Fennel in the middle lane. How to grow fennel from seeds: tips for a beginner. Outdoor fennel care

Many amateur gardeners are interested in growing vegetable fennel from seeds. Vegetable fennel is a southern crop, and planting this plant in the ground has its own specifics. When to plant fennel? It must be planted when the soil is already well warmed up... In the conditions of the Russian Central Lane, it is most reliable to grow a plant from seeds at home (on a windowsill) or in a greenhouse.

However, with proper care, it will grow well outdoors. The main thing is to properly prepare seeds for growing for planting. Taking care of the first shoots requires a lot of time and effort, since in the early days fennel develops rather slowly.

What fennel looks like

People call it "pharmaceutical dill". Indeed, this plant is close "relative" of dill and also belongs to the numerous umbrella family. However, fennel is actually not like dill. Many amateur gardeners refuse to grow it due to the fact that its greens have a very specific sweetish taste. However, this is a big mistake, because he is a real storehouse of vitamins.

You can distinguish this plant from other garden greenery by the following features:

Characteristic sweetish aroma of leaves and seeds;
Well-developed umbrella-shaped inflorescences with oblong oval seeds;
High growth;
Elastic strong stems.

But most importantly, how fennel differs from other green plants is unusual root system... Instead of a fibrous or taproot system, there are small tubers resembling heads of cabbage. It is from these tubers that green shoots with umbrella-shaped inflorescences grow.

Vegetable fennel is not very popular among Russian summer residents, since growing it from seeds and caring for a plant in the open field is quite troublesome. Also, Russian summer residents speak very ambiguously about the taste. Many do not see the point in planting from the seeds of this culture, because they do not like the sweetish taste and specific aroma. Indeed, despite the external resemblance to dill, the taste and smell of vegetable fennel is completely different.

Vegetable fennel actively used in cooking even in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. It is especially popular in the Caucasus and Central Asia. It is consumed both fresh and dried; both separately and in combination with other seasonings. It is traditionally used during cooking:

Meat dishes;
Fish dishes;
Vegetable salads;
Home preservation.

Due to the large amount of fragrant essential oils, it is also used in the industrial production of some alcoholic beverages and confectionery.

In the Caucasus, this plant is traditionally used for marinating meat for the manufacture of barbecue. Fennel contributes to a longer storage of meat and prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria in it. Previously, when people did not have refrigerators, and the problem of proper food storage was very acute, many housewives added it to ready-made meals to extend the shelf life of food.

It must be borne in mind that fragrant ethereal mass contained in the plant can cause an allergic reaction. This does not happen often, but such cases have been reported. In this regard, allergy sufferers should use fennel with great care. Also, medicine knows about cases of individual intolerance to the components that make up the plant. However, most often it is well absorbed and does not cause rejection, although not everyone likes its specific smell.

Fennel in the cosmetic industry

Recently, fennel has been actively used in the beauty industry. The essential oils contained in the plant have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which is why they are often included in medicinal cosmetics: creams, cleansing lotions and tonics. Outstanding perfumers of our planet have long adopted a strong and bright aroma of "pharmacy dill"... Fennel essential oil is often found in perfumes and toilet waters. Perfumery products that contain the essential oil of this plant are usually distinguished by the persistence of the aroma.

Fennel is widely used in aromatherapy. The essential oil of the plant has a tonic effect, increases the body's resistance and endurance, helps to increase appetite and normalize metabolism.

Fennel as a medicinal plant

Fennel is one of the most famous medicinal plants. Both the leaves and stems of the plant and its seeds have healing properties. This plant is also called "pharmacy" dill "just because its seeds traditionally used by pharmacists for the preparation of various medicines: tea, infusions and decoctions.

Fennel tea has the following properties:

Reduces the intensity of the inflammatory process;
It dilutes phlegm and is an effective expectorant;
Relieves spasms;
Normalizes digestion, reduces gas and fights bloating.

