How to Grow Sesame Seeds

By: Angela Judd | Updated: June 18, 2026

I first heard about growing sesame from a gardener in a cool climate. She said sesame is a warm-season crop that does best with hot summers. Those words were music to my ears—surely, if she could grow sesame successfully in Minnesota, I could learn how to grow sesame seeds in my hot-summer climate of Arizona.

My suspicions were correct; growing sesame was simple. Sesame thrived, even during our triple-digit heat. Learn how to grow sesame seeds with these tips and add them to your garden no matter where you live.

Green leafy plant with narrow leaves and small pale flowers growing in an outdoor garden setting.

Key Takeaways: How to Grow Sesame

Growing sesame seeds is simple and effective in hot climates, thriving even in triple-digit heat.
Sesame plants prefer fertile, well-drained soil and need at least six hours of sunlight per day.
Start sesame seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date and ensure proper spacing to allow growth.
Harvest sesame pods when they begin to dry, storing seeds in an airtight jar after they fully dry.
Use sesame seeds in various dishes, such as salads and sushi, or toast them to enhance flavor.

What We’ll Cover:

A Little Bit About Sesame Seeds
Sesame Planting Information
Size and Spacing Details for Sesame Plants
Sesame Seed Growing Tips
Sesame Seed Harvesting Tips
How to store and use sesame seeds
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A Little Bit About Sesame Seeds

A close-up of pale, oval-shaped seeds—ideal for learning how to grow sesame seeds—scattered across weathered wooden boards.

You may be familiar with sesame seeds as a topping on your hamburger bun, but they have been eaten and used for oil for centuries. Evidence of sesame as a crop is found on ancient Assyrian tablets and in Marco Polo’s writings.

Sesame seed is one of the oldest oilseed crops and is believed to have been domesticated over 3,000 years ago.

A black bee pollinates a white, tubular flower among slender green leaves in a garden bed—an inviting setting for those curious about how to grow sesame seeds. Brown mulch and other leafy plants create a lush backdrop.

“Historically, sesame was favored for its ability to grow in areas that do not support the growth of other crops. It is also a robust crop that needs little farming support—it grows in drought conditions, in high heat, with residual moisture in soil after monsoons are gone or even when rains fail or when rains are excessive. It was a crop that could be grown by subsistence farmers at the edge of deserts, where no other crops grow. Sesame has been called a survivor crop.“
Source: Wikipedia (emphasis added)

Sesame (Sesamum indicium) is a tall plant native to India and Africa. The sesame seeds form inside pods that develop after tubular flowers are pollinated.

Green leafy stalks with elongated leaves and a small white, tubular flower growing in sunlight; discover how to grow sesame seeds. ©GROWING IN THE GARDEN is overlaid at the bottom of the image.

Sesame seeds are an excellent source of healthy fats and are high in fiber, vitamin B1, and other minerals. Beyond that, the flavor of homegrown sesame seeds is spectacular. The taste is reason enough to add them to your planting list.

A close-up view of a large quantity of sesame seeds, showing their small, oval shape and light beige color—ideal for those interested in learning how to grow sesame seeds at home.

Sesame Planting Information

Although you may be able to plant sesame from seeds in your cupboard, you will probably have the best luck with fresh seeds. Sesame seeds for planting are available from True Leaf Market in black and white/tan varieties. Black types have a stronger flavor.

A packet of seeds is open on a wooden surface, spilling out many small, black seeds—perfect for learning how to grow sesame seeds. The vintage-style packet features drawings of vegetables and herbs.

In most climates, start sesame seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost date. Harden off seedlings and then plant sesame seedlings outdoors 2-3 weeks after your last frost date. Sesame prefers warm soil.

In the low desert of Arizona, start seeds indoors from January – February. Plant seeds or transplants outside from March – April.

A hand holds a seed packet labeled Sesame, illustrating how to grow sesame seeds, in front of seedling trays with markers for plants like dahlia and lettuce leaf basil. The trays are filled with soil, ready for planting.

Sesame also grows well in containers. Choose a container that holds at least 5 gallons of soil.

Soil: Sesame is tolerant of difficult soil and conditions, but the highest yields result from fertile, well-drained soil and adequate sunlight. I grew sesame in my raised beds with raised bed mix from Arizona Worm Farm, and the sesame thrived.

A hand holds a small pot with a young sesame seedling. In the background, tools and a sign labeled sesame illustrate how to grow sesame seeds in a well-prepared garden bed.

A small sesame plant seedling grows in soil covered with mulch, next to a handwritten black sign labeled sesame—a perfect example if you’re learning how to grow sesame seeds in your own garden bed.

Sunlight: Sesame needs at least 6 hours of sun to grow well. Sesame received full sun in my low desert Arizona garden throughout the growing season. If you live in a cooler climate, choose an area with reflected sunlight to give sesame plants the warmth they need.

Tall, green sunchoke (Jerusalem artichoke) plants with broad leaves grow in a sunlit backyard raised garden bed, surrounded by wood chips and garden structures—perfect inspiration for gardeners learning how to grow sesame seeds.

Tall green sesame plants with narrow leaves and small white flowers thrive in a garden bed, protected by a wire fence and lush greenery under a cloudy sunset. Text at the bottom reads © Growing In The Garden. Discover how to grow sesame seeds.

