Kalonji Seeds

$6.00

Kalonji, also known as Black Cumin, Black Seed, and Nigella is a highly medicinal spice used in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. In the Tibb-e-Nabwi, the Muslim medicinal guide, 7 Nigella seeds a day is said to be the cure for all diseases except death. The seeds are also delicious when used on naan, curries, roasted vegetables or pickles.

The plant resembles the common garden flower, Love-in-a-mist, with delicate fennel like foliage and stands 10-12" tall. During peak bloom the plant sends out dozens of five or six petaled white flowers that are highly attractive to bees. Over the course of a week, the seed pod slowly begins to balloon up and develop as it is pollinated. It is a lovely sight and a wonderful activity to sit in the garden and watch as the bees are hard at work!

We have found that these seeds do not transplant well. To plant, simply sprinkle seeds on top of soil surface and scratch seeds in or gently use a rake to bury seeds slightly. Plants do not need to be accurately spaced but aim for 2-4" between plants. No thinning is required. For best results, it's best to wait until the weather has warmed and the last chance of frost is long gone. Keep soil moist until first signs of germination. If hand watering, be careful not to drown seeds while watering. It can be helpful to cover seeds with floating row cover or cardboard for the first week to help keep the soil surface moist. Seeds should germinate in 7-10 days. Can be grown in pots too.

Flowers can be harvested for fresh flower bouquets. At full maturity, the seeds pods will turn brown and become papery. To save seeds for culinary or planting purposes, allow pods to fully dry on plant and gently open over a bowl or bag.

We were astonished at how potent the smell of freshly harvested seeds were! Growing up only having smelled the bagged seeds from Indian stores, there is a stark difference between the two. Our seeds are originally from the Jhalawar district in Rajasthan, India and we have been stewarding them here on our land for the last 2 years.

Each packet includes minimum 1/2 oz of seeds. Enough for cooking and planting purposes.

Kalonji, also known as Black Cumin, Black Seed, and Nigella is a highly medicinal spice used in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. In the Tibb-e-Nabwi, the Muslim medicinal guide, 7 Nigella seeds a day is said to be the cure for all diseases except death. The seeds are also delicious when used on naan, curries, roasted vegetables or pickles.

The plant resembles the common garden flower, Love-in-a-mist, with delicate fennel like foliage and stands 10-12" tall. During peak bloom the plant sends out dozens of five or six petaled white flowers that are highly attractive to bees. Over the course of a week, the seed pod slowly begins to balloon up and develop as it is pollinated. It is a lovely sight and a wonderful activity to sit in the garden and watch as the bees are hard at work!

We have found that these seeds do not transplant well. To plant, simply sprinkle seeds on top of soil surface and scratch seeds in or gently use a rake to bury seeds slightly. Plants do not need to be accurately spaced but aim for 2-4" between plants. No thinning is required. For best results, it's best to wait until the weather has warmed and the last chance of frost is long gone. Keep soil moist until first signs of germination. If hand watering, be careful not to drown seeds while watering. It can be helpful to cover seeds with floating row cover or cardboard for the first week to help keep the soil surface moist. Seeds should germinate in 7-10 days. Can be grown in pots too.

Flowers can be harvested for fresh flower bouquets. At full maturity, the seeds pods will turn brown and become papery. To save seeds for culinary or planting purposes, allow pods to fully dry on plant and gently open over a bowl or bag.

We were astonished at how potent the smell of freshly harvested seeds were! Growing up only having smelled the bagged seeds from Indian stores, there is a stark difference between the two. Our seeds are originally from the Jhalawar district in Rajasthan, India and we have been stewarding them here on our land for the last 2 years.

Each packet includes minimum 1/2 oz of seeds. Enough for cooking and planting purposes.

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Each Desi Girl tomato plant can produce up to 10 pounds of fruit through the season. As a determinate variety, it will set dozens of flowers at the same time and produce fruit within a 1 month window. Can benefit from a tomato cage although it is not necessary. Do not prune off the lower branches.

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As an open pollinated variety, anyone can save seeds and regrow this same variety next year! Simply squeze the flesh of the ripe tomato into a small glass, add a bit of water and let ferment for a few days. Decant the seeds by adding more water and slowly pouring off the seeds and flesh that float to the top. Do this a few times until the water runs clear and the remaining seeds have settled to the bottom. Strain seeds, dry them on a plate of piece of wax paper and then store in a paper envelope or glass jar out of direct sunlight. Seeds stay viable for 5-7 years.

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