Many pediatricians still recommend watering small children suffering from intestinal colic "dill water". In fact, the so-called "dill water" is a tea made from fennel seeds, which has a carminative effect. Such tea can be purchased at the pharmacy in packaged form, or you can make it yourself at home. To do this, pour a handful of fennel seeds with a glass of boiling water, cover and insist.

When the broth cools down a little and becomes not hot, but warm, you need it strain gently through a sieve... After that, you can give it to your baby, from a spoon or from a bottle. This safe medicine can be used both at the time of intestinal colic and daily, for prevention. And those who do not have seeds for making tea on their own can purchase a ready-made phytopreparation "Plantex" at the pharmacy. In fact, this is the same fennel tea, but in the form of a soluble powder.

Also in pharmacies, tea bags for children for coughs and colds are sold. It can be used by children from five months. Fennel is part of herbal preparations for increasing lactation recommended for nursing mothers. However, not all babies willingly drink medicines based on this plant due to the fact that they have a specific taste and aroma.

It is believed that fennel essential oils heal indoor air and help destroy pathogenic microbes and fungi. Also, "pharmacy dill" is part of numerous herbal preparations for enhancing immunity, for the treatment of diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Doctors often prescribe, in addition to antibiotics, infusions and decoctions of fennel seeds for bronchitis and pneumonia.

Preparing seeds for planting in open ground

Growing fennel from seeds is a very interesting experience. Seeds intended for cultivation can be purchased in specialized stores or from fellow summer residents. Those gardeners who have had this crop for a long time usually grow it from their own seeds.

The seeds of the plant are a bit like dill seeds, but you can tell them apart quite easily. Seeds of "pharmaceutical dill" have a lighter shade and more elongated shape. They are also slightly larger in size than regular dill seeds.

Many summer residents refuse to grow it, because it the seeds sprout very slowly... Indeed, due to the high concentration of fragrant essential oils in the seeds of "pharmaceutical dill", it sometimes takes a long time to wait for the first shoots, especially if the weather does not spoil you with warmth. But this problem can be solved using seed stratification. Stratification is the process of preparing seeds for planting based on the sequential action of moisture and cold.

First, the seed is soaked, while rotten seeds are promptly removed, and then the residues that have survived the soaking are placed in a special container and sent to the refrigerator. There they are stored until spring comes - sowing time. You should not rush to sowing, as he loves warmth and sun. In those areas where spring is often cold and cloudy, many summer residents have adapted to growing this southern plant in a greenhouse. To prevent fungal infections, seeds can be soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate before planting.

Outdoor care

Outdoor fennel care has its own specifics.

First of all, the summer resident must understand: fennel, unlike other greens, do not sow between the beds with other plants. Essential oils, which are contained in the seeds of "pharmaceutical dill", significantly slow down the growth and development of crops growing in the neighborhood. In this regard, it is necessary to grow the plant in a specially designated place. You can fence this place with ropes or wooden pegs.

Fennel on the plots of Russian summer residents has long ceased to be exotic. However, not all gardeners have appreciated the taste and useful properties of this wonderful plant. And completely in vain, because this is a great alternative to traditional dill and parsley. Its spicy sweetish taste will completely change the usual dishes, and healing infusions and decoctions from seeds will help improve the health of both adults and children.

Fennel is very similar in appearance to dill, but has an aniseed flavor. Compared to dill, which is easy to grow and easy to care for, fennel is a capricious culture, but very healthy. Among the people, this plant has another name - pharmaceutical dill. This vegetable crop yields a low yield, and other vegetable neighbors are not very fond of fennel near their beds. Maybe because of these minor problems, the culture is not popular with gardeners and gardeners. But there are still people who want to have fresh fennel greens on their table, and just dream of learning more about the rules of growing and caring for it.

