe between the rows. Harvesting of the green parts can begin 40 to 50 days after germination. Take only a few leaves from each plant, remembering that the plant needs foliage to grow its rhizomes. Caraway seed harvesting begins in August, after flowering, when the central umbel starts to turn brown.

Sow in spring or summer; undemanding as to soil.

Harvest and use

The seeds are harvested when they turn brown.

Frequently asked questions

When should Caraway be sown?

The recommended sowing months are April and May. Sowing method: direct.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 99%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.