HerbsEasy CarePet Safe
Kalonji
Nigella sativa
Kalonji is a delicate annual with feathery leaves, pale blue flowers and inflated seed pods full of small black, aromatic seeds used in Bengali panch phoron, pickles and naan.
Botanical FamilyRanunculaceae
Native RegionWestern Asia and the Mediterranean
Growth RateFast
Mature Size30–45 cm tall
Bloom PeriodLate winter
Common NamesKalo jeera, Nigella, Black cumin, Mangrela
Photo: AndreHolz at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Low
Water when the top of the soil is dry; reduce once pods form.
Soil
Light, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
5–30 °C · Low humidity
Feeding
A little compost at sowing is enough.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed
No pruning needed.
The seeds are safe in cooking amounts. Large medicinal doses are avoided in pregnancy.
Top Cultivation Tips
Sow directly in October–November.
Cut pods before they split and dry them on paper.
The ornamental love-in-a-mist (N. damascena) is a close relative.
Store seeds in an airtight jar.
