Known as a popular Indian spice that is commonly grown in gardens around the country, the Ajwain plant is a wonderful garden plant, too. It is used in various culinary endeavors around the world and beloved for its strong, memorable scent.
Surprisingly, this medicinal herb is easy to grow and makes for a wonderful garden plant. If you're looking to make this addition to your home garden, here's what you need to know about how to grow Ajwain plant at home!
Buy Ajwain Plant for Your Home Garden
• Medicinal properties of Ajwain
While we will talk more in-depth about the medicinal properties of Ajwain plants, here are some basic characteristics and properties of the plant that you must know!
Ajwain patta plants are natural coolants, stimulants, and digestive aids. The Ajwain leaves help in alleviating stomach Gases and anthelmintic, promote wound healing, and also help alleviate coughs and colds; reducing the ‘Kapha’ and ‘Vata.' in the human body.
Let's get to know the plant a little better!
• Patta Ajwain: Know Your Plant Better
Scientific name: Plectranthus amboinicus
Family: Lamiaceae
Plant part used: Leaves
- It's a small, erect, perennial, herbaceous, aromatic plant.
- Leaves are fleshy, green, hairy and full of essential oils and aromatic compounds.
- The stem is green and weak; it can tilt or drop with the weight of big leaves.
- The aroma of the leaves can be described as a pungent combination of the smells of oregano, thyme, and turpentine. The taste of the leaves is described as being similar to the one of oregano but, with a sharp mint-like pepperiness
- It is widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere in the tropics, where it is used for traditional medicine, spice, and ornamental plant.
- Note: Patta Ajwain should not be confused with great aromatic herb seeds Ajwain, i.e., Trachyspermum ammi.
- There is an uncanny resemblance in the aroma of Ajwain seeds and Patta Ajwain leaves. Therefore plant in this blog is referred as ‘Patta Ajwain; rather than just ‘Ajwain’ to avoid confusion.
• Ajwain Leaves Benefits and Uses
- Patta Ajwain leaves help in digestion when consumed with black salt.
- Chew one leaf every day to get rid of gases and bloating.
- A special ‘Bhajia’ is made of Patta Ajwain during the monsoon season.
- Patta Ajwain tastes great along with ginger, lemon, and Jaljeera beverages.
- Chopped leaves of Patta Ajwain and coriander are used to garnish buttermilk.
- Patta Ajwain leaves are added in ‘green masala’ of fenugreek, spinach, potato and mixed vegetable recipes.
- Delicious and fresh chutney is prepared from fried Patta Ajwain leaves and sesame seeds.
- Add a leaf in boiling water and inhale the vapor to clear blocked nose during cold.
- Homoeopathic medicine, prepared from fresh leaves, is used in the affections of urinary organs, especially in painful urination or in burning pains during and after urination.
- The herb can be applied externally to the skin as a mosquito repellent.
• Growing the Ajwain Patta Plant in Gardens
- The plant should be grown in 8-12 inch pot in a rich potting medium like pot-o-mix.
- Patta Ajwain can be propagated with herbaceous green cuttings or tip cuttings.
- Cuttings can be directly planted in well prepared potting soil added with plenty of organic manure.
- In the humid, rainy climate even the old stems are placed horizontally on the soil surface can start rooting to form a new plant.
- Patta Ajwain plant grows well in shade and partial sunlight and can be grown in hanging baskets too.