Growing Fennel From Seeds (including Vegetable Seeds) At Home And In The Garden + Photo And Video

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

How to grow fennel from seeds: tips for a beginner

Summer for many summer residents is a time not only for rest, but also for worries about the future harvest and supplies for the winter. Especially popular are various herbs, seasonings and spices that can be grown on your site. Today we will discuss growing fennel from seed. This plant has recently become popular in our latitudes, and therefore few people know the features and characteristics.

Fennel in your area

Fennel belongs to the perennial plants of the umbrella family, but our gardeners prefer to grow this herb as an annual.

1. The fennel stem is erect, highly branched, and can grow up to 2 meters in height. Sometimes a bluish coating is observed on it. The plant has a strong root system with one or more main taproots up to 1.5 cm thick.
2. Fennel leaves resemble dill in appearance. It is even called pharmaceutical dill. The plant blooms with small yellow flowers. The flowering time begins in July and lasts until the end of August.
3. After flowering on fennel, seeds are tied, which are fully ripe by the end of September. They are very small, about 10 mm long and 3 mm wide, oblong in shape. the weight of 1000 seeds is 5-7 grams.

Externally, fennel resembles dill

There are three ways to harvest fennel for future use:

• harvesting leaves;
• preparation of seeds;
• harvesting of roots.

Leaves can be harvested all summer long. They are washed, dried and aired. After that, the leaves can be eaten fresh, for example, in salads, or you can grind, dry, put in a glass dish, close tightly and use in winter.

The seeds are harvested when they are fully ripe and brown. After collecting them, dry them in a dark, ventilated place for 2-3 days, and then knead and thresh. Store seeds in a tightly closed saucepan.

The roots for harvesting are dug up in the fall, washed thoroughly, cut and dried or frozen in this form. There is an easier way: shake the ground from the dug root and store in the basement like all other root crops.

Preliminary data on crop cultivation

Fennel is very fond of warmth, so it prefers regions with long warm summers and mild winters. Very demanding on moisture, loves fertile soil, rich in lime and deeply cultivated. Waterlogged soil is unsuitable for fennel. It is desirable that the soil is slightly alkaline, close to neutral.

Fennel seeds

Fennel seeds germinate at 6-10 degrees, but the best temperature is 20 to 30 degrees. Seedlings appear in 14-15 days, and not very well. Fennel sprouts can be prone to shooting and may be due to:

• sowing too early;
• dry soil;
• thickening of seedlings.

Fennel tolerates autumn colds relatively well, but in the middle lane it is better to cover it for the winter. In the second year, the fennel growing season will begin at the end of April.

Experts divide fennel varieties into 2 groups: ordinary and vegetable. The common one has several subgroups according to yield, early maturity and leafiness. Some varieties are rich in essential oils, which gives them a bright aroma. On the other hand, fennel vegetable varieties have a more delicate smell.

There are many vegetable varieties with heads of cabbage. Their differences among themselves are in the shape and color of the leaves, as well as in the shape and size of the heads. They can be round or flat.

Among the most common varieties of fennel in the middle lane are the following:

• Lighthouse;
• Chernivtsi local;
• Martisor;
• Crimean;
• Luzhnikovsky;
• Aroma;
• Semko;
• Leader;
• Soprano;
• Autumn handsome;
• Utter.

Each of the varieties has its own characteristics and requirements for growing.

Sowing seeds and care

Choosing the right seeds for sowing is the main secret to growing and getting a good harvest. When choosing material for planting, be guided by what conditions are required for a particular variety: climate, soil composition, area illumination.

Vegetable fennel seeds should be sown in the spring or before winter at a depth of 2 centimeters. Prepare the seedbed in advance. If necessary, liming the soil and fertilize it in one of the following ways:

• making humus in a ratio of 1 bucket per 1 sq. m;
• introduction of stale sawdust (two-liter can for 1 sq. m.);
• introduction of superphosphates (2 tablespoons per 1 sq. m.).

When developing a bed for growing fennel, dig it up thoroughly, loosen the soil with a rake. The seed grooves should be made at a distance of 60-70 cm from each other.

Spring sowing is carried out in the first decade of April. After that, the garden bed with fennel should be kept under a film until May to keep moisture and keep the seedlings from frost.

On days 5-10, the seedlings must be thinned so that a distance of about 20 cm remains between the plants. A high-quality head of cabbage can develop up to 10 cm in diameter, so it needs a place. After you finish thinning, feed the seedlings with mullein infusion and slightly spud the seedlings.

Head of vegetable fennel

Hilling is also required in late May - early June. Some experts recommend spilling fennel several times so that developing heads of cabbage are bleached. But in practice, the fleshy bases of the cuttings get dirty during hilling. To avoid this, in June, protect the lower part of the plant with special "clothing". Cut two 20cm wide rings from a 2 liter plastic bottle. Place the ring on the plant and dig a little into the soil. You can also pass a plastic strip around the plant and secure it. Conduct hilling to the height of the ring.

While the fennel is growing, it needs to be fed 2 more times with mullein or infusion of fermented herbs and watered regularly, especially if the summer is hot and dry.

Video about growing fennel from seeds at their summer cottage

Now you know a little more about growing fennel from seed. You can always use this wonderful culture in the preparation of your favorite dishes to give them a wonderful, unique aroma and taste. If you have any questions about this topic, please ask them in the comments. We will also be glad if you share with us your experience in growing fennel. Good luck and good harvest!