The Season to Harvest Nigella

Leave the Nigella Blooms Uncut

• In order to produce nigella seeds, the blooms of the nigella plant must be left uncut on the ends of the bloom stalks. Simply allow the flowers to wilt and die naturally.

Wait For Seed Pods to Dry

• In the fall, at the end of the growing season, the pods of the nigella plant begin to dry out and turn brown. As they do, test them every few days by shaking a few. When the seeds begin to rattle inside the pods then the pods are ready to be harvested. This should be just before the first frost. The total elapsed time between planting and harvesting nigella is approximately 120 days. Nigella will grow fairly well in all U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones, 2 through 10.

Place the Seed Pods in a Paper Bag

• Cut the stalks with the seed pods and quickly place the pods inside a brown paper bag. Set the bag in a cool, dry place for a few days in order to let the pods dry further and open. Shake the bag vigorously to help dislodge the seeds, then carefully open the pods further with your fingers and brush any remaining seeds into the paper bag.

Clean the Seeds and Store in a Glass Container

• Carefully pour the seeds from the paper bag onto a sheet of newspaper are separate the seeds from any chaff. This can be done by carefully brushing the seeds to one side while gently blowing the chaff away. Once the seeds are separated place them in a glass jar with a tightly sealing lid and keep them in a cool, dry place.