Description of fennel

Fennel is a perennial plant in the Umbelliferae family. It has many different species and varieties. The most popular is considered a vegetable variety, as it has delicious fruits - heads of cabbage with a lot of useful properties.

The stem of the plant is straight, with dense branching, high, about two meters in height, with a slight bluish bloom. The roots are long, in the form of several medium-thick rods, about 1-2 centimeters in diameter. The leaves are juicy green. The culture blooms with small flowers, starting in June and ending in September, usually in the second year (when growing a plant from seeds). Small oblong seeds (approximately 4 x 10 mm) ripen in September and have a sweetish taste.

You can propagate fennel by dividing the rhizome, but this method is rarely used. Usually the seed propagation method is used. The seeds retain their qualities for two to three years and are distinguished by high germination. It is recommended to plant fennel seeds twice a year: the first time - in April, May, and the second - in August or early September.

The soil for the beds must be prepared. For each square meter, add a large bucket of humus, two tablespoons of mineral fertilizers and a small amount of lime. Some gardeners and summer residents advise adding a mixture of wood ash and compost to the beds (approximately 0.5 kilograms per 1 square meter of area). The sowing depth of seeds is no more than two centimeters.

When planting seeds in spring, it is advisable to create greenhouse conditions in the garden to maintain the necessary moisture, which is needed for the germination of young seedlings. The film does not need to be removed until all the seedlings appear. They usually appear within a week and a half after planting.

When growing fennel for the first time, you need to decide on the purchase of seeds, which fennel is needed - vegetable or ordinary. If the culture will be grown for beautiful and healthy greenery, then purchase pharmaceutical dill. Vegetable fennel will give you delicious and nutritious heads of cabbage. This type, when seedlings from seeds appear, it is recommended to thin out, leaving 10-15 centimeters between the plants (and at least 40 centimeters between vegetable fennel), and add a mullein liquid solution as fertilizer. Young heads of fennel will fully develop and will not interfere with each other in the beds.

In late February - early March, seeds are sown for seedlings. When two full-fledged leaves appear on the seedlings, a pick can be made, although some gardeners believe that this procedure can be dispensed with. The seedling method of growing fennel is usually only used for vegetable varieties, since the seeds do not take root well in the open field due to too long daylight hours. The abundance of light when growing this type of fennel interferes with the correct formation of the fruit.

Basic rules for caring for fennel

The fennel vegetable plant loves regular and abundant watering and loose soil. If it is not possible to maintain such conditions, then soil mulching will come to the rescue. Mulch is a way to reduce the amount of watering and keep the soil loose for a long time.
Fennel needs constant organic feeding (for example, herbal infusions or liquid mullein). The quality of the growth and development of the crop depends on the regularity of fertilization.
The process of hilling plants is of great importance for the growth of high-quality vegetable fennel. Heads of cabbage in such conditions will develop correctly and actively. The only drawback is that when hilling, the fruits become contaminated. This can be avoided by using different specially made shelters for each plant individually. They can be made from plastic bottles or the remains of plastic pipes, from paper and cardboard and from other scrap materials and, putting them on each bush, they can be slightly buried in the soil near each vegetable plant.
It is recommended to plant fennel at a distant distance from some vegetable crops (eg beans, spinach, bell peppers, beans) because it can negatively affect their growth and development.
To prevent fennel from taking moisture from neighboring plants with its root system, it must be regularly watered, rid of weeds, and fluffed up the soil.

Both types of fennel, pharmacy and vegetable, are very attracted to the suburban area of various insects, which are of great benefit to other vegetable crops.

Subject to the rules of watering, fennel can be planted in the immediate vicinity of cucumbers and cabbage. The fact is that these vegetable plants are most often affected by aphids, and the aniseed aroma of fennel can scare away this harmful insect. Aphids do not tolerate the smell of pharmaceutical dill.

