Short answer: sprinkle 10 to 20 g of caraway seed on a 10 × 20 inch tray of moist soil. Press it in, mist, cover, and keep it damp until most seeds sprout, often a week. Uncover, give bright light, and water from below. Cut at 14 to 21 days.
What is caraway?
Caraway (Carum carvi) is the seed that flavours rye bread and sauerkraut. As a microgreen, it grows fine, feathery leaves with a light anise taste. Sprouting.com gives caraway 14 to 21 days and rates it an advanced crop.1
How to grow caraway microgreens
- Day0
Sow
Spread the seed over moist potting mix and press it in.
- Day0–7
Damp blackout
Cover and mist daily. Germination is slow.
- Day7
Light
Uncover once most seeds sprout. Give bright light.
- Day14–21
Harvest
Cut above the soil when the feathery leaves appear.
Tips for growing caraway microgreens
- Be patient. Caraway is slow to germinate. Expect the first sprouts after about a week.
- Keep the seed damp. The most common reason caraway fails is seed drying out during the long start.
- Use a light cover. A loose cover or a thin layer of fine soil holds moisture around the seed.
- Sow a small tray first. Because it's slow, a 10 × 10 inch tray is a good way to try it.
Problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing after a week | Normal for caraway, or seed dried out | Keep damp and warm, wait a few more days |
| Patchy germination | Uneven moisture | Mist daily and keep covered until most seeds are up |
| Mold during the long start | Too wet, still air | Mist lightly, lift the cover for an hour a day |
| Husks stuck on leaves | Normal | Mist before harvest and brush them off |
Caraway compared with dill and fennel
Caraway, dill and fennel are all in the carrot family and grow fine, feathery leaves. Fennel is the fastest and sweetest. Dill tastes like the familiar herb. Caraway is the slowest and has the warm, rye-bread flavour. If you're new to herb microgreens, start with fennel, then try caraway.
How to use caraway microgreens
Caraway microgreens taste best with the foods caraway seed is known for:
- Cabbage and sauerkraut: scatter them over braised cabbage or a sauerkraut dish.
- Potatoes: fold them into warm potato salad or sprinkle on buttered potatoes.
- Rye bread: on rye toast with butter or cream cheese.
- Pork and sausages: a fresh finish for roast pork or bratwurst.
- Root vegetables: on roasted carrots and beets.
Add them just before serving. Their light flavour fades with heat.
Storing and eating caraway microgreens
Use within 5 days. Caraway microgreens suit cabbage dishes, potatoes, pork, cheese plates and rye toast with butter.
Caraway FAQ
What do caraway microgreens taste like?
A light anise flavour that reminds many people of rye bread. They're milder than caraway seeds.
How long do caraway microgreens take?
About 14 to 21 days. Germination is slow, so keep the tray damp and covered for the first week.
Should I soak caraway seed?
It's not needed. Sow it dry on moist soil and keep it misted.
Written by Michael
A passionate sprouting professional sharing practical tips for growing sprouts and microgreens at home. More about Michael
Sources
- Sprouting.com (Mumm's Sprouting Seeds). Product pages: days to sprout, soak time and yield for each seed. Link
