How to Transplant a Fennel Bulb
Every part of the versatile fennel plant is edible. Its leaves and roots add flavor to both salads and cooked dishes, while its seeds are a spice used in everything from tea to sausages. Fennel thrives in cool weather, for either early summer or fall harvest, but it must have a long enough growing season to reach maturity. The plant doesn't transplant well, as it produces a single, easily damaged taproot. Starting the plant from seed or purchasing fennel in plantable peat pots allows you to transplant fennel with minimal chance of damage, as long as you transplant the pots correctly. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Spread a 2-inch layer of compost over a well-drained bed that receives full sunlight. Work the compost into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil.
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Dig the planting hole to the same depth as the peat pot, but make the hole twice as wide. Space multiple planting holes 8 to 12 inches apart.
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Tear the rim off the peat pot so the sides of the pot are level with the soil inside. Any portion of the pot that extends above soil level will wick moisture away from the fennel roots, causing it to die from drought stress.
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Set the pot in the planting hole so the edge of the pot sits approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch beneath the soil surface. Fill in around the pot with soil, covering the rim so it sits beneath the soil level.
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Water the bed thoroughly, moistening the soil to a 6-inch depth. Continue to water the fennel one to two times a week to maintain the moisture in the soil. The pot breaks down quickly once planted.
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Tips & Warnings
Transplant well-started fennel into the garden at least six weeks before the first expected fall frost in your area, for autumn harvest.
Plant fennel into the garden late in the day, on an overcast day; this protects the plants from transplant shock and from sun or heat damage as they acclimate to their new home.
References
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