Fennel is a versatile plant that is used in the preparation of many dishes (for example, in salads, sauces, dressings, soups, canning, vegetable stews, etc.), as well as in their decoration. Anise aroma can be found in various confectionery products (for example, cakes, candies, drinks). Many medical and cosmetic preparations are made on the basis of fennel. These are various creams, ointments, tinctures, teas, decoctions, syrups and tablets.

Fennel - the secrets of planting and growing (video)

Fennel is a Mediterranean, aromatic plant that is often popularly called pharmaceutical dill. The taste of the herb is very reminiscent of anise, and the appearance is dill. It is very beneficial to grow fennel, since the plant is useful for humans and is used not only as a seasoning, but as an expectorant and antispasmodic agent. Fennel, its planting and care in the open field is described in detail in the article.

Greens and roots of fennel have a specific taste and smell, all of its parts are very useful, and are a storehouse of vitamins and minerals

Planting fennel outdoors T

The best fennel is the one that is grown in your country house. For this reason, gardeners are trying to grow it on their site, and not buy it in the store. Unfortunately, the plant has not gained much popularity in our country. However, those summer residents who have seen the enormous benefits of eating it, take up the cultivation of crops on their plots.

Vegetable fennel is grown from seeds that can be sown outdoors in autumn or early spring. When planting for the winter, seeds are planted in a fertilized and well-lit area after deep digging. As a fertilizer, summer residents recommend using organic matter, such as humus. After sowing, the fennel seeds are sprinkled with a few centimeters of soil.

Sowing vegetable fennel in spring is carried out at the end of April. 3 days before planting, the seeds are soaked in warm water, and after planting, the bed is covered with a film. This is necessary not only to retain heat, but also moisture. The first shoots appear in about 10 days. They will be quite thick and thinning should be done without fail. After this procedure, fennel is regularly watered, organic fertilizers are applied every 2-3 weeks and hilled. Moreover, hilling should be carried out several times. Then the size and quality of the head of cabbage will increase.

When sowing vegetable fennel in open ground, a distance of 20 cm must be maintained between the plants.According to reviews, the heads of cabbage, after good hilling and fertilization, reach a diameter of 10 cm.

Vegetable culture is a perennial plant. However, in order to preserve fennel for several years, it must be “sheltered” from frost for the winter. For this, the garden bed is dug in with manure, which perfectly retains heat.

Planting common fennel is carried out similarly to vegetable. Only hilling is not necessary. Ordinary fennel produces a good harvest of greens, which are eaten, dried for the winter or sent to the freezer.

Growing fennel seedlings at home NS

When sowing vegetable fennel in open ground, a distance of 20 cm must be maintained between the plants

Summer residents from the northern regions of Russia enjoy the short summer. Usually this period is too short for the full vegetation of the fennel. Given this feature, the plant is grown from seedlings. To do this, in late February - early March, seeds are sown in pre-prepared boxes or separate cups. When planting in a shallow box, the seedlings dive. However, it is best to avoid this and use separate pots right away. For this purpose, 2 seeds are planted in each container and the glass is covered with a transparent film. Watering is carried out using a spray bottle.

The seedlings can be transferred to the greenhouse one month after germination. This is done carefully so as not to damage the delicate roots during transplantation. The distance between the holes in the greenhouse should be at least 30-40 cm. Fennel yields a good harvest when planted in well-fertilized, loose soil. Therefore, seedlings should be planted in the soil after adding humus and sawdust.

Fennel is a one-, two- and perennial plant, according to the generally accepted classification, part of the celery family. Growing fennel from seeds will enable the gardener to appreciate all the positive properties of this plant.

The common name of the plant is pharmaceutical dill. In appearance, he really bears similarities with this culture. However, fennel has a special aroma - anise.

Growing fennel is not easy, but the benefits are undeniable. Low yield, special attention to its care, often negative perception of the presence of this plant with tomatoes and carrots - all these difficulties.

