Cumin
Cuminum cyminum
Cumin is a slender annual herb grown for its aromatic seeds, essential in Indian cooking. It needs a cool, dry winter and plenty of sun, which is why Rajasthan and Gujarat grow most of India's crop.
Photo: Yercaud-elango · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Low
Water lightly; cumin is very prone to disease in humid or wet conditions.
Soil
Sandy, well-drained loam; pH 6.5–8.0.
Temperature and humidity
5–30 °C · Low humidity
Feeding
A little compost at sowing.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed
No pruning needed.
Cumin seeds are safe in cooking amounts.
Top Cultivation Tips
Sow in November in dry regions.
Avoid overhead watering.
Harvest when plants turn yellow-brown.
Does poorly in humid coastal winters.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseaseFusarium wilt
A soil-borne fungus that blocks the water-conducting tissue, making plants yellow and wilt from one side.
How to treat it →DiseasePowdery mildew
A fungal disease that coats leaves, buds and young shoots with a white, flour-like dust, weakening the plant and spoiling flowers and fruit.
How to treat it →
