Are you a Black Thumb? Grow Fenugreek | Growing Guide

Yes? Fear not, my friend – for I know how to turn it GREENN!! 

A simple sure shot way – the Fenugreek way 😀 ( not mint as many believe ).

Fenugreek is known as Vendhayam in Tamil, Menthulu in Telugu and Methi in Hindi. It can be used as a vegetable (fresh leaves, micro greens), spice(seeds) and as a herb(fresh/dried leaves). It can be used to treat various ailments too.

Where can you buy seeds : Fenugreek seeds and leaves can be purchased from Indian grocery stores around you. Seeds can also be found in major big-box food stores like Walmart, Safeway, Target etc in the spice section. There’s nothing like having fresh herbs from your own garden – so what are you waiting for ?

Follow these steps and you are guaranteed a bountiful harvest –

May 8, 2017 : Soak a tablespoon or two of seeds in water overnight. It’s optional and if you skip it, you will just need to wait a few more days for the seeds to germinate.

May 9, 2017 : Drain the water (you can drink this water as well) and sow them about a quarter inch deep in a wide mouthed pot/container. Alternatively, sprinkle the seeds and cover them with little soil. Normal potting mix is good enough – please go organic. You don’t need to fertilize – this little guy fixes nitrogen in the soil. Place the container in a sunny spot. And, water daily.

May 12, 2017 : Darlings emerge 😍

Seedlings in 1-1.5 weeks’ time :

The Harvest : Take a clean pair of shears or scissors, hold a comfortable bunch with one hand and cut them one inch above soil level with the other.

Tips :

• You could try leaving some leaves on the plant while harvesting to see if you can get a second harvest.
• You could sow seeds every 2-3 weeks to have a continuous crop.

Enjoy them right away in your salads or as aloo methi, methi paratha, pakode, dal etc. Or, put them in a Ziploc bag (optionally covered with a paper napkin – this soaks away any moisture so that the leaves don’t rot ) and store in refrigerator for a week or two.

That’s it – Easy Peasy 😎

Get out , get your hands dirty and let me know how yours turned out !!

#enmanadhil #blackthumb #Fenugreek #herb #gardening #organic #methi #vendhayam #balconygarden