How to Plant & Grow Your Own Fenugreek (Methi)

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Plus, when and how to harvest the leaves and seeds
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Fenugreek (also known as methi) is a nutritious Mediterranean herb whose leaves and seeds are used in cooking and cosmetics. This plant may also have health benefits, including lowering your blood sugar. [1] If you want to grow your own fenugreek, it’s super easy to plant it in the ground or in containers —simply sprinkle the seeds over well-draining soil in a sunny spot. Keep reading to learn how to plant, care for, and harvest fenugreek!

Planting Fenugreek (Methi) Seeds

Plant fenugreek in the spring. Sow the seeds in well-draining soil and in a spot that gets full sun. Sprinkle the seeds over the soil and cover them with ¼ in (0.6 cm) of soil. Keep the soil moist and harvest the leaves after 20-30 days.

Section 1 of 4:

When and Where to Plant Fenugreek

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  1. Fenugreek grows best in warm soil, so aim to plant seeds in the spring. If you live in a colder climate, or you want to start growing your fenugreek before spring, start the seeds indoors as early as 5 weeks before the last frost. [2]
    • Early autumn is also a good time to grow fenugreek in many areas.
  2. Fenugreek is a low-maintenance plant that grows well in your yard, in small and large pots, or even in shallow planters, like an aluminum tray. Just make sure you grow the fenugreek in a place that gets full sun, as it needs at least 6 hours of direct light to thrive. [3]
    • Note : Fenugreek does not do well when transplanted, so plan to grow your fenugreek in the spot where it will fully mature. If you’re not sure where its final growing spot will be, plant it in a biodegradable pot that you can plant into the ground later.
    • Fenugreek can still grow well in areas that get partial shade or even filtered sunlight.
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Section 2 of 4:

Planting the Fenugreek Seeds

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  1. Before you can grow fenugreek for yourself, you need to obtain the seeds from which the plants grow. If you know someone who grows this herb, ask them for seeds. Or, look for seeds at your local herb shop or Indian grocery store; fenugreek is commonly used in Indian curries and homeopathic medicine.
    • Alternatively, look for fenugreek seeds online.
    • It typically costs anywhere between 25 cents to $1 for 1 ounce of fenugreek seeds, though this depends on where you buy the seeds from and whether they’re organic or not.
  2. Fenugreek doesn’t like to be waterlogged and grows best in well-draining, loamy soil. [4]
    • If you’re planting seeds in the ground : Dig 10 inches (25 cm) deep into the ground to break up the dirt and any large chunks of soil. Then, mix in sand to help the soil drain better. Also, add compost or manure to help fertilize the seeds.
    • If you’re planting seeds in a container : Fill a planter that has drainage holes with well-draining potting mix . Then, mix in some compost or manure. [5]
    • To assess your yard’s drainage, garden and landscape designer Ben Barkan recommends you “go outside in a rainstorm and see if there's [a] puddle” or “areas where the water does not drain” and accumulates, instead.
    • Check the soil pH if you’re planting seeds in the ground. Fenugreek prefers slightly acidic soil around 6.4 pH, though anything between 5.8 and 8.2 pH is acceptable.
  3. Soaking the seeds overnight helps increase their germination rate. Simply place the seeds in a bowl or cup of room-temperature water and leave them overnight. In the morning, drain the water. [6]
  4. Whether you’re growing fenugreek in the ground or in a container, cover the soil with a light layer of seeds. Don't worry about making sure that the seeds are even or perfectly spaced—fenugreek seeds don't have to be spaced a certain distance apart in order to grow properly. [7]
  5. Fenugreek does not need to be buried very deep in soil. Simply cover them with a ¼ inch (0.6 cm) layer of potting soil or compost. This also helps prevent scavengers, like birds, from eating the seeds. [8]
  6. In order for the seeds to germinate (that is, begin to sprout), they need water. Simply water the seeds until the soil is nice and evenly moist. Make sure the excess water drains away quickly so the seeds aren’t sitting in soggy soil. [9]
    • It typically takes 3 to 8 days for the seeds to germinate and sprout.
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Section 3 of 4:

Caring for Fenugreek

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  1. Fenugreek needs moist soil to grow well. Simply stick your finger into the soil every few days to see if it feels moist. If the top 1 inch (2.5 cm) of soil feels dry, give the fenugreek a thorough drink of water. [10]
    • While fenugreek likes moist soil, ensure it is never soggy or overwatered. This can inhibit the herb’s growth or even lead to certain diseases.
    • Or, instead of manually watering the fenugreek, use a drip irrigation system to keep the soil moist. This not only helps make water delivery constant and even, but it also allows the water to penetrate the soil deeper and more effectively.
  2. While fenugreek isn’t susceptible to many pests, it can get infected with aphids. Luckily, aphids are easy to treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil . Simply spray any affected leaves with the soap or oil. [11]
    • Signs of an aphid infestation include yellowing and wilting leaves or stunted growth. You might see the bugs or a sticky substance on the undersides of the leaves. [12]
    • Look out for other pests that might come after your plant, like crickets, snails, and slugs. Spray these pests with soap, too. [13]
    • Alternatively, make your own organic pesticide to treat fenugreek.
  3. Overwatering fenugreek can lead to diseases like root rot and charcoal rot, which cause your plant’s leaves to wilt, yellow, or not grow well. This can also cause powdery mildew to form, which looks like white powdery spots on the leaves. [14]
    • If you suspect your plant has root or charcoal rot, ensure its soil is well-draining and it’s planted in a well-draining area (i.e., a spot that doesn’t collect water, a pot with drainage holes).
    • Treat powdery mildew with neem oil. Also, consider moving your plant to a spot that gets better air flow and drainage.
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Section 4 of 4:

