How to Grow Ajwain ka Paudha | Growing Carom

 Ajwain ka Paudha can be a very useful addition to your kitchen garden! The best part is, you can grow it in a small space!

Ajwain ka Paudha in English is popular as carom seed plant. The fresh leaves of Ajwain ka Paudha are highly admired for their distinct flavor and fragrance. If you want an unlimited supply of it for free, read on to know how to grow it.

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Ajwain ka Paudha Information

These plants are fleshy perennial herbs with rough-textured leaves. The herb can bloom a beautiful bunch of lilac flowers at the tip from summer till the rainy season.

According to a study, Ajwain seeds were revealed to possess antiseptic, stimulant, carminative, diuretic, anesthetic, antimicrobial, antiviral, nematicidal, antiulcer, antihypertensive, antitussive, bronchodilatory, antiplatelet and hepatoprotective as well as antihyperlipidemic effects.

Ajwain in english is called “carom seeds.” Ajwain is a spice commonly used in Indian cuisine and is known for its distinctive aroma and taste. It is also used for its medicinal properties and is believed to aid digestion and provide various health benefits.

A study by the Neurogenic Inflammation Research Centre and Department of Physiology, Iran, states that the plant contains different important components such as carbohydrates, glucosides, saponins and phenolic compounds, volatile oils, terpene, paracymene and beta-pinene, protein, fat, fiber, and minerals including calcum, phosphorus, iron, and nicotinic acid (niacin).

Botanical name: Trachyspermum ammi

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How to Grow Ajwain ka Paudha?

Ajwain plants can be propagated through seeds or cuttings. Here’s how you can propagate them using both methods:

1. Propagation from Seeds:

• Allow some of the ajwain flowers to mature and produce seeds. The seeds are small and oval-shaped, similar to caraway seeds.
• Once the seeds have dried on the plant, collect them and store them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to sow them.
• Prepare a seed tray or small pots with a well-draining potting mix. Sow the ajwain seeds about ¼ inch deep into the soil and cover them lightly with more soil.
• Place the seed tray or pots in a warm and sunny location. Germination should occur within 1 to 2 weeks.
• Once the seedlings have grown a few inches tall and have developed strong roots, they can be transplanted into individual pots or the garden.

2. Propagation from Cuttings:

• Choose a healthy ajwain plant and cut a stem that is about 4 to 6 inches long. Make sure the cutting has at least 2 to 3 sets of leaves.
• Strip off the lower leaves from the cutting, leaving only a few sets of leaves at the top.
• You can dip the cut end of the stem in a rooting hormone powder to encourage faster root development. This step is optional but can be beneficial.
• Prepare a pot with well-draining potting mix. Make a small hole in the soil using a stick or your finger and insert the cutting into it. Firmly press the soil around the cutting to hold it in place
• To help cutting  and improve its chances of rooting, you can cover the pot with a plastic bag or place it in a propagator until roots develop.
• Place the pot in a warm, well-lit area, but avoid direct sunlight. After a few weeks, the cutting should start developing roots.
• Once the cutting has rooted and grown a bit, it can be transplanted into a larger pot or directly into the garden.

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Requirements to Grow Ajwain ka Paudha

Sunlight

Ajwain ka Paudha loves to bask in plenty of sunlight so pick a location where it gets a minimum of 4-5 hours of direct sun every day. Growing it in shade will result in smaller and less flavorful leaves.

For indoors, you can plant them from west to south-facing windows. 

Soil

The plant grows best in the pH range from 6.5 to 7.5. If you are using garden soil, add a handful of sand, vermicompost, coco peat, and cow dung manure. Side-dressing the pot with compost, every month, will do wonders for the growth of the plant.

Water

If you want larger leaves, make sure the growing medium is slightly on the moist side all the time. To do this, water the plant when the topsoil feels a little dry to the touch. Do not let the soil go completely dry.

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Ajwain ka Paudha Care

Fertilizer

These plants do not need much fertilization, especially if you have added plenty of organic matter to the growing medium at the time of planting.

To boost the growth, you can use a balanced liquid fertilizer, diluted to half of its strength, once in 5-6 weeks. Do not feed the plant in winter.

The plant also benefits from the regular application of compost tea, cow dung manure, and dilute fish emulsion, once a month. 

Pests and Diseases

Ajwain ka Paudha is generally not attacked by significant pests or diseases. It tends to keep away pests from itself. However, it can be susceptible to aphids and you can use a neem oil spray to get rid of them.

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Harvesting

Both flowers and leaves of Ajwain ka Paudha have culinary uses in the kitchen and are available for harvest after 6-7 weeks. Do not harvest more than 1/4 growth of the plant. Use scissors to make a clean cut; it will also save the plant from getting damaged.

You can harvest the flowers as soon as they open up.

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