Caraway (Carum carvi) is a biennial herb belonging to the Apiaceae family. Though most commonly cultivated for its seeds, the plant also produces feathery, dill-like leaves and an edible taproot. Successful cultivation requires understanding the plant’s two-year growth cycle, which culminates in the seed harvest. This guide details the necessary steps for establishing and maintaining a productive caraway patch for both foliage and seeds.
Site Preparation and Sowing
The plant thrives in full sun, requiring a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight each day for optimal growth and high essential oil content in the seeds. While caraway can tolerate partial shade, seed production often suffers in less sunny conditions.
The soil must be well-draining, ideally a fertile, sandy loam amended with aged compost. Caraway prefers a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Given that caraway develops a deep and sensitive taproot, direct sowing is strongly recommended, as the plant rarely transplants well.
Caraway is typically direct-sown in the spring or late fall of its first year (Year 1). Autumn sowing is often preferred in milder climates, allowing the roots to establish over winter. Seeds should be planted shallowly, approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, and covered lightly with soil. Once seedlings emerge, they should be thinned to stand about 8 to 12 inches apart to ensure proper air circulation and root development.
Year-Round Maintenance
In the first year, the plant establishes a deep taproot and a low-growing rosette of foliage. Consistent soil moisture is important during the initial germination period to encourage strong root growth. Once established, caraway plants become somewhat drought-tolerant, but regular watering supports better vegetative growth.
Managing weeds is particularly important during the first year, as young caraway seedlings can be easily overtaken by competing growth. Thinning is also important to maintain the necessary 8- to 12-inch spacing, which promotes good air circulation and reduces the risk of fungal diseases. In regions with severe winter cold, applying a layer of organic mulch around the crown of the plant after the first growing season helps insulate the roots and increases the chance of overwinter survival.
In the second year, the plant sends up a tall, sturdy flower stalk, reaching up to two or three feet, topped with white or pink umbels. These flowers attract beneficial insects, including parasitic wasps. While caraway is generally robust, growers should monitor for common issues such as the carrot rust fly, whose larvae can damage the taproot, and leafhoppers, which can transmit aster yellows disease.
Harvesting the Seeds and Leaves
The leaves of caraway can be harvested sparingly in the plant’s first year once the rosette is well-established, usually about 10 to 12 weeks after sowing. To ensure the plant stores enough energy for its second-year seed production, no more than one-third of the foliage should be removed at any time.
The primary harvest occurs in the second year when the seeds mature. Timing the seed harvest is delicate because the seeds can shatter and drop quickly once fully ripe. The correct moment to cut the flower heads, or umbels, is when they begin to turn brown and the seeds darken from yellow to a warm brown, but before they are completely dry and brittle.
To harvest, cut the entire stalk just below the umbel. These stalks should be bundled and cured in a dry, well-ventilated area. Hanging the bundles upside down over a large cloth or inside a paper bag will capture the seeds as they naturally dry and fall from the umbels.
Once fully dried, the seeds are ready for threshing, which involves gently rubbing the umbels to release any remaining seeds, and then winnowing to separate the seeds from the lighter plant material, known as chaff. The dried seeds can then be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark location.