The winter and frost support perennial caraway cultivation in Finland. Winter itself reduces plant diseases and pests, and the winter and frost also promote the flowering of perennial varieties, which is in turn a pre-requisite for seed production.

The selection of varieties plays a major role in oil con-tent and the quality of the seed. The multi-annual varieties cultivated in Finland have, as a rule, higher oil concentrations than annual varieties. The advantage of the perennial varieties is they can be sown whenever suitable weather conditions arise in May to July. Finnish know-how maintains the oil content during harvesting, drying and storage.

Ground frost is an essential element of the winter conditions and enhances the structure of the soil, promotes plant water supply, and supports the potential for direct sowing of caraway. A straight sow is an environmentally friendly form of cultivation, reducing the strain on the soil.

In addition to our ecological conditions, which are ideal for perennial caraway, its cultivation benefits both our soil and biological diversity. As a perennial plant, caraway slows field erosion and thus reduces nutrient leaching. Caraway is also a multi-use, high performance nutrient utilizer yet modest in terms of nitrogen consumption, which again makes for a low risk of nutrient leaching.

As a multiannual plant, caraway also enhances biological diversity, promotes the living conditions of pollinators and other useful insects, and provides food for many natural enemy pests (animals and parasites). Caraway also exploits the water resources of the soil effectively early in the spring and requires no irrigation.