Linga

SESAME

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

 

Sesame (linga) oil is used, not only for cooking food, but also for the manufacture of other

things, such as margarine, soap, cosmetic, perfume, insecticides, paint and medicine. What is

left after the extraction of its oil is excellent for feed for poultry, hogs, goat and rabbits. Its

protein content is 22% besides other substances.

 

There are many kinds of sesame. The following varieties yield good harvest and abundant oil:

Sri Lanka Black, Japanese Black and Iligan Marinduque Black, which are native to us. The

white varieties similarly yield good harvest and abundant oil which are used for special cuisine

are: the Japanese White , Guatemala White , Mexican White and our native white variety.

These are resistant to pest and diseases.

 

Sesame grows in warm weather. This will not thrive in temperature as low as 21 C. It can

withstand dry weather, but also needs watering as it grows.

Because sesame seeds are very tiny, its seeds should be planted shallow in soil, free from

weeds, does not retain water, and fertile.

 

The distance of the plants from one another should be one-half meter apart if the variety does

not bear branches, and 70-80 cm apart if it bears branches.

 

Mix the seeds with sand, and plant 5-10 seeds in a hole about 10-15 m apart if it is branch

bearing, and only 8-12 cm if it is not branch bearing. In one hectare of land,4-6 kilos of seeds

can be accommodated.

 

Irrigation is necessary in planting, but only once or twice after planting when it is growing. It

needs watering before flowering and before fruit bearing. The seeds germinate 5-7 days after

sowing.

 

Two weeks after germination, remove some leaves and branches and transplant the plant.

Leave only two strong plants in every hill.

 

After 3-4 weeks when the plants are sturdy, loosen the soil (culture). Culture again when the

plant is 30 cm high. Always remove the weeds because this will diminish the capacity for fruit

bearing.

 

Apply fertilizer.

 

Sesame does not like humid and rainy place. In rainy season, it is vulnerable to disease, so

choose only varieties that are resistant.

 

Don’t plant sesame repeatedly in the same area after harvest, so as to avoid disease or pest.

Don’t use insecticide-containing sulfur because this is not good for sesame.

 

HARVEST

 

1. The sesame plant flourishes from 85-150 days. Harvest when flowering stops, and the

leaves turn yellow and fall off.

2. The pods burst out when these are ripe, so the seeds will scatter. Cut off the pods when still

green and bunch them.

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

4. When dried, beat the branches to bring out the seeds. Clean off stones and dirt, and

branches.

5. Dry the seeds before storing. If they are for planting, apply chemical on the seeds to keep

pests away.

 

from: Greenfields Feb 1989