Size and Spacing Details for Sesame Plants

Give sesame room to grow as plants grow 3-4 feet (about 1 m) tall and 1-2 feet (90-120cm) wide. I plant one sesame plant per square foot in my square foot garden.

A young sesame plant grows in a mulched garden bed, next to a black plant marker labeled Sesame. Sunlight shines on the green leaves and surrounding plants, illustrating how to grow sesame seeds successfully.

Tall sesame plants with green, lance-shaped leaves and light pinkish-white flowers thrive in a lush garden bed, showcasing a vibrant example of how to grow sesame seeds amid netting and other greenery in the background.

Sesame Seed Growing Tips

Green amaranth plants with broad leaves grow in a raised garden bed, surrounded by soil, mulch, and other leafy garden plants—perfect for learning how to grow sesame seeds alongside your favorite greens.

Sesame grows well in hot, dry conditions. Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Avoid overwatering.

A young tomatillo plant with broad green leaves thrives in a mulched, grid-divided garden bed, surrounded by other leafy plants—much like you’d see when learning how to grow sesame seeds in a well-organized plot.

Green tomatillo plants growing in a raised garden bed with mulch and drip irrigation. The plants have broad leaves and tall stems. In the background, a wooden bench and a fenced area are visible—perfect for learning how to grow sesame seeds too.

I pinched back the sesame plants to encourage branching when they were 10-12 inches tall. This step is optional but produces more stems and sesame seeds per plant.

A close-up of a green sesame plant with a white flower blooming among its leaves, sunlight shining through the foliage. Text at the bottom reads HOW TO GROW SESAME SEEDS IN THE GARDEN.

Blooms develop, followed by pods. Enjoy the beautiful flowers and the many pollinators they attract.

A black bee is pollinating a white flower on a green leafy plant—perhaps hinting at how to grow sesame seeds—in a garden, with mulch covering the ground. Text at the bottom reads © GROWING IN THE GARDEN.

Sesame plants may need additional support as the pods can weigh down branches and may break during windy weather.

Tall, green tomatillo plants growing densely in a backyard garden with trees, a trellis, and string lights in the background under a clear blue sky. Text reads “GROWING IN THE GARDEN—how to grow sesame seeds and more.”.

The pods on my sesame got heaviest just as monsoon wind and rains peaked. I used bamboo poles to help support the sesame plant.

Green sesame plants with long stems and clusters of seed pods grow outdoors in a garden, demonstrating how to grow sesame seeds amid leafy vegetation and trees under a partly cloudy sky.

Sesame Seed Harvesting Tips

A close-up of a green plant with elongated leaves and clusters of fuzzy, upright seed pods growing along its central stem—an inspiring view for those learning how to grow sesame seeds. The background is blurred with more greenery and a fence visible.

Close-up of a green plant with long, narrow leaves and several fuzzy, elongated seed pods—just like those featured in “How to Grow Sesame Seeds.” Background shows a garden fence and blurred greenery. Text reads “© Growing In The Garden.”.

Sesame pods ripen at the bottom of the stalk first. Keep an eye on those pods; they will tell you when the rest are nearing harvest time. You can harvest individual pods or the entire stem.

Tall sesame plants with elongated green leaves and numerous seed pods demonstrate how to grow sesame seeds in a garden. A metal fence and trees are visible in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Close-up of green sesame plant stems with elongated seed pods, one open to reveal dark seeds inside; blurred garden background—a great visual for those learning how to grow sesame seeds.

Harvest as the pods begin to dry out, but before they split and spill seeds. I stored harvested pods in a large paper sack to dry.

A hand holds a split-open okra pod, revealing its unique four-chambered interior. The blurred garden bed hints at learning how to grow sesame seeds among other green plants. Text at the bottom reads © GROWING IN THE GARDEN.

Once the pods are completely dry, the seeds fall out easily. Gather the seeds from the bottom of the paper sack and shake out the pods to remove the remaining seeds.

A close-up of a pile of freshly harvested okra pods, displaying various shades of green and some brownish tips. Thin, white stems are visible on many pods—much like the delicate growth seen when learning how to grow sesame seeds.

A close-up of a pile of dried, brown sesame seed pods with textured surfaces and open ends, highlighting the natural detail and shape—perfect for those interested in how to grow sesame seeds.

Use a colander to sift any plant material out of the harvested seeds.

A metal bowl holds dried okra pods, with small okra seeds spilling out onto a metal surface below. The image is labeled GROWING IN THE GARDEN at the bottom, offering a visual complement to guides like How to grow sesame seeds.

A note about amounts: 1 plant yields approximately 1/3 cup (28 grams) of sesame seeds.

How to store and use sesame seeds

A glass jar labeled sesame filled with sesame seeds, placed in front of metal containers.

Allow the seeds to dry before storing them, and then store them in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place. I use glass jars with these lids.

Homegrown sesame seeds are worth toasting and using right away. I scatter them over these toasted sesame long beans, one of my favorite summer sides.
Use whole seeds raw in salads, to top bread, or in sushi.
Toast sesame seeds before using them to enhance flavor.
Make tahini by grinding the seeds with a small amount of oil.
This sesame chicken recipe is our favorite way to use fresh sesame seeds.

Source for history and nutrition information about sesame:

Grow Something Different To Eat, by Matthew Biggs