Fenugreek?

[caroline7758]

A chap at our site said he had used shop-bought fenugreek seed as a green manure but I can't find any anywhere. Can't say I've ever used it for cooking either, but just wondered why it is so scarce. found some ground stuff ion Morrisons today but that's all. Any ideas? (I know I can get it from green manure suppliers)

[caroline7758]

[PurpleHeather]

Just buy the seeds meant for cooking and sow them.

Same as for any other herb.

There is a small fortune made from small packs of seeds when the stuff in the supermarkets costs less........

Also buy and use the fruits then sow the seeds from peppers chillis, squash and loads of other things.

I Do...

I do not get above 80% germination but if you are patient, you certainly will get plants that will produce more than enough for your needs.

Invest what you save in a decent seed compost and use small flower pots (not huge seed trays).  Then wait. It can take up to 6 weeks to get results.

Sow early in the year and use window sills. the flower pots can always go on to a small dish to protect the paint and water carefully.

[jonny211]

I use a bit of it now and again in curies where the recipe call for fenugreek leaves.... do the leaves have the same taste as the seeds (probably a daft question)?

Jon

[Spudbash]

The seeds are different in flavour - a pleasant, warming background flavour for a curry. I've only once grown fenugreek from shop-bought seed - a very long time ago - and it cropped prolifically in a shady spot on clay soil. I had bunches to give away to a very appreciative Sikh friend whose wife cooked it in her usual recipes for methi - their name for it. 

If I'm honest, the leaves weren't among my favourite crops, but perhaps if I'd used an aloo sag recipe, I have appreciated it more. I've learned that it takes time to find the culinary potential of each new crop you grow.

caroline7758, some larger supermarkets (in Britain) now have shelves dedicated to products for ethnic cuisines and these often have huge packs of whole spices for very good prices (compared to our usual prices for tiny jars). Maybe look in Tesco, Asda or Sainsbury's?

:)

[caroline7758]

Just buy the seeds meant for cooking and sow them.

Those are what I was looking for and couldn't find! ;)

[Spudbash]

The brand I've seen in supermarkets recently is Rajah and I see from their website that they've just started doing whole methi seeds. Maybe you could get in touch and see what their availability - not to mention seed viability - is?

http://www.rajahspices.co.uk/spices4.htm//
:)

[1066]

Hi I usually get mine from Asian shops - if you are really stuck I'm sure I could pick you up a pack at a reasonable price? But I'm sure I've seen it advertised on a seed site somewhere before as a green manure, but for the life of me I can't remember!

you can by the Methi greens dried in the shops as well - not as nice as the fresh, but those do seem harder to get hold of (especially on the south coast! )

1066  :)

[caroline7758]

Tamar organics have it as green manure. The local asian supermarket where I work had a fire and hasn't re-opened yet, otherwise I'm sure they would have it. I guess Tesco etc have found there's no demand. Thanks for that link, Spudbash.

[kt.]

Ta daaahh.   Here you go:
http://www.kingsseeds.com/Ko-transact/productlist.asp?as=True

[valmarg]

Most seed companies have fenugreek in the sprouting seed collection section.  Moles seeds have 250g for £2.95  They say it is used to 'add spicy flacvour to salads and cooked dishes'.

It is also listed in the green manure section 500g for £4.90.  It recommends sow March-August.  Turn in before flowering.

250g should be enough to grow as green manure, sprouting seeds and in curries. ;D

valmarg

[Deb P]

Rebekah's Seeds also stock it as a sprouting seed (and some good/unusual varieties of veg), saw their display at GWL last week and bought a few packets of various sprouting seeds!

http://www.rebekahsveg.talktalk.net/

[caroline7758]

Kt, your link doesn't work for some reason- hope this one does:

http://www.kingsseeds.com/Ko-transact/productlist.asp?as=True

[kt.]

Kt, your link doesn't work for some reason- hope this one does:

That's technology for you.  Try the long way.....  

www.kingsseeds.com

then search for  Fenugreek.  They do small and massive packs.  (Just tried it and it works ;))

[caroline7758]

Update- the asian supermarket is up and running again and I got a packet of 400g today for 79p. :D

[cleo]

Is that some new perfume? Nah it`s fenugreek ;D

It`s said to be detactable in one`s perspiration but who cares??

But if some stranger starts sniffing you just smile and send him to the nearest take away

[caroline7758]

Well, I sowed the fenugreek seeds and got great germination but when i went to the plot this week found the birds had eaten all the leaves- should have learnt from the same happening to my mustard last year! >:( Why don't the farmers have this problem?

[valmarg]

Well, I sowed the fenugreek seeds and got great germination but when i went to the plot this week found the birds had eaten all the leaves- should have learnt from the same happening to my mustard last year! >:( Why don't the farmers have this problem?

Well, they either shoot them, or they use 'bird scarers'.

I can remember one evening driving home from work.  There was a loud bang over to my left, which sent up a flock of starlings  (I think).  Next thing I knew my windscreen was blacked out.  My word, that scared the s**t out of the little tweeters. ;D ;D

valmarg

[cornykev]

And you I bet, Valmarg.       ;D ;D ;D

[valmarg]

And you I bet, Valmarg.       ;D ;D ;D

Well, I didn't need my brown trousers ;D ;D, but it did empty my windscreen washer bottle. ;D

valmarg

[jennym]

Well, I sowed the fenugreek seeds and got great germination but when i went to the plot this week found the birds had eaten all the leaves- should have learnt from the same happening to my mustard last year! >:( Why don't the farmers have this problem?

A chap I know uses a type of helium filled balloon in some places to scare off birds from brassica crops.