how to grow fennel

I have a fennel bulb that started to grow roots. By Clare Foster. Directly sow Fennel seeds into your garden as early in the season as the ground can be worked. Below are critical tips to remember when harvesting fennel: Harvest your fennel bulbs once they become 2 inches from one end to the other. A pale-skinned beauty, Florence fennel is one of the more unusual additions to the vegetable garden. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Water when dry. Herb Fennel Types. Yes. Allow the seeds to dry completely, then store them in a cool, dark place in an airtight container. The fennel herb (Foeniculum vulgare) has a long and varied history of use. It's organic matter. Thank you. It is a very good summer vegetable. Or has it rained a lot recently? However, you cannot eat the fennel afterwards. The fennel leaves can be used to add an aromatic, anise or licorice flavor to soups, salads and other Mediterranean-style diets. Sometimes living things look unique. If you wish, you can earth the bulbs up when the bulbs are the size of golf balls in order to make them more white. By Clare Foster. How to Grow Fennel – Climate & Growing Conditions. "My techniques were pretty much on target, except I learned a couple of better tactics such as: "Once it has, "I have always had bronze fennel (herb) and love eating the fronds and seeds. Latin Foeniculum vulgare Sow seeds in the early spring. ", weather here in Norfolk UK, I'll have to keep the plants indoors till the frost has gone. It loves sunshine. How to Grow Fennel . They're good for your digestive system. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. Fennel is a plant for which the roots are the part we eat and its nutritious and culinary value is exceptional. Its flowers are yellow in color and edible. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. If you plant more than one fennel plant in a container of this size, it will be too crowded to produce a large bulb, but you will still be able to enjoy the leaves and seeds. But if you grow fennel right you can have three crops for the price of one – a beautiful herb (the green fernlike fronds), a crunchy bulb and a root that tastes similar to a sweet parsnip. You can sow them directly outdoors or in pots. Fennel grows fairly tall – up to 5-feet – so plan accordingly. For more advice, including how to grow fennel indoors, keep reading! wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This is known as "blanching", as it keeps the bulb white and sweet (which is only necessary if you intend to eat the bulb). Fennel are grown from seed. Plant the fennel far away from any dill or coriander -- these plants tend to cross-pollinate, which reduces seed production and affects the taste. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. It is also possible to eat the thicker stalks which sprout from the bulb, as they are similar to celery. Soak the seeds in water for a couple of days prior to planting to help speed up the germination process. Alternatively, you can keep the fennel in a container. Closely related to Parsley, Fennel is popular in Italian and other Mediterranean recipes. Can a person with diabetes use fennel? Plan to plant fennel in the Fruska Gora mountain near my town. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. Space seedlings or thin plants to 10-12" apart, in rows 18-24 inches apart. Fennel bulbs will survive a frost or two, so there is no rush to harvest them as soon as the weather turns cold. Rubrum: Also known as Smokey fennel, it has aromatic leaves. Container Growing. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Once the bulbs begin to form at the base of the stem, push up the surrounding soil to shade them from the sun and keep them from turning green. The seeds are very loose, so the best way to collect them is to place a large bowl or sheet underneath the plant and shake the seed head. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Sow seeds early in the season and cover with 1/4" of soil. Fennel seeds are slow to germinate. In addition, its delicate, green fronds are aesthetically pleasing, making fennel an excellent addition to any garden. Growing Conditions for Fennel Fennel is considered either a perennial or annual herb, depending on the region where you live. Your soil might be too wet. Fennel is not usually affected by pests or disease, but occasionally you will spot aphids or whiteflies on the leaves. The fennel herb (Foeniculum vulgare) has a long and varied history of use. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. You can keep the fennel in a container. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Harvest and dry seeds as the flower heads fade. But if you want to try the outdoors, simply cast a few seeds into the bedding where you’d like them to grow and water every now and again. It readily re-seeds and while not considered invasive, it has certainly earned its reputation for aggressive growing. This was a very good article which spelled out in detail how to grow the bulb fennel and I'm glad I read it before I planted, because I was going to plant it next to my coriander. It propagates well from seed. Sow the seeds into weed-free soil that’s been raked to a fine texture, setting seeds about 1cm (0.5in) deep. Sow into pots of seed compost and cover with perlite. By using our site, you agree to our. