Perilla Plant

 

How to Grow Sesame Yourself

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   Plant raw sesame seeds in an indoor pot.You can get your sesame seeds from a gardening store, or from any supermarket—just make sure to buy raw, untoasted seeds. Place them in moist, light soil and keep the temperature at 70°F (21°C). Once the seeds sprout, transplant them into an outdoor garden with full sunlight. Place the plants about 6 inches (15 cm) apart.[8]

   • When you first plant your seeds, keep the soil moist but not wet.
   • Start growing your seeds in the spring after the last frost has passed. Your seeds won’t grow if the weather is too cold.

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   Water your sesame plants once per week.Make sure your plants are in full sunlight, and don’t let the soil get too saturated. Sesame plants do best in dry conditions. After 3-4 months, flowers and sesame fruit pods will begin to appear.[9]

   • Use caution when touching or observing the fruit pods since they’re very fragile. As they ripen, they’ll begin to split open and release the seeds.[10]
    

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   At the end of summer, pluck the fruit pods off your sesame plants.Collect the fruit pods in a basket, then spread them onto a flat surface to dry for 2-3 days. Once they’re dry, crack open the pods and scrape the seeds onto a flat surface. Leave the seeds to dry for another 2-3 days. Store your dry seeds in a sealed glass jar at room temperature.[11]

   • Dry sesame seeds last for 3-4 years. While they don’t spoil, they do lose their flavor over time.[12]
    

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   Use your sesame seeds for baking and cooking.Toast your seeds in an oven or skillet, then use them in stir-fry dishes. Use a mortar and pestle to grind your toasted seeds into powder, then mix the powder into hummus.[13] Or sprinkle your seeds onto cookies to give them a crunchy texture and nuttier taste.[14]

   • There are countless recipes from around the world containing sesame seeds. Find some recipes online, or create your own.