Introduction
Want to learn how to grow sesame?
Growing sesame is not only easy but also fun. We see tiny sesame seeds sprinkled over a lot of our favorite foods, from sushi to bread and hamburgers. Sesame seeds are also pressed to make oil and tahini paste. If you love growing your own food, then you must try your hands on growing these plants.
The sesame plant (sesamumindicum) can be grown easily at home as long as you take care of a few things. Here is everything you need to know about how to plant sesame.
Everything You Need to Know about Sesame
The scientific name for the sesame plant is sesamumindicum. It is a beautiful plant with white or pale pink tubular flowers and dark green leaves. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCAv6X9mZbk). A mature plant can grow up to 6 feet in length. Once the plant has matured and dried, seeds can be collected from pots at the end of the growing season.
Growing Sesame Plants
Sesame plants can be grown well in an area that has plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil (https://www.hobbyfarms.com/grow-your-own-sesame-seeds/). Sesame seeds can be sown directly into the soil once the last frost of the season has passed. The seeds should be kept moist until they germinate. Once they have germinated, start watering them weekly. These plants prefer warm soil and air. Therefore, their seeds are usually first sown and kept indoors. Move them out once the temperature is in the 70s and the risk of frost is gone. For better warmth and drainage, consider using raised beds for the plants (https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/sesame-plant/sesame-seed-propagation.htm).
Since these plants grow large in some months, it is best to grow them at least 2 to 3 feet apart. Flowers will start appearing by mid-summer. These flowers attract a lot of hummingbirds and bees. Seed pods start developing by the end of summer or by early fall (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56xT00lNEvI). Seeds can then be harvested and used as needed in foods or for making oil. These seeds are also used in making many medicines.
Harvesting Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are ready to be harvested 100-130 days after the plants have been sown. You can easily harvest them by plucking the seed pods of each plant. Once plucked, place them on a newspaper to dry. Crack them open once they are fully dried and seeds will be released. Simply sift the seeds through a colander or blow the dried pods with a running fan (https://www.westcoastseeds.com/blogs/how-to-grow/how-to-grow-sesame).
At this stage, the seeds are edible. You can use them as they are or toast them and press them for sesame oil. You can also ground them to a fine paste called tahini and use it in different dishes.
FAQ
- Can you grow a sesame plant from a sesame seed?
Yes, the plant can be grown from a seed. Refer to the information provided above about how to harvest the plant to understand the process.
- Where do sesame seed plants grow?
Sesame plants usually grow well in desert settings. They are drought-tolerant and, therefore, need dry soil to grow to their maximum.
- How do you grow sesame leaves?
Refer to the information mentioned above to see how you can harvest sesame leaves, plants, and seeds.
- In which type of soil is Sesame grown?
Sesame grows best in well-drained soil.
Conclusion
Sesame is one of the easiest plants to harvest. You just need to be careful about the following few things and your plants will grow well.
- Plant the seeds where there is ample sunlight.
- Move the plants outside when the temperature starts to reach70°F.
- Place the plants 2-3 feet apart to give them ample space to grow.
- Remove the pods carefully from the stems to harvest seeds
With these considerations, you can harvest your own plants and seeds to be used in your foods.
Do you need more information about growing sesame? Get in touch with us in the comments and let us know. Our experts will get back to you as soon as possible.