Harvesting Fenugreek Leaves and Seeds

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  1. It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks for the fenugreek to be ready to harvest. You will know that it's time to harvest once the herbs are about 6 inches (15 cm) tall. [15]
  2. Use a clean knife or pair of scissors to snip off the top ⅓ of the plant’s stems. Then, use the leaves in your cooking. Eat fresh leaves in curries, salads, and sandwiches, or dry the leaves and use them as herbs to season your meals. [16]
    • Fenugreek also makes a great microgreen. Just harvest the leaves once the sprouts are about 3 to 4 inches (7.6-10 cm) tall.
  3. It typically takes fenugreek 14 to 20 days to regrow its leaves. Once the leaves have regrown, harvest more herbs! You can usually get around 4 harvests per plant. [17]
    • Fenugreek starts to produce seeds once it flowers, which causes the leaves to taste less flavorful and have a tough texture.
  4. After fenugreek flowers, it produces thin seed pods. Simply wait for the pods to turn yellow, which means they’re fully ripened. Then, pick off the pods and open them to harvest the seeds. [18]
    • Fenugreek seeds are nutritious and rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. [19]
    • Some studies indicate that fenugreek might help lower blood sugar levels, increase breast milk production, and relieve menstrual pain. However, research is still limited on fenugreek’s health benefits. [20]
    • Certified nutritionist John Burson recommends using fenugreek seeds “in soups, baked goods, salads, and curry” to reap their nutritional benefits. He also says you can crush the seeds into a powder and consume it in “pancakes, herbal tea , and bread.”
  5. Some varieties of fenugreek do not regrow after flowering. If you want a constant supply of fresh fenugreek, plan to sow seeds every 2 to 3 weeks, as that is around the time the current set of plants die back. [21]
    • Pull up the plant remains and compost them if you’re sowing new seeds in the same area.
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    The coriander plant, which is also called cilantro, takes about 3 weeks to grow.
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      Tips

      • Fenugreek has nitrogen-fixing properties, which means it adds nutrients back into depleted soils. This makes it a great plant for crop rotation. [22]
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      • Fenugreek doesn’t need to be fertilized. However, sprinkling the soil with potash and phosphate fertilizer or compost can help it improve productivity. [23]
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      • Store fenugreek seeds in an airtight container.
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      Warnings

      • Do not consume large doses of fenugreek seeds, especially if you are pregnant. Consuming large amounts of fenugreek can potentially cause birth defects or lead to side effects like diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, headaches, and drops in blood sugar. [24]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/fenugreek
      2. ↑ https://agritech.tnau.ac.in/horticulture/horti_spice%20crops_fenugreek.html
      3. ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/74336/trigonella-foenum-graecum/details
      4. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/fenugreek/infos
      5. ↑ https://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-fenugreek-vegetable-gardening/
      6. ↑ http://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-fenugreek-vegetable-gardening/
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/OY9sQzxH2S4?si=o5uPy6KvIJHY0aD_&t=82
      8. ↑ http://gardendrum.com/2015/01/19/how-to-grow-and-use-fenugreek/
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/OY9sQzxH2S4?si=ycCJu7xgyBMCuBIl&t=128
      1. ↑ https://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-fenugreek-vegetable-gardening/
      2. ↑ http://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-fenugreek-vegetable-gardening/
      3. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/fenugreek/infos
      4. ↑ http://gardendrum.com/2015/01/19/how-to-grow-and-use-fenugreek/
      5. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/fenugreek/infos
      6. ↑ http://gardendrum.com/2015/01/19/how-to-grow-and-use-fenugreek/
      7. ↑ https://gardenorganic-assets.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/documents/FactsheetFenugreek.pdf
      8. ↑ https://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-fenugreek-vegetable-gardening/
      9. ↑ https://gardenorganic-assets.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/documents/FactsheetFenugreek.pdf
      10. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11016425/
      11. ↑ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/fenugreek
      12. ↑ https://gardenorganic-assets.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/documents/FactsheetFenugreek.pdf
      13. ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/trigonella-foenum-graecum/
      14. ↑ https://plantvillage.psu.edu/topics/fenugreek/infos
      15. ↑ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/fenugreek

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To grow fenugreek, start by soaking the seeds overnight in a bowl of room temperature water to increase their germination rate. The next morning, drain the seeds and sprinkle them over well-drained, loamy soil, either outside in a sunny spot or in a pot near a sunny window inside. Next, cover the seeds with 1/4 inch of soil and water them every day to keep them moist until they sprout. You can expect the seedlings to take up to 4 weeks to be ready to harvest once they’re 6 inches tall. For tips from our Horticulture reviewer on how to harvest your fenugreek and save seeds so you can replant them, read on!

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