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Soaking your seeds for a day or two before sowing will ensure better germination. The pungent aroma is considered inviting, while the rich, earthy flavor is known to significantly contribute to the taste of many dishes. Sign up for our newsletter. Learning how to grow fennel bulb is great because ALL part of the plant are edible and super delicious! Growing Fennel in a Container or Indoors If you don’t have a lot of space in your garden, don’t worry – you can easily grow fennel in a container. Why? You can plant fennel in the ground or in containers. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Will they produce? established itself, you may only need to water it if there is a drought. Cumin Plant Care: How Do You Grow Cumin Herbs, Fennel Vs Anise: What’s The Difference Between Anise And Fennel, Growing Carrots For Black Swallowtail Butterflies: Do Black Swallowtails Eat Carrots, Decorating With Plants – How Plants Can Transform A Space, Winter Orchid Requirements: Growing Orchids During Winter, Indoor Plant Problems: Mistakes People Make With Houseplants, Cleome Spider Flower – How To Grow Cleome. apart when they are 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm.) Found the pictures, information, and tips very helpful. You can use an almanac to determine when the last frost typically occurs in your area. The word "fennel" developed from the Middle English fenel or fenyl. I wanted to have some bulb fennel as I, "Helped me learn how to plant and harvest fennel. Sweet fennel: It is used in culinary and medicines, and is a standard variety for producing dry leaves for cooking. The Egyptians and the Chinese used it strictly for medicinal purposes and their lore was brought back to Europe by early traders. Last Updated: June 4, 2020 Eventually, someone recognized its use as a flavoring for eggs and fish. When growing fennel, choose a sunny location in the back of a well drained bed. What is a seed head? If so, you can use a pyrethrin-based insecticidal soap to get rid of them. How can I save it and grow a plant from it? If your soil is on the clay side, add some sharp sand to the bed. They will keep for up to six months. Fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. I usually boil the leaves and stem of the fennel plant. The Egyptians and the Chinese used it strictly for medicinal purposes and their lore was brought back to Europe by early traders. With the unusually cold, "The article gave a lot of clearly-explained, hence easily-understood, useful and interesting knowledge about, "Just growning fennel for the first time and hope to get health benefits as I am now older and need help with, "From start to harvest, this article gave all the needed information. tall. I add it to soups and stews, it is even good in baked items like muffins, scones, etc. Sow Florence fennel seeds successionally between May – June, 2cm deep in rows 38-45cm apart, thinning to 30cm between plants as they grow larger. Sow one seed per module, as the seedlings don’t like having their roots disturbed when transplanted. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. Planting fennel in rich, well fertilized soil is not recommended, because the plant will lose a lot of its aromatic oils and taste if well fed. In fact, fennel is good for diabetics. This article has been viewed 188,921 times. ", fennel. As fennel is a deep-rooted plant, it will require a container at last 12 inches (30.5 cm) deep, filled with light soil with some added gravel for drainage. "", love to roast it or have it in salad. Propagating Mums: Growing Mums From Cuttings And Seeds, Periwinkle Care – How To Grow Periwinkle Plants, Winter Planning Process – Make To-Do Lists Happen, Fake Tree For The Holidays And Why I Love it, What Is The Winter Solstice: First Day Of Winter History, Fresh-Cut Pine Tree Smell: Perfect Christmas Tree Memories. Fennel can survive light frosts, so if you live in zones 6 to 9, you can leave your fennel plants outdoors during the winter. More knowledge than I was expecting. Fertile, well-draining soil in full sunlight is the gold standard for most garden plants, and fennel is no exception. Can I keep small plants grown from seed in pots and set them out in the spring? Harvest – July to December, 3 months after sowing (Check the plant tag for more information.) If you plant more than one fennel plant in a container of this size, it will be too crowded to produce a large bulb, but you will still be able to enjoy the leaves and seeds. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Grow-Fennel-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Fennel-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/82\/Grow-Fennel-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1393300-v4-728px-Grow-Fennel-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"