Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Caraway is an herb that is most commonly grown for the use of its seeds as a spice, but the roots and leaves are edible as well. This plant is biennial, meaning that it takes two years to reach full maturity. In the first year you can harvest its edible foliage for salad mixes and its roots for preparing as you would other root vegetables like carrots or parsnip. In the second year, this plant will produce dainty white flowers as well as the aromatic seeds that are the most desirable part of this plant. Caraway seeds are flavorful with a unique slightly sweet licorice flavor that is popularly an ingredient in many rye breads but also can be used to flavor sausage, cheese, sauerkraut, meat dishes and much more.
NAME: Caraway (Carum carvi)
VARIETY: Caraway
DAYS TO MATURITY: 120 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: Biennial
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 4 – 10
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
SOIL: Well-draining soil with a pH 6.5 – 7.0
SPACING: 6 – 8 inches
PLANT HEIGHT: 24 – 34 inches
TEMP: 60 – 95ºF
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
While possible to start caraway seeds indoors, it’s not recommended due to the plant’s delicate taproot.
If starting indoors, sow caraway seeds 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date.
Use biodegradable pots or seed trays filled with a well-draining potting mix.
Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil and lightly press them in.
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Place the trays in a location with plenty of sunlight or under grow lights.
Caraway seeds typically germinate within 14-21 days when kept at temperatures around 60-70°F (15-21°C).
Transplant outdoors carefully, ensuring minimal disturbance to the taproot.
Plan to sow seeds shortly after your last local spring frost in a garden bed that receives full sun with well-draining, amended soil
Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep, spaced 2 inches apart, in rows spaced 1 to 2 feet apart
Germination can be slow to occur with Caraway, so allow 20+ days for germination
Make sure the soil stays consistently moist during the germination period
Once the seedlings appear, thin them out so each plant is spaced 6 to 8 inches apart
Keep the soil evenly moist until the caraway plant is established, taking care not to get the foliage wet to prevent disease
After the plant has grown to some height, it can survive quite well in dry soil
Intermediately water the plants, allowing the soil to nearly dry out before watering again
Keep surrounding weeds down while this plant matures
The first year it will produce just roots and small foliage and the second year it will produce stems, flowers and seeds
Fresh caraway leaves, which have a flavor similar to dill and are often used in salads, can be harvested at any time after the caraway herb plant reaches a moderate height.
The seeds will not be produced until late summer of the plant’s second year. Remove the seed heads as soon as the seeds begin to mature, since they shatter easily. Rub the heads lightly to separate the seed from the heads, and store them in an airtight container to use for seasonings and culinary creations.
