Seeds of Black cumin, kalonji (Nigella sativa)
Black cumin from seed
Kalonji is the matt black, angular seed scattered over naan and stirred into Bengali panch phoron. It is not related to cumin at all: Nigella sativa belongs to the buttercup family and is a cousin of the garden love-in-a-mist. The plant has finely cut leaves, pale blue-white flowers and swollen seed capsules, so a row of it is pretty as well as useful.
Germination
best at 12-18 °C, poorer above 25 °C
Sowing depth
5-15 mm
Spacing
rows 25-60 cm, plants 5-15 cm
Time to seed
140-186 days; flowers at 85-90 days
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How to sow
- This is a cool-season annual.
- It germinates best at 12-18 °C and less well above 25 °C, so sow early.
- Sow direct, 5-15 mm deep, in rows 25 cm or more apart and thin to 5-15 cm.
- A loamy or sandy soil around neutral suits it best.
- Keep the bed weed-free for the first 40 days, while the seedlings are small.
Growing in Europe
Kalonji is one of the easiest Indian spices for European gardens, rated hardy to about -10 to -5 °C. In Central Europe sow outside from late March to mid-April, or in autumn where winters are mild. Flowers follow after about three months and the seed ripens in 140-186 days, when the seeds inside the capsules turn dark. Water at the base rather than overhead to avoid foot and root rot.
Questions
Is kalonji the same as onion seed?
No. Kalonji is often sold as 'onion seed' in shops, but it is Nigella sativa, not an onion.
When should I sow black cumin in Europe?
From late March to mid-April outdoors, or in autumn where winters are mild. It prefers cool soil, about 12-18 °C.
How long until I can harvest kalonji seeds?
About 140-186 days from sowing; harvest when the seeds in the capsules are dark brown to black.