Growing Sesame

SESAME

(Tilseed, Cameline,German sesame, benniseed, dodder, linga)

Sesame (linga) oilis used, not only for cooking food, but also for the manufactureof other things, such as margarine, soap, cosmetic, perfume,insecticides, paint and medicine. What is left after the extractionof its oil is excellent for feed for poultry, hogs, goat andrabbits. Its protein content is 22% besides other substances.

There are many kindsof sesame. The following varieties yield good harvest andabundant oil: Sri Lanka Black, Japanese Black and Iligan MarinduqueBlack, which are native to us. The white varieties similarlyyield good harvest and abundant oil which are used for specialcuisine are: the Japanese White , Guatemala White , MexicanWhite and our native white variety. These are resistant topest and diseases.

Sesame grows inwarm weather. This will not thrive in temperature as low as21 C. It can withstand dry weather, but also needs wateringas it grows.

Because sesame seedsare very tiny, its seeds should be planted shallow in soil,free from weeds, does not retain water, and fertile.

The distance ofthe plants from one another should be one-half meter apartif the variety does not bear branches, and 70-80 cm apartif it bears branches.

Mix the seeds withsand, and plant 5-10 seeds in a hole about 10-15 m apart ifit is branch bearing, and only 8-12 cm if it is not branchbearing. In one hectare of land,4-6 kilos of seeds can beaccommodated.

Irrigation is necessaryin planting, but only once or twice after planting when itis growing. It needs watering before flowering and beforefruit bearing. The seeds germinate 5-7 days after sowing.

Two weeks aftergermination, remove some leaves and branches and transplantthe plant. Leave only two strong plants in every hill.

After 3-4 weekswhen the plants are sturdy, loosen the soil (culture). Cultureagain when the plant is 30 cm high. Always remove the weedsbecause this will diminish the capacity for fruit bearing.

 Apply fertilizer.

Sesame does notlike humid and rainy place. In rainy season, it is vulnerableto disease, so choose only varieties that are resistant.

Don't plant sesamerepeatedly in the same area after harvest, so as to avoiddisease or pest.

Don't use insecticide-containingsulfur because this is not good for sesame.

HARVEST

1. The sesame plantflourishes from 85-150 days. Harvest when flowering stops,and the leaves turn yellow and fall off.

2. The pods burstout when these are ripe, so the seeds will scatter. Cut offthe pods when still green and bunch them.

3. Spread the brancheson a mat and thick cloth and put these e under the sun.

4. When dried, beatthe branches to bring out the seeds. Clean off stones anddirt, and branches.

5. Dry the seedsbefore storing. If they are for planting, apply chemical onthe seeds to keep pests away.

from: GreenfieldsFeb 1989

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