THE CHINESE HERB GARDEN - Growing Chinese Vegetables in Your Own Backyard - page 149

Natives of the East Indies called sesame “thunderbolt” because they believed it held
the power to open secret hiding places. Supposedly this derives from the way the seed-
pods burst open when ripe. In ancient Greece, sesame was a plant sacred to Hecate,
goddess of the underworld and of witchcraft, and many spells depended on its use.
Sesame may be the most ancient of all herbs or spices. The oil extracted from it
was known in the Euphrates valley as early as 1600 b.c.e.; it is also mentioned in Egyp-
tian writings of about that period. It is apparently native to both Asia and Africa. Its
use spread throughout Asia, where butter and olive oil never became popular, and it
served both culinary and cosmetic purposes. It came to the American colonies along
with African slaves and adapted well to the climate of Texas and other southern states.
Wherever cotton grows well, sesame is a good commercial crop, and it has gone nat-
ive in some areas. In the South, it was sometimes called “benne” or “bene,” a name of
African origin.
Appearance
Like so many of the plants in this topic, sesame is ornamental and deserves a place in
the garden for that reason alone. The plant stands about 3 feet high and is very erect.
Depending on the variety, the flowers range in color from pink and deep pink ( Ses-
amum alatum ) to lavender-pink or white ( S. indicum ). They are large and prominent,
something like foxglove in shape, and grow along the stem, opening in sequence from
bottom to top.
The seeds are generally grayish or tannish to light cream, but black sesame seeds are
highly regarded too. The pods are quite large; each one contains about 80 seeds. Since
there are usually over a hundred pods to a plant, you can get a good crop from just a
few plants.
How to Grow
Getting started. Sesame is a warm-weather plant and can't be set out until all danger of
frost has passed. It requires a fairly long growing season, as plants take 90 to 150 days
after sowing to reach maturity. In cold climates, start it indoors at least a month before
setting out. (See page 201.) Wait until soil is quite warm (about a month after the last
spring frost) to set out plants.
Planting. Sow seeds ½ inch deep and 1 inch apart. If you plant in rows, they should
stand about 3 feet apart. The seedlings (which can be eaten) should be thinned to stand
8 inches apart when about 6 inches tall.
Growing needs. Sesame requires full sun. Though it will grow in almost any soil, for
superlative results plant it in a good vegetable-garden soil and dig in compost and a
moderate amount of balanced fertilizer before planting. Plants need steady moisture un-