Caraway
7
6
3Will it grow where I live?
Caraway is hardy to zone 3 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 3 upwards.
Or check it for your location right here:
Profile
- Family
- Apiaceae
- Habit
- biennial
- Height
- 0.6 m
- Spread
- 0.2 m
- Growth
- very fast
- Lifespan
- 2 years
- First yield
- after 2 years
- Hardiness
- zone 3–9
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam
- Soil moisture
- semi-dry – moist
- pH
- 5.3 – 8.6
Flowering & harvest
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering | ||||||||||||
| Fruit harvest | ||||||||||||
| Leaf harvest |
Uses
Growing
Caraway prefers a sunny site with well-drained, fertile soil and a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Sow directly outdoors in spring or late summer, thinning the plants to 20-30 cm apart. During germination and early growth keep the soil evenly moist; later the plant is moderately drought-tolerant. Caraway develops a deep taproot and does not tolerate root disturbance. A light fertilizer can be applied in spring to promote growth.
Frequently asked questions
Caraway: how big does it get?
Caraway (Carum carvi) grows as a biennial and reaches roughly 0.6 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 0.2 m. Growth is very fast.
Caraway: what site does it need?
Caraway tolerates light shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – moist. The pH may lie between 5.3 and 8.6.
Caraway: is it hardy?
Caraway is listed as hardy in zone 3–9 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Caraway: will it grow in Central Europe?
Caraway is hardy to zone 3 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 3 upwards.
Caraway: when does it flower?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from May to July.
Caraway: when is it harvested?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from July to September.
Caraway: is it poisonous?
Individual parts of Caraway are noted as mildly problematic — the plant does not count as poisonous. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone, only on a confident identification.
Caraway: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 7/10, Medicinal 6/10, Other uses 3/10.
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