Show Thread

I do not understand this. I have little coriander plants coming out all over my flower beds! Perhaps your seeds are vbad. Buy the whole Dhania seeds that is sold by Indian grocers as a whole spice. It is better for growing if you can find the small and not so pretty looking seeds. Most shops will have both. The small, not so good looking ones are the best ones for growing.

mamta

Growing coriande again:

The local Moroccan grocer has given us some of the fresh coriander from his garden. It has bolted: tiny leaves, 8 inches tall, mostly stalks, flowers and seeds. Same old story.

He says there wasn't enough rain in April and May, but that's simply not true.

I have picked off the green seeds.

Should I let them dry before planting them?

Phil

Phil, green seeds are good only for grinding in chutneys or curries etc. For growing, you have to get a packet of whole coriander seeds from any Indian grocers; http://www.spicesofindia.co.uk/acatalog/Indian-Food-TRS-Coriander-Seeds-Dhania.html. These are the ones you grind for making coriander powder. I can't remember if you are in UK? If you are, this is a good time to sow them, the soil is very moist. Either sprinkle and cover with thin layer of soil or sow in very shallow drills. It might help if you soak them overnight before sowing. They will grow. I have coriander and lambs Quarter saag (Pig weed or bathua) growing all over my flower beds, I just sprinkled some seeds about 3-4 weeks ago.

Mamta

Thanks for that, Mamta.

I'm in the South of France, where it's very dry right now, but I'll buy some and soak them overnight, then plant in pots. You never know!

Phil

I have to say that it is much harder to grow them on window sill. Pot in the garden, with regular watering will work, I am usre. Good luck!

While you are at it, try growing some pigweed, chenopodium album type. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chenopodium_album

The type (of pigweed) Amaranthus caudatus is also highly nutrious and tasty leaves, and easy to grow. It is known as Chowlai in North India and has many sub varieties. Both of these grow in quite dry soil too, they are weeds after all!

Thanks for that, Mamta: never heard of pigweed before.

Phil

After reading these posts I've just planted some coriander plants in the garden, rather than letting them die on the kitchen window sill as they usually do. They've already had quite a lot chopped off them so I won't be surprised if they don't survive, but it will be interesting to see what happens.

I'll look out for the pigweed now too.

The green seeds from the bolted plants are fantastic when pulped in a grinder.

The green seeds I left aside are now turning brown, drying out, so I'm going to plant them once they've dried, since I know they're not at all old.

I'm going to compare those with some coriander seeds from a pack, and see what the difference might be.

Phil

My coriander plants are growing really well and already look much bigger and healthier in the garden than they did on the kitchen windowsill. No sign of any flowers/seeds yet though.

Great News Amanda! Most herbs bought in pots from supermarket, survive transplanting in the garden Coriander and dill are probably the hardest. So, well done! Good luck with growing from seeds next time.

Mamta

I've noticed that the shop bought growing corriander I get grows ok unless you cut some off and then it seems to die off quite quickly! Am I imagining this or does chopping part of the plant make it give out chemicals that affect nearby leaves?

Steve

No idea, Steve, but I'll get back to you once I see how my little experiment with two sorts of coriander seeds works.

Depressingly, our French cleaning lady says that her coriander plant is huge! It didn't bolt! And she can't cook Indian or Chinese food. Nor could my Scottish brother-in-law, who threw his huge corainder bush in the bin. Sickening!

It's an unfair world!

Phil

Hello Phil

I am sure your coriander seeds will work, both of them. One will be perhaps be a bit slower than the other.

Coriander does not have a bush, it doesn't do too well as 'cut and come again' plant though you get limited success. Mine are quite large now and need picking.

Anyone else who like flavours of Indian leaf vegetables, might like to try growing fenugreek seeds. the leaves are highly aromatic and very nice cooked simply with potatoes as a bhaji. They are also great in meats of all sorts, lift the flavour of the dish to another level. Added to the dough, they make superb parathas. If it is available as leaves wherever you live, buy large amount and dry yourself. This is much better than shop bought dry leaves, which may be quite old. I do this and then use the leaves throughout the year.

Mamta

quote "might like to try growing fenugreek seeds."

are they easier than corriander?... I use a lot of methi seeds and leaves so home grown would be a bonus..

Steve

Well, I'll have a go at planting fenugreek seed: I've only ever use packets of dried fenugreek leaves, so it'll be fun to cook with them, IF I get them to grow.

Phil

Hello Steve and Phil

Methi seeds are one of the easiest to grow. They are often eaten as salads, sprouted. Have a go, you will not be disapponited

Mamta

The methi seeds I get to cook with are like small bits of broken yellow rock (a bit like course sand on a beach?).. is that the full seed or parts of its innards?....

can I plant them? or do I need to buy special packets of whole methi/fenugreek seeds ?

thanks Steve

The tiny rock like seeds that you bought are perfect for growing. In fact, you can germinate a few wraped in a moist cloth/germinator and use in salads. They will grow within 24-48 hours in a warm room. Enjoy ' Aloo Methia ' bhaji, with tiny new potatoes, it is great with Parathas .

Mamta

So a damp kitchen towel should be enough to get methi bean sprouts then? I can't believe they can get little shoots out of them.. now if you had said they can be used for cutting concrete or something.... lol

I'll give it a go (I take it once sprouted they can been eaten raw?)

Yes, Steve, they do look like chips of something inorganic: not at all like other seeds. I love the stuff: it's really special, and I like cooking with the leaves too.

If I get them to grow, it'll help diminish my sense of being a failed gardener!

Phil