General information about the plant

Vegetable fennel has an erect rounded stem of a naked appearance, which has a characteristic bluish bloom. Leaves are multiply pinnate, flowers are usually collected in umbrellas. The fleshy roots and aerial parts of the plant are edible.

Regions such as the North Caucasus, Crimea and other warm regions are most suitable for survival in winter conditions of common fennel. Wild fennel is found in the following geographic areas and parts of the world:

Europe;
Western Asia;
North Africa;
Japan;
Middle Asia;
Crimea;
Caucasus.

Many countries grow vegetable fennel industrially and on a scale. A list of just a few of these states:

Germany;
Romania;
France;
Hungary;
Czech;
Netherlands;
Spain;
Italy;
India;
Japan;
Ukraine;
Russia.

Preparing for landing

The unpretentiousness of fennel seeds (growing on dry rocky slopes, near roads and railways, housing) does not negate the careful selection of a site for planting it and further care for it. The most suitable soil types for ordinary fennel will be fertile chernozems and loams of calcareous-clay composition, as well as soils with an alkaline reaction.

The cultivation of fennel seeds cannot be carried out with the expectation of its perpetuity. Such a choice can lead to the appearance of diseases and pests. In this case, the ideal predecessors of fennel will be winter crops, as well as row crops grown with the help of fertilizers.

When a plot of soil is selected for planting, it requires enrichment. For each square meter of surface, a bucket of compost and manure humus (or peat) is applied.

An additional measure of fertilization of the site is the introduction of two liters of sawdust for each square meter. In this case, the sawdust is enriched with urea (a tablespoon per bucket) and wood ash (a glass for a bucket of sawdust).

The seed method of planting and growing is used most often. However, sometimes a method is used in which an adult plant is divided.

One of the most important steps in planting fennel is the correct selection of seeds. In specialized stores you can find the following types of plants:

Italian fennel (vegetable) - more suitable for the growth of juicy rhizomes;
ordinary fennel, better known as pharmaceutical dill. This species is better suited for breeding greens and seeds.

The land on the site selected for planting fennel is pre-dug up and leveled with a rake. Then you can plant the crop.

Sowing of seeds takes place, as a rule, in the middle of spring - after April 20, when the soil begins to warm up. Before the onset of the real spring-summer heat (approximately until May twentieth), planting must be covered with a film, providing proper care.

The optimal planting depth of seeds for growing is two centimeters, the ideal distance between its rows would be a range of 20-25 centimeters. Thinning, carried out no earlier than five and no later than ten days after the germination of the plant, will lead to the fact that the distance between the rows will be at least 20 centimeters.

The presence of a denser planting of a plant can develop premature stemming and flowering processes. This will subsequently lead to insufficient development of heads of cabbage - thickened petioles located near the base of a part of the plant, called a basal rosette.

Plant care, its application

The first thinning of fennel plantings in the open field must be completed by enriching the soil with a special infusion. This fertilizer is made from cow dung diluted with water in a ratio of one to three.

Watering the plantings is carried out with a solution of a lower concentration, made in relation to the working solution as 1/10. Such feeding must be carried out at least twice a season.

Hilling of seedlings of a plant is carried out two to three times during the summer season, the height of the impact will reach three to seven centimeters. The importance of this procedure is difficult to overestimate, it allows you to achieve fleshy and bleached heads.

Before hilling, you can protect each plant with a special ring cut from a regular two-liter plastic bottle. This protection, buried in the ground, avoids soil contamination of the plant.

Growing fennel outdoors and taking proper care of it requires special attention to soil moisture. In this case, watering the seeds of the plant should occur at least once every five to six days. In this case, the water consumption will reach ten to fifteen liters per square meter of plantings.

Growing fennel from seeds in a garden plot will lead to the production of valuable raw materials, because each part of this plant has a lot of useful properties. For example, the presence of a peculiar aroma and a sweet, slightly pungent taste make fennel a good find in cooking.

