What is fenugreek?
Fenugreek is a versatile herb. It contains beneficial properties and compounds for your health, including a high amount of fiber and minerals. Fenugreek is also known as Greek hay. This non-hardy annual herb has small, inconspicuous yellow-white flowers surrounded by dark green leaves. When dried, it smells like freshly cut grass. The plant grows to about 50 cm tall. Fenugreek has a very strong, bitter, and sharp taste, which can be somewhat reduced by roasting the seeds before use. The herb is rich in vitamins A and C, and the minerals iron and copper.
Using fenugreek seeds
This plant, originally from the Middle East, has various uses:
The dried and optionally ground seeds are used in cooking, such as in curries, pastries, bread, and cheese.
Soaked seeds are used as sprouts.
The seeds and dried leaves are used medicinally, for example to lower blood sugar levels, for menstrual disorders, to treat impotence, and as an anti-inflammatory.
Tea is made from fenugreek seeds. Fenugreek tea helps relieve digestive problems, menstrual pain, and can reduce fever.
The entire plant is used as green manure. Use by pregnant women is not recommended due to its abortifacient properties.
Buying fenugreek seeds at 123zaden
Would you like to buy fenugreek seeds? Then 123seeds is the right place for you.
Fenugreek seeds can be sown to grow a plant and harvest the herbs. You can also buy fenugreek seeds to grow them as sprouts. We always provide sowing instructions with your order. These explain exactly how and when to sow the seeds for each purpose. Your order is always delivered quickly. Order your fenugreek seeds now at 123seeds.com!!
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.
