How to Grow Caraways USA

Quick Facts

Factor	Value
Soil texture	clay or loam, prefers light fertile soil (RHS)
Drainage	well-drained
Lifecycle	biennial
Edible parts	seeds

Soil & Growing Conditions

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

Growth Stages

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

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

Caraway, Grown for its Aromatic Seed

Dislikes transplanting

Sow seed directly; the plant generally dislikes transplanting, though seedlings can be moved while still small to avoid premature bolting.

What the research guides add

Caraway is a biennial, so the seed comes in the second year, and NC State adds some useful plant-partner advice.

• An edible biennial in the carrot family that grows 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 foot wide and prefers full sun to light shade in moist, well-drained soil; it tolerates a pH range of 4.8 to 7.6. (NC State Extension)
• Plants in full sun are richer in essential oils and so more aromatic. (NC State Extension)
• Established plants have deep roots and do not tolerate root disturbance, but often self-sow freely. (NC State Extension)
• It does not do well growing near fennel or wormwood but is a good companion for most plants, especially shallow-rooted ones. Watch for carrot root fly, aphids and parsley worms. (NC State Extension)

Caraway in the USA: climate data

Dates are the median 32°F freeze dates and freeze-free days from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; zones come from the USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map (ZIP code of each city centre).

Sources for this section

• NC State Extension: Carum carvi (Plant Toolbox)

Section researched and checked on 25 October 2026 by the SoilCommander Editorial Team. How we check facts: editorial policy.

Sources

1. NC State Extension - Carum carvi (Caraway)

   Edible herbaceous BIENNIAL in the Apiaceae. 1-2ft tall, 1ft wide. Full sun to partial shade, 6+ hours preferred for aromatic richness. Moist, well-drained soil, pH 4.8-7.6, tolerating clay, loam and sand. Propagated by seed and often self-sows. Seed harvested in autumn as brown/copper achenes with crescent-shaped seeds. Edible parts: leaves with a parsley-dill flavour, spicy seeds, and first-year roots. Established plants root deeply and dislike disturbance; good for breaking up subsoil on heavy wet land. Avoid planting near fennel or wormwood. Pests: carrot root fly, aphids, parsley worms. Diseases: anthracnose, white mould.

These source is specific to this region. The full list of 3 sources behind this guide (NC State Extension, Plants For A Future (PFAF), Royal Horticultural Society) is in the references of our UK guide to caraway; they describe the plant itself, which is the same wherever it grows.