Sesamum indicum aka Sesame

Sesamum indicum, or sesame, is an annual in the Pedaliaceae family. Kew places its native range in the Indian subcontinent. Other accounts leave its origin uncertain, suggesting India or northeast Africa. No truly wild habitat is known in those accounts. People have grown sesame for seed and oil since at least 2000 BC. Growers still raise it in warm temperate and tropical regions.

The plant grows upright, with stems that may branch or stay single. Garden accounts give a height of about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. They give a spread of about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. A broader account records heights reaching 9.8 feet [3 metres]. Its strong taproot can reach about 3 feet [0.9 metres] long. PFAF records flowering in July. Each flower has both male and female parts. Sesame is self-fertile and can pollinate itself. Its seeds develop in pods.

Sesame needs warmth, full sun, and shelter for good growth. It needs a growing season of at least five months. It grows best with daytime temperatures of 20–30°C. The soil should drain well and have moderate fertility. It accepts sand, loam, or clay when drainage is good. It prefers moist soil rather than ground that stays wet. Its preferred soil pH lies between 5.5 and 7.5. Heavy rain and high humidity can raise the risk of fungal disease. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12 and notes that frost harms it.

In colder areas, sow seeds under glass in early spring. Move seedlings into their own pots once large enough to handle. Plant them outside after the last expected frost. A cloche can protect them while they settle in. Direct sowing suits warm areas with little or no frost. Sesame fits cultivated beds as a food and oil crop. PFAF does not flag it as a weed risk.

The seeds have many food uses after cooking or roasting. Cooks add them to bread, vegetables, and sweets. They also grind seeds into flour, tahini, or halva. Sprouted seeds can go into salads, and the leaves are listed as edible. The oil serves both food and non-food uses. These include soap, lamp fuel, lubricants, and skin products. Traditional medicine uses the leaves and seeds for several complaints. These recorded uses do not establish that treatments work. The supplied sources list no known hazards, but provide no detailed safety assessment.