Caraway

Short description of the species

Botanical name

Caraway

Latin name

Carum carvi

Family

Apiaceae

Origin

in Asia Minor and Central Asia

Crop classification

spice and aromatic plants

Exposure

sunny

Temperature requirement

frost resistant

Optimal growth temperature

16 – 22 °C

Water requirement

high

Soil requirement

sandy-loam to clay-loam with a good water regime

Soil pH

6.0 - 7.5

Edible part

Fructus carvi (plod rasce), Carvi oleum (silica rasce)

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Interesting

It is one of the most widespread spices in the world and is the most cultivated spice plant in Slovakia.

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Usage

It is added to bread and baked goods, it is used to flavor spreads, cheeses, soups, stews, salads, meat, potatoes, various sauces, chalamades.

Inclusion in the sowing process and fertilization requirements 

Track: II. 

Suitable pre-crops: Cereals and roots are suitable pre-crops. 

Fertilization: is a nutrient-demanding plant, especially nitrogen. 

Varieties: In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the so-called two-year varieties ´Rekord´, ´Prochan´, ´Kepron´. Agritec Šumperk (Ing. P. Šmirous, PhD.) is currently engaged in the breeding of winter cumin, and the Czech Republic has applied for registration in the EU under the trade name Český kmín. The most famous varieties from the European assortment are: ´Bleija´ (Holland); ´Hungarian´ (Hungary); ´Kami LD´, ´Silvia´ (Denmark), ´Caraway I´ and ´Caraway II´ (Sweden). (HERBA, 2024).[IM1] In some countries such as the USA, Canada, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, annual forms of cumin are also grown.

Agricultural cultivation techniques 

Propagation: direct sowing into the soil 

Cultivation agro-technique - bed method (directly into the soil)

Harvesting: seeds ripen unevenly, and fall out very quickly after ripening. Therefore, it is very important to determine the correct date of collection. The most suitable date for harvesting is the period when the seeds of the central round go from waxy to full maturity. 

Valuable nutritions: silica (2-7%), oil (10-18%), proteins, carbohydrates and flavonoids, fatty acids, including oleic, linoleic and palmitic acids 

Phytotherapeutic groups: carminative, stomachic, spasmolytic 

Diseases and pests: Of the diseases and pests that damage caraway plants, they are the caterpillars of the caraway pest Depressaria nervosa, and the caraway weevil Eriophyes carvi, of the diseases it is Cercospora carvi, Erysiphe spp., Septoria, Phoma spp., Ascochyta.