How to Grow Fennel Herbs

Fennel with the edible bulb and thick lower stalks still in tact

Fennel is a perennial herb with a bulb-like base that originated in the Mediterranean but is now well known throughout most of Europe. Often mistaken for a weed growing by the roadside, this herb has many uses. The seeds have a strong sweet anise-like flavor which can be used as a spice. They also have gas-reducing properties and are often included in natural gas relievers. The base of the fennel can be split and cooked much in the same manner that one would use an onion, except the flavor is far sweeter and more delicate. Fennel is used heavily in Italian cuisine and is a good herb to have around the home. Here is a guide on how to grow your own fennel.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Fennel Seeds
• Time Released Fertilizer Stakes
• Organic Potting Soil (Optional)
• Water
• Chipped Cedar Mulch

Instructions

Growing Fennel Herbs

1. Begin planting in late falls, two weeks before the first true snows are forecasted. Fennel never survives transplanting, so you will have to plant it outdoors and trust that it will survive the winter. Thankfully fennel is a very hardy and cold resistant plant. Find a good patch of ground outside, an area that gets as much sunlight as possible during the day and drains well.

2. Dig holes for your plants, each should be at least a foot apart and six inches deep. If your soil is sandy or lacks nutritional value for plant life, you may want to dig a little deeper and add a thick layer of potting soil where the roots of your fennel plants will be.

3. Place three or four seeds in each hole. Cover the seeds with 3 inches of soil, then place a time released fertilizer stake in the holes. This will help to provide the plants with nutrients they need come the spring. Fill the rest of the holes up with earth and pack it down lightly. Water each hole well and leave it be for an hour or two to allow the sun to dry out some of the water. We want to moisten the seeds but not leave them sitting in moisture.

4. Cover each hole and its immediate surroundings with a thick layer of cedar chip mulch. This will help top insulate the seeds from the winter snows and repel insects and vermin from digging the seeds back up. Leave the seeds until spring. They will need almost no water during the winter as they will hibernate.

5. Begin watering the seeds every other day once the final frost of winter is done with. The seeds should germinate within the week and sprout through the mulch within the month. It will be another three months until your fennel has matured enough to be used for its leaves, seeds, or bulbs.

Resources

• More info on Fennel and its uses