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How to Grow Caraways UK | Regional Planting Calendar

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How to Grow Caraways UK | Regional Planting Calendar guide thumbnail

Caraway (Carum carvi)

Dried caraway seeds — “Kümmel 2012-07-08-9523” by Slick is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons

1 sources cited · Verified

The short answer

Plant
Early April to late May
Site
6+ hours of sun, soil pH 6–7.5

In the UK, caraways go in the ground early April to late May.

Caraways (Carum carvi) — biennial.

Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 4 separate regional sowing windows, ranging from early April in Southern England to early April in Scotland.

Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.

Regional Planting Calendar

A field of caraway in bloom with white flowers — “Caraway Carum carvi H5256 VI08 C” by Anneli Salo is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Caraway Carum carvi H5256 VI08 C” by Anneli Salo is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Region Sow
Southern England early April to late May
Midlands early April to late May
Northern England early April to late May
Scotland early April to late May
Southern England - detail & sources

No UK-region-specific sowing dates given by RHS; a spring sowing window consistent with other biennial umbellifers on this site is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Midlands - detail & sources

No UK-region-specific sowing dates given by RHS; a spring sowing window consistent with other biennial umbellifers on this site is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Northern England - detail & sources

No UK-region-specific sowing dates given by RHS; a spring sowing window consistent with other biennial umbellifers on this site is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Scotland - detail & sources

No UK-region-specific sowing dates given by RHS; a spring sowing window consistent with other biennial umbellifers on this site is applied across all four sub-regions rather than inventing a north/south gradient the source does not support.

Quick Facts

Dried caraway seeds — “Kümmel 2012-07-08-9523” by Slick is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Kümmel 2012-07-08-9523” by Slick is licensed under CC0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Factor Value
Soil pH 6 - 7.5
Sunlight 6-6 hours direct sun
Soil texture clay or loam, prefers light fertile soil (RHS)
Drainage well-drained
Lifecycle biennial
Edible parts seeds

Soil & Growing Conditions

Caraway plants flowering in a field beside a fence — “Carum carvi 15-p.bot-carum.carvi-28” by Ayotte, Gilles, 1948- is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Carum carvi 15-p.bot-carum.carvi-28” by Ayotte, Gilles, 1948- is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Water: well-drained, tolerates heavier soils (RHS)

Soil pH range

6 7.5

Span reflects genuine variation between the cited authorities, not a single agreed figure.

Growth Stages

Close-up of caraway's finely divided feathery foliage — “Carum carvi 15-p.bot-carum.carvi-33” by Ayotte, Gilles, 1948- is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Carum carvi 15-p.bot-carum.carvi-33” by Ayotte, Gilles, 1948- is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Stage BBCH Notes
Sowing 0 Sow seed directly; transplant seedlings only while small to avoid premature bolting, as the plant dislikes transplanting (RHS).
Foliage growth (year one) 3 Develops finely divided, aromatic foliage in its first year as a biennial (RHS).
Flowering (year two) 6 Small white flowers appear in umbels in its second year (RHS).
Seed set and harvest 8 Leave plants to set seed; harvest the strongly aromatic fruits once ripe (RHS).

Harvest & Storage

Close-up of a caraway flower umbel — “Carum carvi 15-p.bot-carum.carvi-10” by Ayotte, Gilles, 1948- is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons
“Carum carvi 15-p.bot-carum.carvi-10” by Ayotte, Gilles, 1948- is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

When to pick: Leave plants to set seed; harvest the strongly aromatic fruits (seeds) once ripe, the plant's primary culinary product (RHS).

References

  1. An upright biennial herb with finely divided, aromatic foliage and small white flowers in umbels, producing strongly aromatic fruits (seeds). Native to temperate Europe and Asia, also native to GB/Ireland. Hardiness H7 (below -20C). Full sun, benefiting from south-, west- or east-facing aspects. Soil: clay, loam; well-drained; acid, alkaline or neutral pH; tolerates heavier soils despite a preference for light, fertile soil. Height/spread 0.1-0.5m. Time to maturity 1-2 years. Sow seed directly; transplant seedlings when small to avoid premature bolting, though the plant dislikes transplanting generally. Generally pest-free and disease-free. Leave plants to set seed; suits cottage gardens and flower borders. Aromatic fruits (seeds) are the primary culinary component.

1 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sow caraways in the UK?

In Southern England, from early April. In Scotland, wait until early April. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to sow only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.

When do I sow caraways?

Sow early April to late May.

What soil pH do caraways need?

A pH of about 6–7.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.

Plan next season before the problems start

Most of the advice on this page comes down to timing and spacing — sowing at the right moment, rotating beds, and giving plants enough airflow. The UK Garden Planner lays your plot out month by month so those decisions are already made before the season starts.

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SoilCommander Editorial Team

UK vegetable growing guides · Checked against RHS & Met Office guidance

Every SoilCommander guide is written and maintained by our editorial team for real UK growing conditions, and reviewed against Royal Horticultural Society growing advice and Met Office climate data before publication.

Vegetable Growing Guides UK

Last verified 2026-08-29

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