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Nigella
Nigella damascena
Also known as Love-in-a-Mist, Devil in the Bush, Miss Jekyll Dark Blue
In stock
Description
I started growing nigella primarily for the seed pods for wreath making. The seed pods come in beautiful shades of beige, pink, and maroon and can easily be harvested and dried in large quantities. Over the years as nigella continues to return in our garden, it has grown on me as a wonderful garden flower. In early summer, nigella fills the gap in between the perennial shrubs in our border beds with a carpet of blue star-like flowers. When summer heats up, the flowers turn into pink seed pods ready to be harvested, and watering need is minimal. The deer have no interest in them so they are free to establish wherever the seeds drop. Nigella grows so well in our southern Oregon climate that most of my work to maintain them is thinning, which is easy to do in spring.
Nigella damascena is different from black cumin (Nigella sativa), a very popular Mediterranean spice used in baking and cooking. We’ve tasted our nigella seeds and noticed a slight peppery taste. The texture is similar to poppy seeds.
Details
Lifecycle: Annual
Hardiness zones: 2a-11b (USDA)
Habitats: Arable land and waysides
Plant size: 20 – 28 inches
Light: Full sun
Soil: Well draining soil
Water: Moderate
Seeds per packet: 50+ seeds
Seed Starting
Direct sow in the fall or spring. Cover seeds very lightly with soil as light is required for germination. Plants are sensitive to root disturbance.
Cultivation
For longer stems and larger seed pods, thin seedlings to about 8 inches a part. Nigella tends to branch and becomes bushy with more space. In general, nigella is very low maintenance and adapts to most soil conditions. It can handle moderate to low irrigation as it flowers in early summer and forms seed pods by late summer, when it no longer needs to be watered.
Harvest
Nigella makes an excellent bouquet filler with its vibrant blue star-shaped flowers and fennel like foliage. It’s best harvested for cutting when the bud has just turned color. For drying, wait until the seed pods are full developed and turned brown. Cut the stem at the soil level or pull the whole plant and place upside down in a paper bag to catch the seeds that fall out.
Propagation
Nigella grows a prolific amount of seeds which scatter everywhere when brushed against. Once they’re established in a spot, they will come back year after year with little effort. Collect seeds to sow in other areas you want them.
Seed Saving
Wait until the seed pods are fully dry and brittle. Cut all the way down at the base of the plant and then hold the entire plant upside down and thresh seeds by shaking them into a bucket. The seeds are black and easy to identify. Clean the seeds by screening and/or lightly winnowing with a fan to blow the chaff off.
Additional information
Weight | 0.007 lbs |
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Dimensions | 4.5 × 3.25 × .05 in |
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