Sesamum Indicum (Sesame, Also Called Benne) Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Pedaliaceae Genus: Sesamum Species
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Sesamum Indicum (Sesame, also called benne) Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Pedaliaceae Genus: Sesamum Species: Sesamum indicum Common Varieties: black, white, tan, brown How to Save Seeds According to Fruition Seeds, one of the few seed companies that sources sesame seeds for growing to farmers in the U.S., sesame germinates in a week and takes 75 days to flower, then another 20 days to set seed. This means that, from planting to harvest, sesame needs to be cared for about three months. Table 3, from Langham’s paper titled “Phenology of Sesame” published by purdue.edu, shows the average time frame of each life cycle of the sesame plant. After ripening (setting seed), the stalks (which have produced cylindrical husks which contain the edible seeds) are cut and placed somewhere to dry, usually on a tarp to catch the seeds. They must be dried under cover for another two months or more. Then, the process of collecting the seeds begins. Below is a video of the method of sesame seed extraction used at a farm I worked at in Hudson, NY. The dried stalks are banged against the inside of a carboard box lined with a plastic bag to catch the seeds. Of course, there are industrial methods to extract high volumes of seed but this is the traditional way. A definitively hands-on approach to seed collection, this way of seed saving is arduous, yes, but much more straightforward than the beet or tomato. The chaff (the larger bits of plant material) is sifted out using various strainers and what’s left is the sesame seed. https://vimeo.com/486490987 Double click to view video of sesame extraction Sesame: the “Survivor Plant” Descriptions of the sesame plant found online and in various seed catalogs name it as “the survivor plant” due to its ability to grow under extremely strenuous conditions. Farmers who grow in adverse conditions (long monsoon seasons, extreme heat) favor sesame because it grows under these trying factors. Plants like sesame are crucial for our own survival. Regeneration International posits that 90% of our caloric intake comes directly from seeds. Having plants that will be able to produce food, even in difficult conditions, is becoming increasingly more important as climate change threatens the stability of growing conditions worldwide. Saving sesame seeds is important for nutrition. .