SKU: 19496158946
picture of black seed plant

picture of black seed plant Odesa Market' Nigella ("Black Seed") – Experimental Farm Network Seed Store

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Description

picture of black seed plant Odesa Market' Nigella ("Black Seed") – Experimental Farm Network Seed StoreNigella sativa Origin: Odesa, Ukraine Improvement status: Landrace Seeds per packet: ~40 BOTANICAL SAMPLE NOT GERMINATION TESTED Life cycle: Annual EFN INTRODUCTION. We are beyond excited to be offering these nigella seeds for the first time. Also called black seed, kalonji, charnushka, or (erroneously) black cumin, black caraway, or black onion, this plant is one of the most popular herbal medicines around the world and only getting more popular. It

Nigella sativa

Origin: Odesa, Ukraine

Improvement status: Landrace

Seeds per packet: ~40

BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED

Life cycle: Annual

EFN INTRODUCTION. We are beyond excited to be offering these nigella seeds for the first time. Also called black seed, kalonji, charnushka, or (erroneously) black cumin, black caraway, or black onion, this plant is one of the most popular herbal medicines around the world — and only getting more popular. It has been studied extensively by medical researchers and found to possess a wide spectrum of biological activities, including as an anticancer and immunomodulatory agent, diuretic, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, analgesic, anthelmintic, spasmolytic, bronchodilator, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, renal protective, and antioxidant. People use the seeds against a wide range of ailments including asthma, bronchitis, diarrhea, rheumatism, skin disorders, indigestion, loss of appetite, lactation difficulties, menstrual problems, and immune deficiency. 

Many people consume a small amount of nigella seeds every day as a general tonic, and so they have found their way in small quantities into a wide range of foods. They are included as a flavoring additive in many culturally important foods, including halvah, cheeses (like the brined Nabulsi cheese from Nablus in Palestine and the braided string cheese from Armenia), breads (often alongside sesame seeds, particularly in Central Asia), as well as various pickled products. The seeds are also lightly toasted, ground, and added to honey then eaten as-is or used as an ingredient in desserts.

While most widely grown in the Middle East, this variety, a local type collected in Odesa, Ukraine, in 1986, seems to be well adapted to North America — but it is not without its challenges. Here's an account from EFN co-founder Nate Kleinman of growing this special crop:

"These seeds represent a major victory for me on the farm this year [2023]... As loyal readers know, my Jewish great-grandparents fled Odesa in 1905. Over the past two growing seasons I've been getting to know a few crops from Odesa preserved by the USDA (including a calendula we also offer in the catalogue). It's been a powerful experience, allowing me to forge a new connection with long-lost relatives and encouraging me to dig deeper into my family history (resulting in some heavy revelations, detailed in the calendula write-up).

I tried growing these last year [2022] but started them too late and probably in the wrong place. I ended up with just a couple small seed pods on two stunted plants. This year I got them in early (they prefer getting started in cool weather), planted them in the former goat-pen garden (with very rich soil), and then just stood back and watched. The plants ended up loaded with fat pods full of beautiful, fragrant seeds."

Many seed companies — including EFN — sell the primarily ornamental Nigella cousins known as "love-in-a-mist" (and we're sure you'll find Nigella sativa to be similarly beautiful to behold!), but few are selling Nigella sativa, and even fewer have a local variety or landrace. We are grateful to be able to offer this one to you today!

GROWING TIPS: Start indoors a few weeks before last frost. Surface sow or cover just lightly in soil or growing medium. In cooler areas, may be direct-seeded, but the young plants start out quite small and might get lost among weeds. Plant out after last frost. Harvest seeds when pods are dry and tan.

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SKU: 19496158946

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Nicole Ward
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★★★★★ 1
Not fur Surfing or other Water Sports
I got this in a swag bag from a surfing contest. The stick is very dry...that's the only way I can explain how it feels. It certainly doesn't glide on like other face sticks. After one wave and ducking my face in the water, the product smeared off and ran into my eyes. My vision got blurry from that, and it was really hard to see the waves coming in. I won't be using this product ever again. I also looked at the EWG website, and this product was given a 6. For those new to EWG, that's not a good rating. You want like a 1 or 2.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2026
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MJWalsh
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect for travel
Nice size and easy to apply. And no burns!
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Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2024
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J. Oks
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 3
Too little product for the price
I was surprised at how little product you get for the price. After only two weeks, the bar already broke in half, and there's not much left. Additionally, it leaves white streaks, so you'll need to rub it in after applying. I still like the fact that it's got clean organic ingredients. I won't by the bar again, but I will try the spray
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Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
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Alley
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
MUST HAVE BUT MAKE THE TUBE BIGGER OR CHARGE LESS!
Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Forget babies, at 30 years old I need a softening, nontoxic body lotion that rivaled Lush's sleepy lotion in affordability. THIS IS IT! Pros-Smells like heaven, has that subtle colloidal oatmeal-nutty scent with a light whiff of lavender or something subtle yet sweet. Great before bed time. Also, its an epic HAND CREAM, transformed my dry, over washed hands in three days of use. It's a light lotion, not greasy or runny. Pairs well under jojoba or shea nut oil for extra hydration. Cons- Came sealed, but quarter of the bottle wasn't full. Which leads to second issue WHY $11 FOR SUCH A SMALL BOTTLE??? And even worse I checked in the Babo site its original price is $14 so that's ridiculous. They must know grown women use this stuf,f not just babies. It's wasted on kids, their skin is flawless any way. It rubs in kind of odd, too much massaging it gets streaky, so rub it in a bit a let it soak in within 30 seconds. Last but not least MAKE THIS AN AFFORDABLE BODY WASH AND LOTION FOR WOMEN!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2020
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RamanthaSae
Grantham, US
★★★★★ 5
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Size: 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Eczema runs in my family and my poor little guy was starting to deal with dry itchy spots on his arms, legs and torso. Within a few days of use I could see the difference. His skin cleared up and we don’t deal with any dry spots anymore. His skin is super soft now. I spreads easily & his skin seems to soak it up nicely. The scent isn’t my favorite but it doesn’t smell bad. I think it’s a “hippy” scent but I definitely love the babo botanicals brand now. My brother deals with dry hands so I gave him a bottle of the lotion and his hands have cleared up significantly.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2021

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