The spicy, hot seeds of caraway are very popular. In order to be able to harvest this correctly, however, it must above all be properly watered.
Pour caraway seeds properly
Like many popular culinary herbs, caraway (Carum carvi) its origin in the milder and arid regions of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. But the caraway stands out from its flavorful colleagues. While most Mediterranean herbs like permeable soils and usually cope with dry periods well, caraway prefers heavy clay soils and a rich water supply.
Even during short dry periods, the herb should also be watered when growing in the bed to ensure optimal supply. Of course, you have to find the right amount, because even caraway does not get along well with waterlogging. Too unrestrained watering endangers the harvest due to the increased infestation potential with various root fungi. If the spice is grown in vessels, on the one hand, due to the formation of a taproot about 15 cm long, it is important to ensure that it is the right size. But also the adequate supply of water is favored by a somewhat larger vessel. When choosing the substrate, it is also important to ensure good water storage. If in doubt, clay or clay can also be mixed in.
Harvesting caraway seeds properly
If the cultivation of the two-year-old herb has been successful, the coveted caraway seeds can be harvested in July of the second year of cultivation. Either only the inflorescences or the whole plants are cut off. In principle, that doesn't matter, because the plant will die in the same year anyway. In order to get to the spicy seeds, the harvest must first be dried. The semen can then be flushed out. In addition to the seeds, however, the leaves of the caraway can also be used as a substitute for dill or parsley. Since the leaves lose the essential oils that give them flavor as soon as they bloom, they should only be harvested until they bloom. You should also be a little more restrained here, because the more the leaves are harvested, the more the plant is weakened and this is always at the expense of the caraway seed harvest. When the seeds are harvested, the taproot can also be harvested. This has a subtle taste of caraway and can be cooked as a vegetable.
