1. Variety selection
When choosing a sesame variety, you need to consider the following factors:
- Purpose of cultivation: Sesame can be used as an oilseed, food or feed crop. For each purpose, there are different varieties of sesame that have certain properties.
- Plant height: Different varieties of sesame differ in plant height. There are varieties that reach a height of 30 cm, and varieties that reach a height of 1 m.
- Seed Color: Sesame seeds come in a variety of colors, including white, black, brown and red.
2. Soil preparation
Sesame is a heat-loving and drought-resistant plant, so to grow it you need to prepare a sunny and well-drained place.
The soil for planting sesame must be fertile and neutral or slightly alkaline.
3. Landing
Sesame can be grown by sowing seeds in open ground or seedlings.
When sowing seeds in open ground, sesame seeds are sown in the spring, when the soil temperature reaches +10 °C. The seeding depth is 1-2 cm.
When growing seedlings, sesame seeds are sown in March-April in seedling boxes or containers. Shoots appear in 7-10 days. Seedlings are planted in separate pots or cups in the phase of 2-3 true leaves. Seedlings are planted in open ground in May-June, when the threat of frost has passed.
4. Plant care
Sesame is an unpretentious plant, but to obtain good growth and development, the following measures must be taken:
- Watering: Sesame is a drought-resistant plant, so during the growing season it is necessary to water the plants only in hot and dry weather.
- Fertilizing: During the period of active plant growth, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out. The first feeding is carried out in the phase of 3-4 true leaves, the second - in the flowering phase, the third - in the fruiting phase.
- Weeding: It is necessary to weed regularly so that they do not choke the plants.
5. Harvest
Sesame begins to bear fruit in August-September. Sesame fruits are harvested at full ripeness, when they turn brown.
Additional Tips
- To obtain an earlier harvest, sesame can be grown as seedlings.
- To increase the yield of sesame, you can sow the seeds for several periods.