Plant · P-610

Cumin

Cuminum cyminum

Cumin is a fast, single-season annual grown for its ripe dried seed - hot, aromatic, and central to curries, soups, stews and baked goods - with an essential oil that also flavors drinks and perfumes. It runs its whole life from sowing to harvest in 60 to 110 days and needs steady warmth and an open sunny position to do it. Each plant sets only a few one-seeded fruits and never builds a self-sowing stand, so it has to be resown every year. It resents wet feet and root disturbance, wanting well-drained soil kept nearly dry between waterings and best sown where it will grow rather than transplanted.