Fenugreek is also known as Greek hay, this non hardy annual has little, common looking yellow-white flowers surrounded with dark green leaves. This plant originates from the Middle-East. It has different applications: 1. the dried and grounded seeds are used in the kitchen in curry's, baked goods, bred and cheese. 2. the soaked seeds are use as vegetable sprouts. 3. the seeds and the dried leaves are used in natural medicin for the lowering of the blood count, with menstrual disorders, to aid against impotence and as an anti-inflamatory aid. 4. the whole plant is used as green manure. The use of Fenugreek by pregnant women isn't reccommendend because of the abortion inducing qualities. Fenugreek has a very strong, bitter and sharp flavour that can be weakened by roasting the seeds for use. It's very rich on vitamin A,C, en the minerals Iron and Copper. Height: 50 cm
Soaking: 12 hours
Indoor sowing: from march
Outdoor sowing: end of april - end of may
Sowing depth: shallow
Germination: 6 - 10 days
Germination temp. : 20 - 22°C
Sowing in rows: 5 - 10 cm
Plant distance: 20 - 25 cm
Plant position: sunny and sheltered
Flowering period: june - july
Soak the seeds about 12 hours prior to sowing in tepid water to aid the germination. Sow from march on in trays with some moist potting soil. Sow shallow and cover the seeds with a thin layer of siffed soil. Keep the temperature as steady as possible on 20°C and give enough light but don't put the trays in full sun. Cover the trays with a lid to preserve the moisture, but not to wet to prevent molding. Remove the lid when the seedlings first emerge. Harden the seedlings of in the end of april for about 10-14 days during the day or in a cold frame. Put them after this period on a very sunny, sheltered plot with some free draining, well fed soil .
Sow outdoors from may on, when there's no longer any danger of nightfrosts. Sow in well manured, well drained soil on a very sunny, sheltered plot. Sow shallow in rows and press the seeds in the soil. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. Keep the seeds moist during the germination but not to wet. Thin the seedlings to about 25 cm apart, when they're large enough to handle. After flowering You can harvest the 10 cm long capsules when they're starting to brown and dry out.
Fenugreek is also grown as sprouting greens. This can be done whole year indoors. Use small amounts of seeds according to Your needs. Soak the seeds about 12 hours prior to sowing in some tepid water and rinse the seeds. Use only well wassed, whole seeds. Put them in a special germination pot with grid or use a plastic container or glass jar. Cover them with a piece of batiste to make rinsing easier. Put them away on a dark place and on chamber temperature (21 °C). Rinse the sprouts every 12 hours and let the water flow off. Keep this up for about 5-7 days, till the sprouts are about 7 cm in size. Don't disturb the seeds while rinsing them. They've to form a very thight mass. You can harvest them by cutting them with scissors. Eat the sprout straight after harvesting.
