Seed preparation
Use fresh, plump seed. In India, TNAU treats seed with the biofertilizer Azospirillum and the beneficial fungus Trichoderma viride (4 g per kg of seed) to protect against root rot.
Visit deodar-seeds.in 
Herb growing guide
Fenugreek is a fast annual legume grown for its leaves (methi) and its seed. Sow it directly in a sunny, well-drained bed in the cool season and cut the first greens about three weeks later.
Use fresh, plump seed. In India, TNAU treats seed with the biofertilizer Azospirillum and the beneficial fungus Trichoderma viride (4 g per kg of seed) to protect against root rot.
Not needed. Fenugreek seed takes up water readily.
Not needed. Fenugreek is an annual that germinates without a cold period.
Optional. OMAFRA soaks seed for 12 hours before sowing; this speeds up the start, but sow soaked seed into moist soil the same day.
Sow into soil above 10 °C (50 °F). The crop prefers cool to mild weather, 8-27 °C (46-81 °F); in summer heat leaf crops flower early.
About 2 cm (3/4 in) in garden beds. Saskatchewan field crops are seeded 2-4 cm (1-1.5 in) deep into moist soil.
Rich, well-drained loam. Fenugreek grows over a wide pH range (5.3-8.2) but dislikes waterlogging.
Water right after sowing. TNAU irrigates again on day 3 and then every 7-10 days. The crop tolerates heat but not severe drought.
No light needed under the soil; choose a sunny bed.
Seedlings come up quickly in warm, moist soil, and the first leaves are ready 20-25 days after sowing.
Do not transplant. Sow in rows: TNAU uses 20 x 15 cm (8 x 6 in). For bunches of greens, OMAFRA sows in bands about 5 cm (2 in) apart with 30-50 cm (12-20 in) between rows; give seed crops wider spacing.
Thin crowded rows early; the thinned seedlings are eaten as greens.
Keep young plants weed-free; they are small and slow to cover the ground in the first weeks. As a legume, fenugreek fixes part of its own nitrogen once its root nodules form.
TNAU sows in June-July and October-November. The cool post-monsoon sowing suits both greens and seed best.
Dig in well-rotted manure and a balanced NPK fertilizer before sowing; TNAU gives one nitrogen top-dressing 30 days after sowing.
Pull or cut whole young plants 20-25 days after sowing on the Indian plains, or at 30-40 days in cooler climates. Harvest in the cool part of the day and keep bunches shaded.
Leave plants to ripen until the sickle-shaped pods turn brown: about 90-100 days in Tamil Nadu and 105-140 days in Canada. Cut, dry and thresh the pods.
TNAU lists Co 1, Pusa Early Bunching, Lam Selection 1, Rajendra Kranti, Hissar Sonali, RMT-1 and RMT-143.
Sow fenugreek directly in a sunny bed for fresh methi greens in under a month.
Yes, for greens. Sow thickly about 2 cm deep in a pot of free-draining compost in a sunny spot and cut the young plants after 3-4 weeks.
TNAU recommends June-July and October-November. The cool season after the monsoon gives the best leaves and seed.
Only lightly and only while young. It needs a frost-free period to flower and ripen seed.
Leave part of the bed uncut. Plants flower and form long, sickle-shaped pods that turn brown at maturity, about 90-100 days after sowing in Tamil Nadu. Cut the plants, dry them in the shade and thresh out the seed.
