Sesame Seeds (Sesamum indicum)

Harvested from the gardens at Monticello.
Thomas Jefferson planted Sesame, or “Benni,” for many years at Monticello in order to press a salad oil from the seeds. He wrote in 1811, “I did not believe there existed so perfect a substitute for olive oil.” Sesame has been cultivated for centuries as a food in India and tropical Africa, but in European countries it has been used primarily for the oil. Jefferson also planted Sesame as a border plant because of its ornamental qualities.

Direct sow seeds after the last spring frost. For shorter growing seasons, start seeds indoors 4 weeks before the last frost date. Approximately 145-150 seeds per packet.

Exposure	Planting Method	Planting Depth	Plant Spacing	Days to Maturity	Size at Maturity
Full Sun	Direct Sow	1/4”	2’ apart	100-150	4-6’H

Line Drawing from New Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora by H. A. Gleason (1958).