How To Grow Black Cumin Seeds

Black Cumin

Botanical Name : Carum carer Linn.

Family : Apiaceae)/Umbelliferae

Black cumin (Nigella sativa) has its origins in Western Asia and Southern Europe. But now black cumin is cultivated in countries around the world in warm, sunny climates. Major production areas of black cumin include India, especially Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, which is a major global exporter. It is also cultivated in parts of North Africa, Bangladesh and other countries in Eastern Europe and Asia.

India - A major producer and exporter of black cumin, where it is cultivated in several states that are known for their favorable climate and fertile soil.

Middle East - It is native to this region, and continues to be cultivated in countries like Iran, Iraq, and Turkey.

North Africa - Black cumin is grown in various North African countries, including Morocco.

Eastern Europe - It is cultivated in regions like Bulgaria and Romania.

Other Asian Countries - It is also produced in Bangladesh and other parts of Asia.

In India, black cumin is mainly found in wild form in Himachal Pradesh. The usefulness of black cumin has increased its demand and it has become an important cash crop of the people of the tribal belt of Himachal Pradesh, instead of being a wild herb. Due to this, the residents of Shaung, Sangla, Parani, Kalpa, Poari, Murang, Nichar, Bhavaghati etc. of Kinnaur district are maximizing their agricultural income from black cumin by adopting scientific methods of cultivation and have become its major commercial producers.

Black cumin is a wild herb full of aromatic and medicinal properties that grows in Europe, Central Asia, Afghanistan and its adjacent areas and the northern Himalayan regions of India. However, it is found grown in abundance in the forests of Kannur, Lahaul and Spiti, Pangi, Bharmour and Upper Shimla. Its seeds are used as a spice to make various food items tasty and aromatic; since ancient times, black cumin has been used domestically to treat many diseases like indigestion, fever, dysentery, headache, stomach worms, swelling of hands and feet, sore throat, etc. Nowadays, it is being used extensively in Ayurvedic medicines. To get a higher yield, it is absolutely necessary to cultivate it using scientific methods.

Climate - Dry temperate climate is considered best for black cumin. It is found in the sloping soils of mountainous regions 1800-3100 meters above sea level, where there is heavy snowfall in autumn and very little rainfall in summer. Light rainfall during vegetative growth of plants, flowering and grain formation is beneficial for the quality of seeds.

Life cycle - Black cumin is an evergreen wild herb and initially it is grown through seeds. Its life cycle is of three years. In the first year, when the seed germinates, 2 or 3 leaves appear, then the plants dry up. In the second year, when the snow melts, small tubers germinate and the size of the growing plants is large but flowers and seeds are not formed in it, in the third year the plants are fully developed and capable of giving crop.

How To Grow Black Cumin Plant

In snowy mountainous regions, the greenery of the black cumin plants is visible after the snow melts in March-April. Gradually, they start growing and turn into many branches. White flowers appear on these plants in late May or early June. Pollination is mainly done by honey bees or other juice sucking insects. The seeds ripen in the first fortnight of July and also get separated from the tuber. The tubers remain dormant till November and by the end of this month eyes start appearing on these tubers. It comes out of the ground surface only after the snow melts and becomes a plant and repeats its seed formation process. Thus this cycle continues for 10-12 years.

Agricultural activities - Sandy loam soil is best for successful cultivation of black cumin. At the end of July, rotten cow dung manure should be spread and mixed well in the soil. 2-3 deep plowings should be done in the first fortnight of October.

Black cumin should be sown from mid-October to mid-November. Black cumin seed is small and 1.5-2.0 kg seed is sufficient for sowing per hectare area. Seed should be sown 2.5-3.0 cm deep in rows made at an interval of 20 cm. It is also grown through tubers. Tubers should be 4-5 years old and fully developed, which should not be cut or injured. The quantity of tubers depends on their size and planting method. Tubers should be planted at a distance of 30x20 cm, tubers should be sown at a depth of 10-12 cm!

To get abundant yield of the crop, manure and fertilizers should be used in balanced quantities. 20 tonnes of rotten cow dung manure should be scattered per hectare and mixed well in the soil. It is beneficial to apply 60 kg nitrogen, 30 kg phosphorus and 30 kg potash per hectare.

Weeding - 3-4 weedings are required to control weeds. The first weeding should be done at an interval of 15 days. After this, weeding should be done after 20-25 days. Spraying of weedicide Stamp 50 liters per hectare or Lasso 3 liters per hectare has been found to be more effective.

Irrigation - Irrigation in black cumin depends on the type of soil and rainfall. At least three irrigations are very necessary for abundant crop production. First irrigation should be done within a week of germination (in April), second at flowering (May-June) and third at seed formation stage (end of June).

Flowers start appearing in black cumin in the last days of May and the crop is ready for ripening in the first fortnight of July. Its seeds fall off on their own when they are overripe, hence the fruit should be harvested at this stage. Seeds should be collected from only those plants which are uniform in size, ripeness and disease free.

How To Plant Black Cumin Seeds

Insects Control

Gram pod borer caterpillar - These caterpillars are green in colour which cause a lot of damage to the crop by eating the flower clusters and developing seeds when the flowers appear.

Prevention - For its control, dissolve Endosulfan/Thiodan 35 EC 20 ml or Monosil 36 EC 2 ml in water and spray it after flowering at the stage of 1-2 caterpillars per plant.

Black Bean Bug - It is a small black or brown insect which damages the plant by sucking the juice of its stem and developing seeds. Its infestation is found more in the end of May or in June in those places where black cumin and kidney beans are grown.

Prevention - For its control, a chemical called Methyl Damion (Metasystox 50 EC) (ml/liter) should be sprayed.

Cabbage Semilooper - It is a light green caterpillar which moves by making a semi-arc (loop) of its body. Its infestation starts in the months of May and June when cumin flowers appear. Sometimes 5-8 caterpillars are found on a single plant which make the plant completely seedless and cause heavy damage to the fruit.

For controlling these caterpillars, spraying of Malathion/Cythion 50 EC (1 ml/liter water) should be done at an interval of 15 days after flowering when caterpillars attack.

Disease Control

In black cumin, blight and bulb rot are the main diseases.

Blight disease - Due to the outbreak of this disease, the leaves, branches and flower bunches of the plant are affected.

Prevention - For its control, spraying of 0.2 percent Dithane M-45 or Blitox 50 WP should be done.