Growing dill is a great way to add spice to a dish using ingredients grown at home. Its pungent aroma is considered inviting, while its rich, earthy taste is known to contribute significantly to many dishes. Fennel is rich in vitamin C and has been used as a medicinal herb for digestive problems for thousands of years. In addition, its delicate green leaves are aesthetically pleasing, making dill a great addition to any garden. Start with Step 1 below to learn how to grow fennel.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Growing Fennel
Step 1. Choose the type of fennel
The type of fennel you choose to plant depends on which part of the fennel plant you want to use – the bulbs, stems and leaves, or the seeds.
- Fennel Florence It is grown for its bulbous stems, which can be eaten raw, roasted, or roasted. The thicker stalks that come out of the tuber are also edible because they are similar to celery.
- Fennel spice (Fennel herb) did not produce similar bulbous stems. This plant is grown for its tender leaves, which are used as a spice. This species also produces seeds (as well as other parts) which taste like black candy and are used as a condiment.
Step 2. Plant fennel outdoors
The process for growing both types of fennel is the same. The seeds should be planted right away, around the time the air lasts freezing in spring.
- Plant fennel seeds in fertile, well-drained soil. If needed, loosen the soil slightly before planting and add compost and a little soil for drainage.
- Plant the seeds approximately 25 cm apart from each other and cover with a thin layer of soil, about 0.6 cm thick. It may be best to plant a few more seeds than you need, then thin them out later.
- Grow fennel away from dill or coriander – these plants tend to cross-pollinate, which reduces seed production and affects the taste of the fennel.
Step 3. Plant fennel indoors
If you prefer, you can plant fennel seeds in containers about 4 weeks before the last time it freezes in spring.
- When the shoots have grown to a height of 7, 5 or 10 cm, you can fasten them in a cool greenhouse or in a cool frame before transplanting them into the garden.
- Alternatively, you can keep growing fennel in containers. Fennel is a plant with deep roots, which will require a container at least 15 cm deep, filled with loose soil mixed with gravel for drainage.
- If you grow more than one fennel plant in a container this size, it will be too dense to produce large bulbs, but you will still be able to get the leaves and seeds.
Step 4. Treat the fennel
Fennel grows best in full or partial sun and should also be watered regularly to keep the soil moist. Be careful not to overwater, as this can cause the roots to rot. There is no need to fertilize the soil during the growing season.
- Once the bulbs have started to form at the base of the stalk, raise the soil around to cover it. The soil will shade the bulbs from the sun and prevent the bulbs from turning green. This is known as "blanching", which is keeping the tubers white and sweet (this is only necessary if you want to eat the tubers).
- Fennel is usually not affected by pests or diseases, but sometimes you will find aphids or whiteflies on the leaves of fennel. If you find them, you can use a pyrethrin-based insecticidal soap to get rid of them.
Part 2 of 2: Fennel Harvest
Step 1. Harvest the fennel leaves
You can start harvesting fennel leaves once the plant is established.
- Don't take too many leaves at a time, as you can hurt the plant.
- Fennel leaves can be used to add an aromatic, aniseed flavor to soups, salads, and other Middle Eastern dishes.
Step 2. Harvest the tubers
Florence fennel bulbs can be harvested when they are about the size of a small tennis ball, usually in late summer or early spring.
- To harvest, cut the dill below the bulb at the soil line. Use immediately, or store in the refrigerator for a few days.
- Fennel bulbs will survive a frost or two, so there's no need to rush into harvesting when the weather turns cold. However, you should not allow the fennel bulbs to grow too large, as they will turn bitter in taste.
Step 3. Harvest the fennel seeds
Fennel seeds can be harvested immediately when they are ripe and the flowers will turn brown.
- The seeds are very loose, so the best way to collect them is in a large bowl or paper under the plant and shake the plant. Alternatively, you can wrap the seed heads in cheesecloth when you cut the stalks and remove the seeds later.
- Allow the seeds to dry completely, then store in a cool, dark place in an airtight container. The seeds can be stored for up to six months.
Step 4. Leave the fennel to grow as a perennial
Fennel grows as a hardy perennial between zones 5 and 10. Fennel is easy to grow, so if you've planted it once, it's likely to reappear the following spring.
- Each spring, you should fertilize the soil around the fennel with a standard fertilizer, or nourish the soil with fresh compost (homemade is better).
- However, in northern zones (or areas where winter temperatures drop to -10 degrees Celsius) fennel should be handled annually and will need to be replanted each spring.
Tips
- Consider planting in separate plots of soil as fennel is known to hinder the growth of other plants.
- Fennel plants can be started from cuttings. Once the plant is large, the roots can be cut and replanted.
- Make sure you don't start your plant in a location with coriander, cumin or wormwood as these will hinder the growth of the fennel.
- Fennel can be an integral part of the diet of pregnant women, because the special nutrients that this plant has can help produce breast milk.
- Make sure your pH level is between 6.0 and 7.0 as fennel grows best in less acidic soil.
- Plant fennel during the fall in warmer climates, and during the spring in cooler places.
- To remove the seeds, strike the stalk against a hard surface.
- Fennel can grow to a height of 1.5 meters, which makes its thin stalks prone to breaking. Attach posts to the fennel plant to support its position against the wind.
- Making your own compost will create the organic integrity of your plants, and is a great way to benefit the environment.
- Mix additional ingredients into the soil well in advance, to ensure soil neutralization occurs before the growing season.
