Fenugreek seeds available from Indian Stores are good for planting.

Fenugreek seed for some reason has been harder to come by from seed companies, currently the only source I know of is Harvest Moon Farms & Seed and I used to see it available I believe from Pinetree Seeds too.

I've never done it, but I know someone who grewmethi from seeds packaged as food/the spice. I don't recall is she mentioned what the germination rate was like, but they're certainly cheap enough even if it's low.

You can grow the ones from the store buyt youa re not assured of optimal storage conditions for germination. Johnnies Selected Seeds carries them.

It grows well from the seeds. You can find the methi seeds in any Indian grocery store. They are good enough to germinate and also you can get a large quatity for cheaper price.

I'm seconding the Indian grocery store option. I've done it before, with seeds that had spent a harsh summer and winter in a Mongolian ger before being planted. They sprouted fine.

You can guesstimate the rate of germination by placing the seeds in wet paper towels. Depending on the results, you can then sow the seeds. The gocery store seeds work fine for me. Enjoy

Anyone have any 'tip's' for growing Fenugreek and what other uses are their for it..have started an organic medical herb garden and have just added this herb to it..Thanks for any responce I can get..also would love any sugestions on any herbs to add to this new garden spot...my bed's are 'raised' and have planty of room,inside and outside the boxes...thanks

I used to sprout fenugreek seeds to add to salads. I got mine from sproutpeople (link below).

I've always just eaten the sprouts, but what part of the plant do you eat? Or do you grow it for the seeds?

Here is a link that might be useful: fenugreek seed

food.sify.com/ has many recipes using fenugreek (mathi).Plus, you will find many more recipes of Indian dishes.

Fenugreek was the big success story in my garden last year -- planted from seeds that had been in my cupboard 5 years or so. It's excellent fresh in salads, and the leaves also freeze well, for cooking later: direct from garden into freezer bags; the freezing seems to remove some of the bitterness that some people don't like about this fantastic herb. I harvested all of mine either before seed pods were forming, or just after they'd formed; after this the stems seem to get a bit woody.
Good Indian recipe: fry a few ajwan seeds in hot oil or ghee. Add peeled potatoes in chunks and cook till done. Stir in some fenugreek leaves, cook a minute or two more; salt and serve.

I have been approached by local Indian immigrants to raise this green and I have never even heard of methi. I guess I need to know if there is any value in the fresh markets venues to make it worthwhile to plant./

Methi/fenugreek is easy to grow. We've done it with seeds from the Indian grocry store. Its cheaper than buying seed elsewhere. You can sow it fairly thickly.

mike bernard, you could try growing some for your farmer's markets and see how it goes. Maybe include a recipe or two for those not familiar with it. It would not cost you much investment to try it.

What are the growing conditions for methi? Does it like HOT weather or is it more cool seasom? Water? Sun?

I also plant the seeds from Indo-Pakistani store.
GROWING condition: Fenugreek likes mostly spring-like weather, Not harsh summer days down south. Best time is to plant when you plant things like lettuce(Right now here). You can also do fall planting late summer.
**Dont forget to let some go to seed, for colinary use and your next time planting as well. Fenu seeds have more colinary use than its green.

You know recently france banned imports of fenugreek seeds (amongst other seeds) from the UK compnay "Thompson & Morgan" due ot fears of ecoli. So growing it yourself may be the safest thing

Here is a link that might be useful: Fenugreek Seeds

This a very good thread on discussion about Fenugreek - Methi - plant.Posting some pics. of Fenugreek plants from my this year's garden.

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An aging Fenugreek plant with beans for seeds
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In the recent year many gardeners in India are using fenugreek and cilantro as a cover crop as they have a deep taproot.

.Do not pull the plant from the ground. Cut it after harvesting few times and leave the roots in the ground. It loosens and adds organic matter to the soil.

The seed from the Thompson and Morgan (fern leaf coriander British Hybrid) grows tall 4 feet plus, survived this winter of 21 degrees. Some I plant them next to the wall some open in raised beds.

In India one can get cilantro for leaf which does not bolt early like the coriander we buy from Indian grocery stores. The other alternative for cilantro leaf with delayed bolting is the seeds from Mexican grocery stores.