Caraway ( Carum carvi ) is a herbaceous biennial plant that has small fruit which is dried and used as a herb. This species is in the same family as carrots; and both the leaves and root can be easily mistaken when it is young as a carrot plant. The entire Carum carvi plant is edible. The roots can be steamed, boiled, or roasted and the leaves can be used in salads, soups or eaten fresh. Its leaves can be eaten raw, in salads or as a flavouring in stews and soup.
Caraway fruit appears in the plants second season and many incorrectly call this its seed; but it is in fact its fruit. The fruit (or seed) is small, crescent shaped and the flavour is similar to liquorice & anise and is used to flavour rye bread; soup; cakes; cheeses and meat dishes. They are also used to make a Caraway essential oil.
Growth
Carum carvi grows to approximately 60 cm’s tall by 30 cm’s wide although can get up to a metre high in its second year. Its leaves are feathery on long stems and its small flowers are white, appearing in its second season.
The leaves can be harvested during spring the first year; but the seeds will not appear until after flowering in its second year. The flowers attract insects that will help control aphids in the garden.
*We do not sell seedling of this species because it does not transplant well*
Note: Germination instructions can be found in the ‘Germination Instructions Tab’ below. Upon purchase you will receive these detailed instructions via email so that you have a permanent record.
FAMILY:
Apiaceae
CLIMATE:
Cold to Sub Tropical
TEMPERATURE RANGE:
-30 to 35°C / -22 to 95°F
SOIL TYPE:
Compost, nutrient rich soil, that must be well-draining.
LOCATION:
Full sun to part shade
HEIGHT:
Up to 60 cm’s (2 feet)
WIDTH:
Up to 30 cm’s (1 foot)
pH:
5.0-7.0
GROWTH TYPE:
Biennial
WATER REQUIREMENTS:
Medium
POLLINATION:
Bisexual flowers. Pollinated by Bees, self-fertile.
MATURITY:
Average 70 for leaf harvesting, second summer for fruit/seed.
GERMINATION RATES:
68-86%
GERMINATION TIME:
7-14 days
GERMINATION DIFFICULTY:
Easy
SEEDS PER GRAM:
Approximately 350
MEDICINAL QUALITIES:
Yes
WEED POTENTIAL:
Possibly
FACTS ABOUT CARUM CARVI (Caraway)
The Caraway plant is also referred to as, Persian Cumin and Meridian Fennel.
Carum carvi has a long history of medicinal uses and aids in the relief of digestion problems, milk production in lactating women and as an expectorant, stimulant, and an antiseptic. Its seed is an ingredient in cough medicine and used for bronchitis treatment.
The seeds have been popular to chew for freshening breath.
