Fenugreek
Fenugreek or “Methi” in hindi is a member of the pea family. The leaves are eaten, fresh or dried, and the seeds, whole and ground, are used as a spice or even sprouted with a unique sweet nutty flavour. The plant’s leaves are small, green and tri-leafed with a single white, yellow or purple flower that grows from the leaf axil. Fenugreek is also an effective green manure that has soil building properties by introducing nitrogen into the soil it grows in.
Difficulty: Easy
Soil: well- draining slightly alkaline soil
Sowing: Spring / Summer
Germination: 4-10 days
Days to maturity: 40-50 days
Position: Full sun
Spacing: 20 x20cm
Sow Depth: 50mm
Height: 15-25 cm
Growing notes:
Fenugreek grows in any well-draining soil that is slightly acidic and positioned in full sun. It is best to sow Fenugreek directly into the soil as it has a shallow root system and does not like being transplanted or disturbed as well as not sowing the seeds too densely as it can overcrowd the area. Germination occurs fairly quickly, within a week and starts to grow rapidly enough to compete against weeds. Water regularly to ensure the soil remains moist but be careful not to overwater and avoid getting the foliage too wet. Prune and harvest Fenugreek regularly to encourage more growth but once it has set to seed the leaves become tough and bitter. If left in the soil to harvest the seeds, wait for the pods to become yellow and hard, usually within 3-4 months and then handle the pods carefully to not spilt the pod and scatter the seeds. If the Fenugreek is being used as a nitrogen fixer, dig up a plant and check it’s roots for pink nodules, that is the sign to show that it is working.
Uses:
Fenugreek contains Vitamins A, C, K, folic acid, fiber and high amounts of the phytosteroid diosgenin.
Used primarily in Indian and Southeast Asian cooking for their fresh leaves and whole or ground as well as sprouted seeds.
The seeds are also sweetened and used as a tea and in many Middle Eastern cuisines, they are used in cakes and confectionary.
Fenugreek can also be sown as a field crop or ground cover and is used as animal feed.
Origin:
Native in the warmer climates of the Middle East, India, and northern Africa.
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