Fennel
How to sow fennel successfully under cover?
Fennel is mainly sown under cover in regions where spring frosts are still possible. The seeds are sown in small pots filled with light, well-drained soil that is kept slightly moist. The ideal temperature for germination is between 15 and 20°C. Emergence generally takes around ten days. Once the plants have emerged, they should be thinned out, keeping just one plant per bucket. After about four weeks, when the young plants have reached five to seven centimetres and the risk of frost has passed, they can be transplanted into the ground.
How do I sow fennel outdoors?
When the soil is well warmed up, generally from May or June, it is possible to sow directly in the ground. The soil must be carefully prepared, free of stones and enriched with ripe compost or well-decomposed manure. The seeds are sown in rows about forty centimetres apart. As soon as the young shoots reach a few centimetres, thin them out to leave only one plant every twenty-five to thirty centimetres, to ensure good bulb formation without competition.
How do I plant fennel?
Whether the plants have been sown under cover or directly in the ground, planting (or transplanting) should be done in well-moistened soil. After planting, generous watering will help the plants to take root. During growth, it is important to keep the soil fresh by watering regularly, especially in dry periods. As soon as the plants start to form a bulb, they should be buttonned successively, i.e. a little soil should be brought up to the base of the plants. This protects the bulb from light, helps it to whiten and encourages it to grow.
How to harvest fennel
Harvesting generally takes place between three and four months after sowing, depending on the variety and climatic conditions. The bulbs are ready when they are firm, well developed and white in colour. They are harvested by cutting the base of the fennel flush with the ground using a clean knife. To avoid a deterioration in quality, it is advisable not to wait too long once the bulb has formed, as excess heat or dryness can cause it to harden or go to seed. By staggering sowing, harvesting can be staggered from July to December.
Fennel
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Root vegetables
- Botanical Family : Apiaceae (umbelliferae)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Medium
- Adult Height : 60 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 1 cm
- Plant Spacing : 15 cm
- Row Spacing : 40 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Water Requirements : Moderate
Seeds
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing