Herbs > Cumin Herb

Information on, uses of and how to grow cumin:

Name
Cuminum cyminum.

Family
Umbelliferae.

Growing pattern
Annual.

Seeds
Buy Cumin Seeds from The Green Chronicle (Pay in $US, £, Euro).
Herbs, Seasonings, Seeds and Spices - Buy Cumin Seed from Mountain Rose Herbs ($US).

How to grow
Cumin can be grown from seed. Sow the seeds outside when the soil is warm. Allow the seedlings to develop quite close together as this will give support to the heavy seed heads. Cut the seedheads when they turn brown and finish drying them indoors.

Soil condition/position
Sow the seeds in rich soil in a warm, sheltered place.

Appearance
Cumin is a tall slender plant with thin dark green leaves and pink or white tiny flowers. it can grow up to 60cm tall.

Uses
The seeds of cumin are used for flavouring especially meat casseroles and lentil soup. Use the whole seed when cooking cabbage or kidney beans. Mix whole seeds into mashed potatoes, bread, biscuits, cakes, pickles and chutneys.


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Land For Food Production

Sat May 15, 2010 9:18 pm // 8 comments // granny_nuts


I wonder just how much land it would take to feed a family of, say, 4? I know that if my family didn't buy fruit and veg we wouldn't have enough to eat but is self sufficiency down to amount of land or method of growing? Last year I overcrowded my small veg plot with counter-productive results like mildew and snail infestation that went unnoticed until we came to pick the tomatoes (all holes!). I wonder if anyone has ever been totally self providing or whether the local market and barter played...