It is really easy to grow Methi/Fenugreek at home
Methi, the tasty and nutritious vegetable. It tastes a bit bitter but adds a distinct tang to the dish made of it.
I can say from my personal experience, Methi runs out of stock from the market sooner. Methi ki Sabji (Methi chi Bhaji in Marathi), and Methi Paratha, Methi Bhajiya, Methi Ladoos are some famous dishes we all love a lot made of Methi.
The seeds are the part of spices, the dried leaves are being considered as herm and fresh leaves as leafy vegetables.
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Besides the flavour Methi has several health benefits, Let's check a few of them.
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Methi/Fenugreek is rich with nutrients like protein, carbs, fiber and minerals like manganese, iron etc.
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Methi/fenugreek increases metabolic rate and controls diabetes and blood sugar.
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It is being said that Methi/fenugreek seeds are helpful to reduce LDL(bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood thus maintaining heart health.
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Soaking the Methi/fenugreek seeds in the water overnight and consuming in the morning with an empty stomach lowers down bad cholesterol.
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Study says that Methi/fenugreek boosts breast milk production for the mothers who have newborns and are struggling to produce sufficient amounts of breast milk.
In this article we will go through the steps to grow the Methi/fenugreek at home. It is pretty easy to grow Methi/fenugreek in pots regardless of the weather. Any kind of weather either cold or warm, Methi/fenugreek shows tolerance towards it.
Pot Selection: Here is the catch, Repotting cannot be done with the Methi/Fenugreek so you need to choose a planter which is wider. It is a
shallow - rooted plant so a 6 to 10 inch deep pot or a wide bed tray can be used to sow Methi. Make sure the planter has a drainage hole
at the bottom.
Soil: Warm with at least 15°C temperature and well-drained sand or clay soil with organic compost added in it. (Soil pH = 6.0 to 7.0)
Sunlight: 3 to 4 hours of bright sun is recommended to grow Methi/Fenugreek.
Temperature: Warm climate is considered suitable for Methi to thrive so the ideal temperature would be 50-90°F
Sowing Seeds: Though Methi can grow well in any climate, the warm weather is more suitable to it. Late spring or late summer can be the best time to
sow the seeds. Depending on warm weather conditions in India the sowing takes place in March-April in the north region and in
October-November in the south.
Before sowing the seeds it need certain treatment;
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As we know Methi/Fenugreek seeds are tougher enough which need to be softened before sowing.
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Soak the seeds for at least 12 hours in the lukewarm water (not hot).
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Keep changing the water every 2 hours with fresh lukewarm water
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Drain the seeds after 12 hours and sow ¼ inches deep and cover them with the soil, no need to worry about the distance. But DO NOT sow too many seeds in a single pot
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Germination time: 3 to 5 days
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Water needs: To germinate the seeds add the water to keep the soil moist and not soggy.
Every morning, you can spray some water in the soil to get the relevant results.
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During rains just sprinkle the water gently into the soil instead of pouring forcedly.
Fertilizers: Natural organic compost can be added at regular intervals.
Pests and cure: 1. Firstly not the pets but make sure the birds are safe from your Methi seeds, They might dig in soil and eat all the seeds
2. Due to the bitter taste Methi usually doesn’t get affected with pests but aphids, creepy-crawlers, powdery mildew can be some
common intruders which can be pushed away by making use of neem oil.
3. Root rot can be avoided by using well-drained soil and adding relevant amounts of water.
4. Charcoal rot is new thing which can affect your plant, to avoid this just mulching and adding organic compost/manure to the soil
Harvesting Methi: Almost in 3 to 45 weeks Methi shows enough growth to harvest. You can cut the stem leaving some distance above the soil surface or
pull out them from the root. The cut stems will regrow with new leaves in 15 days.
To get the seeds you will have to wait until the pods give the signal by turning yellowish-brown and look ready to ripe. Ripe out the
seeds before the pods open up as opening will cause them to scatter.
Replant: If you want to get the new fresh Methi from the same pot you can either cut the stem while harvesting and wait until they regrow. Or
the second way you can simply pull out the old ones and sow new seeds.
So this is all about the Methi/Fenugreek. Grow your own Methi at your home and have it anytime you want without worrying about its availability in the market. Don’t forget to share your experience with us. Your feedback and suggestions are always welcome!
