Fenugreek – a description of the plant. What is it?
Fenugreek – an annual plant that is not hardy. It is widely grown in Asia and Europe as feed raw materials. This honey plant. Grows to 60 cm in height. Branched stems with oval trifoliate leaves with serrated edges. The leaves are green above and blue-green underneath.
Fenugreek blooms from June to July. Yellow or pale violet flowers, butterflies appear in the leaf axils. Fruit of fenugreek brown pod, 15-20 cm in length, containing hard seeds, with a strong aroma. Seeds ripen in late September and early October. The whole plant gives off a characteristic odor.
Herbal raw material used – ripe seeds and leaves (fresh or dried). Fenugreek is rich in many useful elements.
to fenugreek cultivation Requirements
How to grow fenugreek? This is an extremely undemanding plant. Fenugreek – a native of the Mediterranean climate, so he needs a lot of sunlight. The plant should not be planted in the shade, but it should not be in the scorching sun all day.
Fenugreek requires fertile
soil rich in calcium. The ideal soil is clay, but still permeable. The plant tolerates dry place and feels good even on salty soils.
The watering fenugreek is not very demanding. It is important that he was never waterlogged, so the conditions should be rather dry. Fenugreek can tolerate drought better than too much water. But if the leaves start to sag, it should be watered immediately.
Propagated by sowing seeds for rapidly grows, and easy to get a great harvest. Since fenugreek is an annual, it is sown annually. The sowing must be carried out between April and early June in the field. After that, you do not need to dig up the plants.
Since sowing takes place right in the flower bed, landing distance is important. Fenugreek grows quite large and grassy. The recommended distance between the plants of about 20 centimeters. After germination, the plants can not be moved.
Seeds sown 1.5cm deep in rows 30 cm apart. Usually it is not necessary to fertilize, and watering only in a very dry summer.
Note!Fenugreek grows very well on sites where previously grown potatoes and cereals.
Sown the seeds germinate quickly. The first young seedlings appear within two weeks. So that they grow well, need regular weeding, loosen the soil and water on hot days.
In addition, during the formation and maturation of seeds well-fertilize the plants potassium-phosphorus fertilizer. At this stage, nitrogen fertilizer is not necessary, because they stimulate the formation of leaves and slow the ripening seeds.
Fenugreek can also be grown in pots. The pots are watered at least once a week, as soon as the soil surface is dry.
Harvesting pozhitnika
When can I collect fenugreek? Leaves of the plant can be harvested after about six weeks, the seeds – twelve weeks.
Additional information!In general, it is known the use of seeds, which ripen from July to September.
Ripe pods are collected regularly as they mature, they will dry out and begin to open. The seeds after harvesting removed from the pods, dried, ground and used as a spice. In a cool and dark place Raw retain flavor for about a year.
The grass is collected in advance, when it is still young and fresh. Then, it can be dried and stored in a hermetically sealed container.
At the end of the season, you can not hesitate to uproot this annual plant; it will not return next year.
The use of fenugreek
Use in the kitchen.Fenugreek is used in the kitchen because of the intense flavor. It can be used in the kitchen in many ways. The seeds are used as spices. In form, they are crushed curry smell and bitter taste. The leaves are used as a flavoring agent (such as coriander and parsley), to decorate salads and meals. 
Dried leaves of the plant is then used as a spice in many dishes. It is used in spice mixtures. Stems plant in its raw form, the vegetable tastes great. 
The healing properties
The seeds are rich in various important trace elements such as iron, calcium and magnesium. The abundance of healthy ingredients leads to a wide application. Side effects are unknown.
Fenugreek has many positive health effects such as low blood sugar or stimulate the digestive tract. Not least, fenugreek interesting sportsmen, because it affects the balance of testosterone and thus helps to build muscle. Germinated seeds act as a laxative and have a tonic effect.
Powder fenugreek seed is very fragrant and useful. Seeds are fairly hard, sometimes they are difficult to chew. They can be eaten whole or soften in the water, but it is better to grind into a powder.
As tea is used by chronic cough, as well as to strengthen after illness and to calm the nerves. Pour part of fenugreek seeds with boiling water and take up to three cups a day.
Important!The plant has a strong effect, so it is not used in higher doses for more than six weeks, and alternated with other plants or make breaks in the application.
Fenugreek is also a good hormone regulator for women during menopause and may reduce the discomfort.
Pest
Fenugreek is resistant to diseases and pests. It is believed that diseases and pests usually bypass fenugreek.
Taste and medicinal properties of fenugreek are highly valued at present.
