Sesame Seeds - Monticello White

Minimum Seeds per Packet: 120

Packet Weight: 0.5g

Planting Season: After Last Frost

Sowing Method: Transplant

Seed Depth: 1/16"

Direct Seed Spacing: N/A

Soil Temperature: 70-80 ℉

Days to Sprout: 10-14

Mature Spacing: 12-24"

Sun Requirement: Full Sun

Frost Tolerance: Frost Sensitive

Days to Harvest: 120-150

When to Seed Sesame

Sesame is a heat-loving, long season, drought tolerant plant native to India and North Africa. It is 120 to 150 days to harvest, so most of us will need to start seeds indoors four to six weeks before your last frost and transplant them outside once all danger of frost has passed. 

Where to Plant Sesame

Sesame will need a location with full sun. It is very sensitive to over-watering, so take care to choose a spot that isn’t right next to a bunch of crops that need to be watered everyday. 

Growing Sesame

Sow seeds 1/16 inch deep in a tray with seed starting mix. Use a heat mat to ensure the soil temperature is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal germination. Keep the soil moist during germination and early seedling establishment, then take care not to overwater. Transplant sesame outside once all danger of frost has passed. Plant seedlings 12 to 24 inches apart from each other. Take care not to overwater. 

Harvesting Sesame

Harvest by cutting the stalks when there are more brown pods than green on the heads. Bring the stalks indoors to dry whole and hang them upside down for several days to a week. Place a container underneath to catch the seeds as the pods begin to open. Shake the stalks over a container to get the last of the seeds out, then remove any chaff by winnowing. Make sure to dry the seeds thoroughly before storing them in an airtight container.

Sesame, Sesamum indicum

Pollination: insect. Life Cycle: annual. Isolation Distance: unknown, estimated 1/2 mile

Sesame is insect-pollinated and crossing will occur between different varieties grown in proximity (for example, a black seeded and a white seeded variety could present cross-pollination concerns). Follow the same instructions for seed harvesting found in the growing information, and take special care to dry the seeds thoroughly and store them in a cool, dark, dry location.