Black Seed (Nigella sativa) seeds, organic
$3.95 – $34.10
Family: Crowfoot (Ranunculaceae)
Annual, self-seeding, 90 days to flowers.
(Nigella, Black Seed) Native to the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East and Africa. Traditional usage (Arab and African herbal medicine): indigestion, appetite loss, parasites, inflammation. Source of molecule nigellone (note crystals of nigellone on cover photo here). Seeds are perfumey tasting and are used as decoration and flavoring agent for confections like candy and cookies. Plant prefers full sun to part shade and regular garden soil or poor soils. Direct seed in garden bed in fall to early spring. Easy and dependable, always enjoyable.
Packet contains 100 seeds
1 g contains ~400 seeds
5 g contains ~2,000 seeds
10 g contains ~4,000 seeds
Certified Organically Grown
Question
Turfqueen –
Will this nigella, black seed grow okay in Southwest Florida, zone 9b/10a? Should I plant in the fall, soon? Or spring? Will it reseed itself, or do I need to plant every year? And would my honey bees produce a good honey from these flowers? Thank you for all you do!!
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Richo Cech –
hello turf, thanks for writing. yes, in the warmer zones definitely, a fall planting is advised. They are good self-seeders unless the grower harvests all the seed capsules. I don’t really think the honey production is the reason to grow these–for that i would go more for red clover or buckwheat, the rich covercrops that have thousands of open blossoms. richo
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Dvorah Cohen –
Is the plant itself used for anything?
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Richo Cech –
just pretty, that’s all
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Question
Kathy Dickson (verified owner) –
Is this seed appropriate to make black seed oil? As in your book?
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Richo Cech –
yes, it is untreated seed, certified organic, and available in bulk
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Kathy Dickson (verified owner) –
Thank you Richo. I purchased your black seed to make infused oil. My slow cooker’s lowest setting is 125° ( measured with a digital thermometer).You state in your book 122° for 5 days. Is 125° too warm? If not, would you adjust the amount of time for maceration?
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Richo Cech –
hi kathy, maybe you can put a mason jar band under the crockpot to lift it a bit away from the element. just an idea that surely might not work. Its just that the oil starts to denature at too high of a heat. but you’re on the right track. Maceration time should be 5 days. richo
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Question
Willow Whyte Lynch –
Hi Richo. If I grow this N sativa near the N damascena, will they cross…?
Thank you so much for all of your time and attention.
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Richo Cech –
hi willow, they won’t cross, they are different species. r
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Question
Heather –
What zones can Nigella sativa grow well in?
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Richo Cech –
hi heather, all zones, its a quick summer annual. r
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Question
Laura Scott (verified owner) –
Hello Richo. According to the packet of Nigella sativa seeds the seeds germinate best in cool soils. “In the early spring, prepare a coarse seedbed and strew seed on surface..” In response to a previous question from Jan (June 20 2021) you advise to drop in summer, germinate in the fall and overwinter; yet another response, (February 2021) seems more in line with the seed packet. Will you please address this?
Peace and all Good,
Laura
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Richo Cech –
Hi Laura, This is going to depend on zone. Zones 7 and up, fall planting is often the best technique, whereas in 6 and under, since the rosette probably won’t be winter hardy, sow in the spring. This is really a plant that tends to volunteer more successfully than if planted intentionally. So seed scattered in the summer may not germinate until spring, but they’ll produce better plants than can be got from spring-planted seed. I always overplant this (so do recommend the bulk packets) and am generally glad i overplanted it. r
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Laura Scott (verified owner) –
Very good, thank you. Perhaps I will order a bulk packet asap.
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Richo Cech –
yes, thank you, very good. r
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Laura Scott (verified owner) –
Hi RIcho. I direct seeded a packet of Nigella Sativa in mid April, tamping the seeds very firmly into the soil and then covered the area lightly with some maple leaves left over the winter. I have been checking the area and don’t see much coming up except small wispy things that resemble dill. Since I always let my dill volunteer from season to season I assumed these were dill babies. But today my heart dropped when I thought to crush one of these little fern like plants and smell it. It did not smell like anything, much less dill. Did I just yank out baby sativa? Thank you for your thoughts on this. Peace and all Good,
Laura
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Richo Cech –
hi laura, you did this just right, your nigella sativa is up! richo
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Question
Tina O’Brien –
what growing region will this grow I’m in5 can it be planted outdoors? thanks
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Richo Cech –
Hi there, this is a quick summer spring-planted annual that will do well outdoors in any zone. r
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Jan (verified owner) –
Hi Richo, I sowed my Nigella seed in regular garden soil in full sun, and it is extremely miniature and unhappy, starting to flower at less than 3 inch height. I was hoping it would like this bed where I grow bachelor’s button, dang shen, and echinacea. What can be the trouble??
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Richo Cech –
Hi Jan, Nigella is in the crowfoot family and for the most part this indicates that it is happiest being dropped in the summer, germinating in the fall, overwintering to produce large plant with many flowers come early summer of the following year. If it is spring sown, it has no time to build a foundation before maturing.
Richo
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Stella –
Hello 🙂 I am wondering how long do seeds in packet can be kept before planting? I live alone and do not wish to overplant to avoid wasting. Also, I live in an apartment (with a balcony) with beautiful sun access; do these grow well as a container plants? Please advise. ?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Stella,
Honestly these are single-use packets, most people do best to plant the whole thing and then thin if necessary. Black seed has about a 5 year viability. Richo
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Angela –
I eat the seeds regularly, but are the whole flowers edible (as with the other Nigella that you offer)?
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Richo Cech –
yes, these are edible
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Mercy –
Are these your own farm’s seeds?
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Richo Cech –
yes
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Agnes Szekely –
Dear Richo, I’would like to buy organic nigella sativa seeds from you. In my country Hungary I can’t to buy organic -medical nigella sativa herbs . Could you sell for me this medical herbs seeds and mail it to me. Thank you. Agnes
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Richo Cech –
Hello Agnes. Hungary is in the EU. If we sent seeds to you in the mail, they would be confiscated and destroyed at customs. Richo
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Lilly Scheele –
Can the seeds be planted in pots and kept indoors during winter zone 8?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Lilly, you can think of them as a fast annual. They would go fast to flower and then seedpod in the above scenario. richo
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Vesta –
I live in mt.perry ohio when is the best time to plant Nigella sativa in the early spring or fall dies it need fertilizer
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Richo Cech –
Hello Vesta, If you get a larger quantity you can strew it in the fall which is the same as when the plant drops its seeds. They will get a head start that way. Otherwise, if you’re getting just a packet, plant it carefully in the spring. They go pretty fast to flower. richo
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Dona –
Will the flowers produce more seeds?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Dona,
The flowers give way to the inflated seedpods. You will know they are ready to harvest when they begin to split and rattle. They are filled with black seeds. richo
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