The tubers of the plant are eaten stewed, fresh, baked, juice can be squeezed out of them. The green part is suitable as a component of soups, sauces, salads.

Fennel seeds, which have a licorice smell and a sweetish aniseed taste, are used as a seasoning, as well as a preparation of traditional medicine.

Even umbrellas (in marinades) and stems (as asparagus) of the plant are suitable for use. Fennel seeds and herb are good as flavorings added to alcohol, oil, vinegar. The confectionery industry uses the fruits and roots of this perennial plant.

Fennel in medicine

The cultivation of fennel makes it possible to use it for medical purposes - as an expectorant and disinfectant. Also, the plant is known for its ability to remove worms.

The decoction can heal pain in the abdomen and throat, flatulence, insomnia, cough. The plant is useful for problems with the amount of breast milk in a nursing mother.

Vegetable fennel and its derivative - dill water - are useful for the following ailments:

spastic state of the stomach and intestines;
irritation of the intestines;
bronchitis;
pneumonia;
pain in the abdomen.

The fruits of the plant are endowed with excellent stimulating properties. Fennel-based medicines are used for symptoms:

eye diseases;
kidney disease;
fungal diseases;
toxic liver damage;
colds, viral lesions of the body.

The essential oil from this plant has the ability to remove toxins and toxins from the body, cleanse it from abundant food and alcohol. This oil, which has a beneficial effect on the overall hormonal tone of the female body, can be used during menopause.

Growing fennel outdoors will acquaint the gardener not only with the complexity of caring for this plant, but also with its many beneficial properties. The culture is equally suitable both in cooking and in medicine - folk and classical.

Before growing fennel in the country, you should understand the features and rules of caring for a spicy crop. This is the only way to get a high-quality crop with high taste.

Description of the appearance of the culture

Fennel belongs to the umbrella plants, being a perennial, but more often it is cultivated as an annual. Its most popular variety is vegetable fennel; it is highly regarded by culinary experts for its healthy fruits with a bright taste.

The plant reaches 2 m, has a strong erect stem, which is covered with a light bluish bloom, dense branches. The root is pivotal, strong, massive. One plant has several branches from the root. They reach 1.5 cm in diameter.

The main varieties and types of fennel:

vegetable;
ordinary;
"Garden";
"Utter";
Luzhnikovsky Semko;
"Crimean";
"Pepper";
Rudy.

Fennel leaves one to one resemble. Their color is rich green. After sowing the seeds, fennel blooms only the next year, flowering continues throughout the season. The seeds have a sweetish taste, they ripen in the fall. In length, the grains reach 1 cm, in width no more than 4 mm. Moreover, they are very light: a thousand pieces weigh only 6 grams.

How to grow fennel in the country: selection of beds

The choice of a place for planting this culture should be taken responsibly, be sure to take into account the neighborhood with other garden plants.

Fennel does not always have a positive effect on plants that grow nearby.

Fennel precursors

The optimal place for planting fennel is in the beds where crops that are demanding on the introduction of organic matter were grown.

The best precursors of the spice plant:

peas;
cabbage;
potatoes.

Lighting requirements

Fennel needs a lot of light, so you will have to choose an area for it that is warmed by the sun throughout the day. Shade from trees or buildings can negatively affect its development.

Land for planting

The soil for planting this culture should be selected sufficiently nutritious, fertile. Loamy, sandy loam or calcareous varieties of soil are preferable. The site is plowed, adding organic components. In order for the plant to calmly endure wintering, it is required to cut off the entire above-ground green stem, and then insulate it, sprinkling it with peat mixed with manure or humus with sawdust.

Vegetable fennel: growing it from seed

Fennel seeds do not deteriorate and do not lose their germination when stored for 3 years. In order for them to sprout faster, you need to properly prepare them. Seeds should be placed on a small piece of fabric, wrapped and dipped in a growth stimulant solution so that the fabric is well wet. In this state, fennel seeds are kept for about 4 hours.

