Caraway

Caraway (Carum carvi) is an edible herb in the carrot family, Apiaceae. It is a biennial, so it takes two seasons to flower and set seed. Its seeds are the main crop, though the leaves and roots are edible too.

In the first year it forms a rosette of leaves 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) tall that looks like a carrot. Plants typically reach 1 to 2 feet (30 to 61 cm) tall and about 1 foot (30 cm) wide, with fragrant white flower clusters in late spring to early summer. Some accounts give taller figures of 2 to 3 feet (61 to 91 cm).

Sow seed directly in the garden in early spring or in fall. Caraway is hard to transplant successfully, so avoid moving seedlings once they are established.

Sow shallowly, about ¼ inch (6 mm) deep, with about 1 seed per inch in rows about 18 inches (45 cm) apart. Keep the seedbed moist, because the seed is slow to germinate. Seedlings usually appear in 10 to 14 days.

Full sun suits caraway best, and plants in full sun are richer in essential oils and more aromatic. It grows in moist, well-drained soil with a pH from 4.8 to 7.6, and it will tolerate heavier soils.

Established plants have deep roots and do not tolerate root disturbance. Thin plants to 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 cm) apart in rows 3 feet (90 cm) apart. Some growers thin to 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm). Seed sown in fall or in early spring both flower and seed in the second year, and fall-sown plants bear seed the following year.

Keep the soil evenly moist, since plants benefit from soil that stays uniformly moist. Cultivate the bed well while plants are young, because caraway does not compete well with weeds. Protect the roots with mulch in winter.

Watch for carrot root fly, aphids, and parsley worms, and note that anthracnose and white mold are possible diseases. One account says the plant is generally pest-free and disease-free.

Plants often self-sow freely. If the seed is not harvested, it falls and sprouts the following spring, which can become overwhelming for a new gardener.

Pull or cut the plants as soon as the fruits begin to ripen to limit seed loss. Seeds can be picked when ripe, about a month after flowering, when they turn a grayish-brown color. Fresh leaves can be picked as needed, and roots can be dug while plants are young.

Place the seed heads in a paper bag in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place to dry, then rub the seeds free by hand. Make sure the seeds are thoroughly dry before storing them.

Caraway is listed as toxic to dogs and to cats, with mild vomiting and diarrhea as the signs to watch for. Caraway is an edible herb for people, but keep poisonous plants with similar umbel-shaped flowers, such as hemlock, out of the caraway bed.