Growing Fennel in Your Herb Garden

Growing Fennel Seed:

Latin Name:Foeniculum vulgare

For over three thousand years, people have been growing fennel. Shakespeare wrote of the old superstition that whoever ate the spicy herb would have clearer vision.

A symbol of victory, the Romans crowned their warriors with fennel. In Rome, they ate the sharp sweet stalks raw. Greek athletes and Roman soldiers chewed fennel to build stamina. Charlemagne demanded that the herb be grown in all his imperial gardens.

Characteristics

From its native Mediterranean habitat, the exotic herb traveled to all parts of the globe. Growing Fennel Seeds was primarily used for centuries in medicines before it gained notoriety for flavoring foods. Fennel, a hardy perennial, has flower heads shaped like an opened umbrella.

All varieties of fennel herb have brilliant green feathery foliage. Tiny yellow flowers appear during the second season and mature in the fall.

How To Grow Fennel

Growing fennel in herb gardens is extremely easy, requiring minimal cultivating such as weeding. Plant the tall types along the north edge of the garden to prevent shading the other plants.

Wild common fennel grows up to six feet high and needs to be protected from the wind. Sweet fennel resembles celery and rarely reaches more than two feet in height.

Fennel Seeds looks much like caraway seed with a delicious characteristic to anise or licorice. The herb should not be grown near its relatives, cilantro or dill, as they will cross-pollinate.

Plant Fennel

• In mild climates, fennel seed is planted in early spring.

• Follow Seed package directions of planting for each variety.

• Growing fennel takes about 80 days to mature.

• Plant around a dozen seeds to the foot in the garden site.

• Thin young plants to eight inches apart.

Harvest

The fresh leaves and tender stems of growing fennel may be harvested as needed by carefully cutting. When the stalks are over a foot tall, dwarf fennel, which is often cooked, can be blanched. Using the same technique as in blanching celery, heap soil around the stalks and wait ten days before harvesting.

For mild climate zones, the herb roots may be left in the ground all winter by just applying light mulch. In other regions, dig up the roots and store in a cool place as you would celery.

To harvest fennel seed, the fruiting tops can be cut before turning brown and shattering. Spread the fennel seed on a fine screen and dry in a shady warm location. Rub seeds between the palms of your hands. Remove all stems and store in airtight containers.

Uses

The medicinal properties of this herb were so highly regarded that the renowned philosopher Pliny the Elder recommended it in over twenty natural remedies. For example, in herbal medicine, fennel tea is used to help babies with colic symptoms.

Fennel plant leaves are used to season fish, soups, and salads. The stalks are cut and eaten raw like celery. The rounded root of dwarf fennel is boiled and seasoned as other root vegetables.

Crushed and ground seed are used to flavor liqueurs, confections, and perfumes. Whole seed adds a distinctive taste to cookies and cakes. Cheeses, eggs, seafood, and vegetables are flavorful with fennel.

Fennel salad, which is very popular in Italy, makes an excellent aid for digestion. Take a few fennel bulbs, cut off the bottoms, slice thinly, dress with olive oil, salt, pepper, and enjoy! Serve this signature dish with sliced oranges to the delight of your dinner guests.

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