Caraway

Caraway (Carum carvi) is a biennial herb grown mainly in northern climates. What we call caraway "seeds" are actually the dried fruit of this plant, with the small seeds on the outside of the fruit. Fruits such as this are called achenes. They are similar to strawberry achenes. The seeds germinate best at 70ºF with light. A few seeds will germinate at temperatures as low as 40º F, so it is a candidate for winter sowing. The plants grow to about one foot the first year. They die off to the roots in autumn, and grow to about 2 to 3 feet during the second season. There is an annual form (Carum carvi 'Sprinter'), but the days to maturity are too long for northern growing. Southern growers should sow caraway during the winter, as it does not like high heat. A summer mulch can keep the roots cooler. In Canada it is grown as a commercial crop in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where the crop is sown at the end of April or the beginning of May. It has become an invasive in some states, so check with your local agriculturalist before growing this plant. It can be grown in deep containers in warmer zones.

Home gardeners will find many culinary uses for caraway seed, which is harvested in the fall of the second year. To save the seeds, cut the whole plant down, and hang it upside down over a paper bag. The dried seeds will drop into the bag when they are dry.

Caraway seed is an important spice in many Scandinavian and northern European recipes. Rye bread, cookies, cheese, and cabbage dishes are a few of the foods made with these seeds. Caraway seeds also flavour the German liqueur called Kummel.

Caraway seeds have been used medicinally, too, most often for stomach ailments. A tea can be made from the seeds and used for gastric problems. Two oils can be extracted from the seeds: carvone and limonene. These are used in medicinal preparations, such as mouthwash.

The whole caraway plant is edible. Young leaves can be added to salads, and the root can be used in the same ways as carrots or parsnips. There are many uses and recipes online for using this herb, and it can be a valuable addition to the herb garden. It is also pretty enough for the flower garden or containers.