Pods Sesame fruit are triangular-shaped pods (not too dissimilar in form to okra) that contain the famous seeds the plant is cultivated for, with India being the largest exporter. The sesame plant they grow on is a drought-tolerant flowering plant that can grow to about 3.5 feet in height.
How to cultivate sesame seeds
Seed Harvesting – Sesame seeds are quite tiny and drying them is a challenging process. However, they must be stored dry to prevent rancidity, which is possible owing to their high oil content. Before harvesting, it is vital to ensure that they have properly dried on the plant within the seed pod.
Sesame seeds mature from the plant’s base upwards. The initial blooms to bloom are found lower down. In late summer, when the seed pods begin to separate, cut the stems and put them flat in a dry location. The seeds will fall out if they are hung, but you may do it this way if you have a tray or bucket to catch them.
As the plant’s leaves dry, they will darken, and the pods will continue to split apart. The seeds can then be collected by tapping the stems and pods on the edges of a pail. Some aficionados roast the dried seeds before to storing them to retain their flavor and avoid deterioration.
What is the purpose of the sesame plant?
Concerning Sesame Seed Propagation – Sesamum indicum is cultivated for its seeds. The majority of commercial sesame production is for oil extraction from the seeds. It is utilized in several things, such as soaps and medications. This is a delightful plant for amateur gardeners to cultivate for seeds and cooking.
How large does a sesame plant grow?
Botany – Sesame Plant’s Flowers and Seed Capsules Sesame is an annual plant that grows 50 to 100 cm (1 ft 8 in to 3 ft 3 in) tall. It has opposing leaves that are 4 to 14 cm (2 to 6 in) long and have a complete edge. The tubular blooms are 3 to 5 cm (1 + 1 8 to 2 in) long and have a four-lobed mouth.
Some of the blooms may be white, blue, or purple, among other colors. Depending on the cultivar, sesame seeds can be a variety of colors. The most widely sold kind of sesame is a shade of off-white. Other frequent hues include buff, tan, gold, brown, crimson, gray, and black. The color of the hull and the fruit is same.
Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn., sesame, from the Seikei Zusetsu agricultural encyclopedia. Sesame fruit is a capsule that is generally pubescent, rectangular, and grooved with a small, triangular beak. The fruit capsule ranges in length from 2 to 8 centimeters (3 4 to 3 + 1 8 in), in width from 0.5 to 2.0 centimeters (13 64 to 25 32 in), and in number of loculi from four to twelve.
- Depending on the varietal cultivar, the fruit naturally splits open (dehisces) to release the seeds by breaking along the septa from top to bottom or through two apical holes.
- In breeding for mechanized harvesting, the degree of dehiscence is important, as is the insertion height of the initial capsule.
Sesame seeds are tiny. Their sizes vary among the thousands of identified species. The seeds are typically 3 to 4 mm in length, 2 mm in width, and 1 mm in thickness (15 128 to 5 32 5 64 5 128). The seeds are ovoid, somewhat flattened, and narrower at the seed’s eye (hilum) than at the other end.
How many seeds are produced by a Sesame seedpod?
Sesame plants yield the flavorful, ubiquitous sesame seeds found on bagels, in tahini, and as an essential element in several dishes. Tiny seeds are produced, however a single seedpod might yield hundreds of seeds. Sesame is referred to as a “oilseed crop” and is one of the oldest cultivated plants documented in human history.
- Due of its high oil content, it is nutrient-dense.
- Tahini paste, one of the most prevalent items derived from sesame seeds, has a distinctively rich, nutty flavor.
- It is also utilized in the production of several breads, cakes, and cookies.
- This plant is an African and Indian native tropical perennial.
It must be grown in extremely hot, dry circumstances, which is a difficulty for gardeners who do not reside in the suitable growth zones. White, purple, or blue bell-shaped, pendulous blooms resembling foxgloves are produced by sesame plants. These flowers are beloved by bees, and the honey they produce is delicious and in high demand.
| Common Name | Sesame |
| Scientific Name | Sesamum indicum |
| Family | Pedaliaceae |
| Plant Type | Tropical |
| Mature Size | 3-4 feet |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun |
| Soil Type | Medium texture, well-drained |
| Soil pH | Neutral, sweet (no salt) |
| Bloom Time | Summer |
| Flower Color | White, purple, blue |
| Hardiness Zones | 10 and above (USDA) |
| Native Areas | Sub-Saharan and North Africa, India |
| Toxicity | None |
The blossoms of sesame resemble foxgloves and are often white with pink or purple overtones. Sungjin Kang / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0
