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'Methi', another name for fenugreek, belongs to the legume family. This plant's leaves and seeds are both edible. Fresh leaves are used as a green leafy vegetable, dried leaves as a herb, and seeds as a spice. This multipurpose plant is used in soaps, cosmetics, food, spices, and medications.
Fenugreek seeds are widely recognised for their therapeutic benefits, which include reducing blood sugar, promoting hair growth, and alleviating joint discomfort. Fenugreek is one of the beneficial crops that aids in fixing nitrogen in the soil—a mineral crucial to plant growth. The nitrogen-fixing plant fenugreek may grow lush and green even on poor soil. By adding nitrogen to the soil, this plant enhances its quality for other plants.
The most satisfying gardening experience is growing fenugreek (methi), which grows quickly—from seed to harvest in as little as 30 days. Find out how to cultivate fenugreek at home.
Preparing The Ground
Choose a partially shaded, sunny location for your fenugreek plant. They require four to five hours of direct sunlight each day. You can plant fenugreek in a container or your backyard. Since fenugreek plants don't like to be moved, you should either plant them where they will mature from the start or use a biodegradable pot that you can place in the ground afterwards.
Although you may grow them practically year-round in South India, the best period to cultivate them in North India is October to November since the plant thrives in warm soil.
Soak the seeds in a cup of room-temperature water for the entire night to speed up the germination process. To grow fenugreek, drain the water the following morning before planting.
How To Grow Methi At Home?
Decide on a container or a location for your greens. Evenly distribute the seeds on the ground, then properly cover them with 1/4 inch of dirt. To aid in seed germination, water your seeds in the ground. Ensure the soil is saturated throughout; any extra moisture should evaporate fast. Do not overwater the plant; damp soil can hamper its growth.
The plant will be ready for harvest after three to four weeks of seeding. The plant should reach a height of about 6 inches, so you'll know when to harvest the produce.
Growing Methi In Containers
Growing fenugreek in pots, containers, or even grow bags is simple. Put seeds in a container and set them in your patio garden, balcony, or sunny windowsill. Since this herb has shallow roots, a deep container is not necessary. Use a broad planter 6 to 8 inches deep with adequate drainage. Consider using a fenugreek planter, whose fabric allows water to drain.
Pour 1/3 compost and 2/3 potting mix into the planter. Evenly distribute the seeds on top, then cover them with a thin layer of dirt, about 1/4 inch thick. You can now grow your plant!
How To Harvest Methi?
After 30 to 40 days of seeding, fenugreek plant leaves will be ready for harvesting. Carefully cut off the top third of the mature stems, leaving the remaining portion to grow. This will promote branching, which will subsequently enable flowering and seed production.
The leaves will grow again in 15 days after being trimmed. Until the plant starts to flower, you can keep picking leaves. It will take a little longer to harvest the seeds. You can harvest the fenugreek (methi) seeds three to five months after sowing.
