Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 2: Prepare for planting
• Method 2 of 2: Plant your fenugreek
• Tips
• Warnings

Fenugreek is an herb that is used for cooking, in cosmetics, soaps, for its anti-inflammatory effect and even for digestive problems or high cholesterol. Although you can easily buy fenugreek capsules, you will not often find the herb itself in the store. However, you can ensure an almost endless supply of fenugreek by properly preparing your garden and taking good care of your fenugreek plants.

To step

Method 1 of 2: Prepare for planting

1. Find fenugreek seeds. Before you can grow your own fenugreek, you will have to get the seeds. If you know someone who grows this plant, ask if you can have some seeds. However, you will likely have to buy seeds. Since fenugreek is often used in Indian curries and as a homeopathic medicine, try an Indian grocery store or one that specializes in spices. You can also search online stores such as Bol.com.
   • Depending on where you buy and whether or not you buy organic seeds, 100 grams of fenugreek seed costs between 1-2 Euro.
2. Choose a place to grow your fenugreek. While some plants require specific growing conditions, fenugreek can be grown in your garden, in a window box or even in an aluminum bowl full of soil. A spot in full sun is ideal, but it will also work in partial shade or even under filtered sunlight.
   • Fenugreek doesn't like to be transplanted, so either plant your fenugreek somewhere it can mature or use a biodegradable pot that you can later place in the garden.
3. Check the conditions of the soil. The soil should drain well and have a loamy texture. A slightly acidic pH of 6.5 is considered ideal, but anything between 6.0 and 7.0 is acceptable, so test the pH before planting the seeds.
4. Plan planting in the early spring. Fenugreek thrives in warm soil, so you can plant it in most places between spring and early fall. If you live in a cold climate or want to plant fenugreek before the onset of spring, start indoors at the earliest 5 weeks before the last ground frost.
5. Prepare the soil. Fenugreek seeds need to be kept moist all the time, but you also need to make sure they don't soak up too much water. That is why you have to make sure that the water can drain easily by breaking open large clods of soil. You can also mix in river sand to improve drainage and add organic compost and manure for a better nutrient supply. You also need to make sure there is enough space to cover the seeds with more potting soil.
   • If you plant outdoors, dig 25cm deep into the soil to break up the soil.
   • If you use a container (such as a pot or an aluminum pan) with loose soil instead, you probably shouldn't break open the soil after it has been thrown into the container. Leave some space between the top of the soil and the rim of the container so that you can add some more soil once the seeds are sown.
6. Soak the seeds the night before planting. Soaking the seeds just before planting will improve their germination rate. Place the seeds in a bowl or cup of room temperature water and leave them there overnight. In the morning you should drain the water before planting the seeds.

Method 2 of 2: Plant your fenugreek

1. Plant the seeds. Sprinkle the seeds on the soil where you want to grow fenugreek. Don't worry if the seeds aren't evenly distributed. Fenugreek seeds do not need to be spaced apart in order to grow properly.
   • Some people recommend soaking the seeds in water overnight before putting them in the ground.
2. Cover the seeds with soil. Fenugreek seed should not be buried deeply. 0.5 cm of soil on top is often sufficient for these seeds. You do have to make sure that they are buried so that birds and other animals cannot eat them.
3. Water the seeds. In order for the seeds to germinate, you need to water the soil. Make sure the soil is evenly moistened. The excess water should be drained quickly, but your soil should be kept moist for the following days. Buds should appear sometime between the third and fifth days.
   • Because fenugreek has adapted to a wet environment, it is recommended that water drip slowly rather than pouring a large amount onto the soil from time to time. Not only will this ensure that the water supply is constant and evenly distributed, but it will also allow the water to penetrate deeper and more effectively into the soil.
4. Watch out for pests. While fenugreek does not often suffer from pests or disease, you may notice mildew, aphids or root rot. To avoid pests and diseases on your fenugreek plants, use an organic pesticide and avoid overwatering.
5. Wait for the seedlings to mature. It takes between 3-4 weeks for the plants to be ready to be harvested. You can see this from the length of the seedlings, which should be around 14 cm.
6. Harvest your fenugreek. Depending on whether you want to harvest the leaves or seeds of your fenugreek, you will have to determine how you will harvest the plant. For the leaves, you have to cut the plant a few centimeters above the soil by the stem or pull the roots out of the soil.For the seeds, you have to wait for the seed pods to turn yellow, indicating that they are ripe, and harvest the seeds before the seed pods burst open.
7. Transplant. Some fenugreek varieties do not grow back after flowering. So if you want a steady supply of fresh fenugreek you should sow seeds every 2-3 weeks, because around this time the current plants will die. If you want to reuse the same spot immediately, dig up and compost the remains of the plants after harvesting.

Tips

• Store fenugreek seeds in an airtight container.
• Sprouted fenugreek seeds are delicious in a salad.

Warnings

• Watch out for pests such as crickets, snails and slugs, as they love fenugreek seedlings. Other problems to watch out for include aphids, powdery mildew and root rot. You can use an organic pesticide to protect your plants from this.