Cumin seeds

Common name: Cumin Scientific name: Cuminum cyminum Also called: Fennel, Raziang, Shamar, Bisbass, Shumra Original habitat of the cumin plant: Its original habitat dates back to the Arab Republic of Egypt. Description of the cumin plant: Cumin is a limited-growing annual herbaceous plant reaching a height of 30-40 cm. Its leaves are finely compound, dark green in color, and its fruits are oval-rectangular, each splitting quickly when dry into two curved pods. The pod color is olive green, length ranges from 0.4 – 0.7 cm, diameter 2 - 3 mm, aromatic scent, and slightly bitter taste. Description of the cumin flower: The cumin plant bears small white-purple flowers in umbels, blooming in spring. Uses and benefits of the cumin plant: Cumin is a spice and appetite stimulant. Used in making some types of bread and pastries. Treatment of indigestion and antifungal. Treatment of colic and gas expulsion. Infusion of cumin is consumed to increase milk production in nursing mothers. It is boiled either finely or coarsely and served after adding lemon juice and salt. Suitable climate for the cumin plant: Grows in moderate and humid climates. Tolerates high temperatures. Tolerates cold and is sensitive to frost. Tolerates drought. Suitable soil for the cumin plant: Grows in various fertile, well-drained, and ventilated soils. Performs well in light yellow soils that are well-drained, free from pathogens and weeds. Sensitive to soil salinity. Method of propagation of the cumin plant: By seeds. Planting time for the cumin plant: It is planted as a winter annual from early October to the end of November. Early planting is preferred because cumin grows slowly in its early stages. Method of planting the cumin plant: Planting is done manually or with a seeder in permanent land, requiring 4-5 kg of seed per feddan in the first case, and 2-3 kg in the second. Prepare a pot containing soil and level its surface. Place the seeds on the soil surface. Cover the seeds with a light layer of soil. Cover the pot with a perforated bag from the top to maintain moisture and aeration. Spray the surface with water daily, re-cover with the bag, and continue until the seeds germinate, then remove the bag completely. Water the plant daily because it loves moisture. Fertilization method for the cumin plant: Add organic fertilizer and phosphate fertilizer if added in solid form. 20 cubic meters of manure + 150-200 kg of single calcium superphosphate, equivalent to 3-4 bags of fertilizer.