Sowing in open ground

Gardeners sow seeds in different ways. Some plant fennel seeds in the spring. The main advantage of this period of planting in the beds (in April) is that the plant does not require any additional care. Some summer residents prefer to plant crops in the fall - at the very beginning of September. With this approach, the bush needs to be insulated for the winter.

When sowing in any period of the year, fennel seeds are immersed in the soil only 2 or 3 cm. The bed is prepared in advance. Lime is added to the soil, as well as a bucket of humus. This amount will be required for each square meter of the site. Also add 2 buckets of sawdust and mineral compounds to the soil.

Gaps of 0.6 m are left between the rows. At a temperature of about +7 0 C, after a week, fennel seeds sprout. At this time, they are thinned out. There must be a distance of at least 20 cm between the specimens.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

To obtain seedlings, sowing seeds is carried out in boxes filled with nutritious soil. The procedure is carried out from February to March. When the first shoots break out of the ground, the seedlings are transplanted and dived into individual containers. You can continue growing in boxes, but keeping a distance of 20 cm between specimens. After 4 weeks, the plants can be planted in open beds.

With the help of seedlings, it is preferable to grow vegetable varieties of a spicy crop.

How to properly care for fennel in open beds

Cultivating a spicy plant in your garden is not particularly difficult. The main thing is to remove weeds in time by weeding the beds. Pulling up weeds is not the best option; it is more productive to cut them. This will leave more moisture in the soil.

When sown directly into the soil, the culture does not always have time to form large heads of cabbage because of the long daylight hours.

Plant watering rules

It is a moisture-loving crop, very sensitive to watering. Plants are irrigated every 4-5 days. In this case, the water consumption is from 1 bucket to 1.5 buckets for each square meter of the beds. If you water the culture less, then with its long powerful roots it will take moisture from closely growing plants. Because of which, over time, not only the fennel will dry out, but the rest of the crop will also die. The fennel beds are also moistened in the fall, if the weather is dry.

How to fertilize fennel

It is necessary to start feeding immediately after the fennel shoots have been thinned. One of the best fertilizers for a spice plant is a common infusion mullein.

Fennel can be grown on the balcony.

There are two ways to fertilize the beds with a mullein:

To add it directly to the soil, add 3-4 liters of water for every 10 liters and stir.
To water the plants, you need to prepare a less concentrated solution: the mixture that is intended for introduction into the soil is taken 1 volume and 10 more volumes of water are added.

Nutrients are introduced under the fennel bushes twice during its growing season. Instead of a mullein, it is permissible to use chicken droppings, and you can feed them the culture even more often than 2 times. To do this, you will need to take 50 volumes of water for 1 volume of litter.

Hilling a fennel bush

During the season, the culture is spud twice or three times. Sprinkle with earth to a height of 4 to 7 cm. If this procedure is carried out, then the heads of cabbage at the soil surface will be snow-white and fleshy.

When and how to harvest fennel

With proper care, heads of cabbage grow up to 10-12 cm in diameter. They are cut off at the very surface of the soil. If you detach them a little higher, about 3 cm from the base, then the plant in this place will begin to release new foliage.

The best option for saving white heads of cabbage is a cool place and a box of sand. Before you bury them, you should get rid of all the leaves, leaving only one short petiole up to 10-12 cm. When storing fennel in the refrigerator, it will not lose its original properties within 7 days, it should not be saved longer.

When cultivating regular fennel, solely for the sake of greenery, the top of the plant is cut off when it reaches 0.3 m in height. With this growth, the leaves of the spicy culture have the most pronounced, rich taste and aroma. It is recommended to cut it in the morning or late at night.

Growing a spicy crop in the garden is not at all difficult. If properly watered and fertilized, and if you follow the basic rules for caring for fennel, the plant will give fragrant foliage and heads of cabbage for culinary creations.