Black Sesame Seeds – Kurogoma / Benne

Grow black sesame (Sesamum indicum), also known as kurogoma or benne, in a sunny, warm-season garden. Upright plants develop white to pink flowers followed by elongated pods containing dark seeds. The harvested crop is traditionally valued for its rich, nutty, slightly earthy flavor in Asian cooking and baking.

Choose Your Planting Seed Pack

Select 100 seeds, ¼ ounce, 1 ounce, ¼ pound, 1 pound, or 5 pounds. The 100-seed option is sold by count; the remaining options are sold by weight. Bulk seed counts vary. This listing is for planting seeds, not live plants or a ready-to-eat food product.

Plant Highlights

• Botanical name: Sesamum indicum.
• Common names: Black sesame, kurogoma, and benne.
• Life cycle: Warm-season annual.
• Height: Approximately 3–5 feet.
• Flowers: White to pink.
• Light: Full sun.
• Soil: Well-drained soil.
• Water needs: Consistent moisture during establishment; drought tolerant once established.

Sowing and Transplanting

Direct sow when frost danger has passed and the soil is warm, or start indoors approximately 4–6 weeks before your last expected frost where a head start is needed. Sow approximately ⅛ inch deep and keep the growing medium evenly moist without waterlogging.

Gradually acclimate indoor-grown seedlings to outdoor conditions. Transplant once frost danger has passed and outdoor temperatures are reliably warm, around 70°F. The existing growing guidance recommends approximately 2–3 feet between plants to allow room for development.

A long, warm growing season supports seed production. The variety is listed at approximately 85 days to maturity, but the starting point for that estimate is not specified; use it as a guide rather than a guaranteed harvest date.

Garden and Container Care

Plant in full sun and water regularly while roots establish. Once established, sesame tolerates heat and periods of dry weather, but supplemental watering may still be needed. Avoid persistently wet soil.

For containers, choose a large, deep pot with drainage holes and use a freely draining potting mix. Avoid crowding plants, check moisture frequently during hot weather, and provide support if tall stems become unstable. Protect young plants from frost.

Harvesting Your Crop

Watch the lower pods as they dry, turn brown, and begin to open. Harvest carefully over a tray or cloth to catch loose seeds, since mature pods can split and scatter their contents.

Finish drying harvested mature pods in an airy, sheltered place, then gently shake or thresh to release the seeds. Pods harvested too early may contain immature seed, so do not assume indoor drying will complete seed development.

Storage and Culinary Context

Store fully dried, cleaned seed in a labeled, tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place. Storage conditions affect seed quality and germination; a five-year shelf life or viability period is not guaranteed.

Black sesame is traditionally used in sushi, sesame seasonings, vegetable dishes, pastries, desserts, and pastes. These are uses of the harvested crop, not confirmation that the supplied planting seed is food-grade. Do not eat planting seed unless its suitability for food use has been confirmed, and follow any seed-treatment information on the package.

Allergen warning: sesame can cause serious allergic reactions. Keep planting seed separate from food supplies.